Dr. Sonji Reno Williams Garvin Baxter is an experienced playwright, producer, director and actress, whose work has been performed over the years throughout the east coast. She has the ability to take every day events and create unforgettable dramatic projects.  Sonji began performing during her childhood and carried this passion over to her undergraduate years at Morris College. After graduating from Morris College she went on to receive her Master Degree in Theater Speech and Dance at the University of South Carolina. While studying there some of her performances include Equus (USC-Longstreet Theatre), Monologues:   A woman called Moses, The Denied Mother, and Mother to Son (Daughter), Phenomenal Woman, The Creation, Still I Rise, Dear Jacque and The Woman in Blue.

 

More recent works consists of the stage play productions Joy to the World (2007), Wind Beneath My Wings (2011), Soulful Food (2012 and 2015), Break Every Chain (2014), No Place to Lay His Head (2014), The Voice (2015) and Don’t Look Back Ruby (2016).

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The inaugural launch of Sonji Reno Productions LLC, will debut the revised production hit Christmas Musical Stage Play, “No Where to Lay His Head”, featuring outstanding actors and vocalist who unveil a modern day version of the original Christmas Story, focusing upon the high levels of homelessness in our community and the reactions of society towards those who are less fortunate.  The show will make you laugh and it will make you cry as you witness the journey and challenges experienced by the displaced and expectant widow Maria and her newfound homeless friend Joe as they struggle to get Maria off of the dangerous city streets and find her a place to live before her unborn child arrives during the Christmas holiday season.

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More about Sonji…

Sonji began her professional career in television and radio and has been employed with WPDE TV-15, Florence, South Carolina, WWDM 101.3 Sumter-Columbia, South Carolina, Educational Television WRJK TV- 35 and WOLO TV- 25, Columbia, South Carolina.

 

Sonji Reno’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Morris College, a Master of Arts degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from South Carolina State University, a Master of Arts degree in Theater, Speech and Dance from the University of South Carolina and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree from Nova Southeastern University.

 

Sonji Reno is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., a United States Navy Veteran, serving during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and is currently employed as a Speech Language Pathologist (National Board Certified Exceptional Needs Specialist). 

 

She is the daughter of Mrs. Dorothy W. Thorne (the late James B. Thorne) and the late Reverend Dr. Henry McGill Jr.  Sonji is married to Reverend John K. Baxter and is the proud mother of Reginald, Kambrell (Monique) and Sonia.