Mariann Aalda & Karen Greyson

Mariann Aalda and Karen Greyson are producers and business partners in PeopleLikeUs Productions, with a goal of presenting a new paradigm on diversity by acknowledging, embracing and celebrating age, race, cultural and gender differences. Though both now live in the Los Angeles area, they are also proud former Chicagoans. They also both cite their fathers for fueling their show business aspirations.

Karen’s father was well-known radio-TV personality and news announcer for WGN, Carl Greyson. After building a successful acting career in Chicago’s vibrant theater community, Karen moved to LA to star in a children’s television series. Over the last decade, she has cut her producer’s teeth working for an award-winning commercial music company. Additionally, she has written a theatrical musical, a screenplay and several television projects.

Mariann’s dad, Joseph Dewey Berry, a well-known and admired political activist in Chicago’s south suburbs, enthusiastically encouraged her dreams of becoming an actress with the credo, “Never give up!” After graduating from Southern Illinois University and the prestigious Negro Ensemble Company theater training program in New York, she became a soap opera “pioneer” as one of the first African-American contract players on daytime television (Edge Of Night) in the early eighties. She then segued into primetime and sitcoms, which included starring in First & Ten for HBO, and The Royal Family with Redd Foxx and Della Reese. A published author and comedy writer, you can find out more by visiting www.mariannaalda.com