BUMP by Chiara Atik
I'm acting in a beautiful comedy called BUMP by Chiara Atik directed by Claudia Weill at Ensemble Studio Theatre May 9th - June 3rd. Here is the official blurb. "BUMP follows three different stories of three separate quests for knowledge, all about one thing. A girl in colonial New England, expectant mothers on a pregnancy message board, and a mechanic about to become a grandfather all attempt to better understand the miracle of childbirth." I can't wait to see you at the theatre! Tickets available HERE.
Union - A New Musical
On April 4th, 2018 the eyes of the world turned to Memphis as thousands gathered to remember, embrace, and advance the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 50th anniversary of his assassination.
As part of the commemoration, on April 6th-8th, Clayborn Temple presented three preview performances of “Union: A Musical” and a community conversation that brings together community members, activists, artists, influencers, and civic leaders to discuss the ongoing work of democracy in our city and in our nation.
I was honored to be directing this powerful story about the Sanitation Workers' Strike. With music by Sho Baraka, Justin Merrick, Jamie Portee and Greg Thompson.
As part of the commemoration, on April 6th-8th, Clayborn Temple presented three preview performances of “Union: A Musical” and a community conversation that brings together community members, activists, artists, influencers, and civic leaders to discuss the ongoing work of democracy in our city and in our nation.
I was honored to be directing this powerful story about the Sanitation Workers' Strike. With music by Sho Baraka, Justin Merrick, Jamie Portee and Greg Thompson.
Contemporary Plays by Women of Color
On March 6, 2018 - we launched Contemporary Plays by Women of Color, an anthology I had to the honor of assistant editing. The launch took place at Joe's Pub and opened with stirring remarks from editor, Roberta Uno and the President of the Ford Foundation, Darren Walker. Check out images and video of the launch HERE. The book is a must for any lover of theatre. Purchase it online here or ask your local bookseller to order!
House of Cards
I will appear in Season 6 (the final season) of House of Cards on Netflix! Check back later for the official release date.
Best Actress Nomination
I was nominated for Best Actress in a Play by BroadwayWorld New Jersey Awards for my work in Dominique Morisseau's Skeleton Crew!
Stirring the Pot at the 52nd Street Project
Accomplished actors including Bill Camp (The Night Of), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie, The Sopranos), Greg Hildreth (Peter and the Starcatcher, Frozen on Broadway) and I performed in Stirring the Pot: The Spicy Plays, the Project's Fall 2017 Playmaking show.
The 52nd Street Project makes a difference in the lives of countless Hell's Kitchen (Clinton) kids by pairing them with theater professionals who mentor them through the creation of original theater.
Perhaps the most poignant presentations made by the Project are those in its semi-annual Playmaking series, which features the Project's youngest Hell's Kitchen mentees - 9- and 10-year-olds who have just begun their theatrical education - writing for accomplished professional actors and revealing their work to a public audience for the first time! For more information, visit www.52project.org.
Berkshire Leadership Summit
I joined the inaugural cohort of Women Leaders in Theatre at the Berkshire Leadership Summit in Lenox, MA hosted by WAM Theatre. More information HERE.
InterFest
"The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible." - Toni Cade Bambara. What happens when you create an arts and ideas festival around revolution, liberation, intersectionality and irresistibility? Interfest is a three day festival that does just that. Read more HERE.
Skeleton Crew
I finally had the opportunity to embody a character written by the brilliant Dominique Morisseau! In this compelling portrait of American workers struggling to hold on against the tide of technology, ambitions, secrets and conflicted loyalties threaten to destroy an automotive plant’s status as a sanctuary in a rough city. Faye, the matriarch of a small family of line workers, gives her all to keep her team employed in one of the last auto stamping plants in Detroit. I played the role of Shanita in the Premiere Stages production.
Canfield Drive Residencies
A week long residency at the Brooklyn Academy of Music followed by a week of development in St. Louis led to great progress on Canfield Drive. Commissioned by 651 Arts and the St. Louis Black Rep, Canfield Drive is an interview based play co-written by Michael Thomas Walker and I. The play asks hard questions about race, Ferguson, America and the life and legacy of Mike Brown.
The Sinner
I appeared in The Sinner the USA Network psychological thriller starring Jessica Biel.
A Beautiful Symphony of Brotherhood
I directed A BEAUTIFUL SYMPHONY OF BROTHERHOOD: A MUSICAL JOURNEY IN THE LIFE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR at the Union County Performing Arts Center, Monday, February 27 at 6:30 p.m.
Hosted by Terrance McKnight, “A Beautiful Symphony of Brotherhood: A Musical Journey in the Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.” is a live adaptation of McKnight’s radio documentary, which was produced for WQXR, New York Public Radio. In this one-hour presentation, Terrance McKnight interweaves musical examples with Dr. King’s own speeches and sermons to illustrate the powerful place that music held in his work—and examines how the musical community responded to an
d participated in Dr. King’s cause.
Hosted by Terrance McKnight, “A Beautiful Symphony of Brotherhood: A Musical Journey in the Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.” is a live adaptation of McKnight’s radio documentary, which was produced for WQXR, New York Public Radio. In this one-hour presentation, Terrance McKnight interweaves musical examples with Dr. King’s own speeches and sermons to illustrate the powerful place that music held in his work—and examines how the musical community responded to an
d participated in Dr. King’s cause.
Elementary on CBS
Find me in episode 511 of Elementary in a scene with Jonny Lee Miller!
Ensemble Studio Theatre Brunch
Fore-Con is a biting political farce by fellow Rutgers alumnus Bleu Beckford-Burrell. I had a blast bringing her words to life at the final EST brunch of 2016.
A Streetcar Named Desire
Words cannot fully express how thrilled I was to play the role of Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire with Deidrie Henry as Blanche May 14 - June 19 at Portland Center Stage. More details here.
Citizen University
I was humbled to be included on the Art and Racial Justice panel at the Citizen University Conference in Seattle with Pulitzer-prize winning, Tony Award winning, two-time Emmy nominated writer Robert Schenkkan, writer and thought leader Jeff Chang and conceptual artist, C. Davida Ingram, moderated by Damian Woetzel (Director of the Aspen Institute Arts Program).
A Christmas Carol
I completely a run of the holiday classic at the Tony Award winning Hartford Stage. What a joy to tell a story of kindness and compassion this holiday season. More details HERE.
DESIRE
I recently completed an Off-Broadway run in the Acting Company's production of "Desire". The show featured six short plays based on short stories by one of America's greatest lyrical playwrights, Mr. Tennessee Williams. It was directed by the incredible Michael Wilson (Broadway credits include: "The Trip to Bountiful" and "Gore Vidal's The Best Man").
Plays by ELIZABETH EGLOFF, MARCUS GARDLEY, REBECCA GILMAN, DAVID GRIMM, JOHN GUARE, and BETH HENLEY
Scenic and Projection Design by ROCCO DiSANTI, Costume Design by DAVID C. WOOLARD, Lighting Design by RUSSELL H. CHAMPA, Original Music/Sound Design by JOHN GROMADA.
With MEGAN BARTLE, JULIET BRETT, BRIAN CROSS, LIV ROOTH, JOHN SKELLEY, DEREK SMITH, MICKEY THEIS, and YAEGEL T. WELCH.
Plays by ELIZABETH EGLOFF, MARCUS GARDLEY, REBECCA GILMAN, DAVID GRIMM, JOHN GUARE, and BETH HENLEY
Scenic and Projection Design by ROCCO DiSANTI, Costume Design by DAVID C. WOOLARD, Lighting Design by RUSSELL H. CHAMPA, Original Music/Sound Design by JOHN GROMADA.
With MEGAN BARTLE, JULIET BRETT, BRIAN CROSS, LIV ROOTH, JOHN SKELLEY, DEREK SMITH, MICKEY THEIS, and YAEGEL T. WELCH.
The Two Reds
I will be read the role of Cynthia in the Future Classics reading of "The Two Reds" by Kemp Powers, Monday, May 11th, 7PM, directed by Carl Cofield at the The Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Educational Center.
In the Red and Brown Water
I recently played Oya in Tarell Alvin McCraney's stunning poetic masterpiece, In the Red and Brown Water at the Curious Theatre in Denver. More details HERE.
The Mysteries of Laura on NBC
I played Kate on episode 12 of The Mysteries of Laura. I shared two scenes with Debra Messing and it was a wonderful experience!
The Good Wife on CBS
October 2014
I recently had a blast on CBS' The Good Wife playing the girlfriend of Lemond Bishop.
Clybourne Park at Off Square Theatre
October 2014
I reprised the roles of Francine and Lena for a wonderful staged reading of Clybourne Park in beautiful Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The reading was directed by star of the stage and screen, Michael Stahl-David .
Bohemian Valentine in the Fringe Festival
August 2014
I performed in my first Fringe Festival show this August with an extraordinary cast of actors that included Tracy McDowell (Motown), Mateo Moreno, Michaela Alyse Tomcho, and Tony Award winner, Sophia Gennusa (one of the original Broadway Matildas).
VoxFest Dartmouth College
June & July 2014
I played the role of Gert in Pox by Kate Mulley in VoxFest. "Filled with a cast of characters real and imaginary from the past and the ether, Pox is a play about illness, stigma, and living and dying in the 21st century."
Vox Theater was in residence at Dartmouth from June 29-July 6, 2014 collaborating on six new works with Dartmouth students, alumni and faculty.
Vox Theater was in residence at Dartmouth from June 29-July 6, 2014 collaborating on six new works with Dartmouth students, alumni and faculty.
A Scientist's Guide to Living and Dying
Spring & Summer 2014
I filmed the part of Linda in the thrilling feature "A Scientist's Guide to Living and Dying" written by and starring fellow Rutgers alum, Nitzan Mager, and directed by Shachar Langlev.
id Theatre Company
May 2014
A huge thank you to everyone who came out to hear these wonderful short plays!
Beneatha's Place
April 2014
I read the role of Beneatha in Beneatha's Place by Kwame Kwei-Armah at the Cleveland Play House.
"Beneatha's Place is noted writer-director Kwame Kwei-Armah's response to his perception that Clybourne perpetuates 'the connotation… that whites build and blacks destroy.'"
More info HERE.
Clybourne Park
February 2014 - April 2014
I was in the Pulitzer and Tony Award winning play, Clybourne Park, by Bruce Norris directed by Mark Cuddy in a co-production between the Geva Theatre Center and the Cleveland Playhouse.
The play is a response to Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun which I had the pleasure of doing earlier in 2013 under the direction of Woodie King, Jr.
More details HERE.
The play is a response to Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun which I had the pleasure of doing earlier in 2013 under the direction of Woodie King, Jr.
More details HERE.
Faith
March 2014
I read the role of the Harbinger in Faith by James McLindon directed by Mare Trevathan as a part of the LOCAL LAB New Play Festival in Boulder, Colorado.
Jackie & Me
November - December 2013
It is a dream come true to announce that I performed in the 2013/2014 season at the Denver Center Theatre Company. I played the role of Rachel Robinson in Jackie & Me by Steven Dietz adapted from the book by Dan Gutman. The show was directed by Stephen Weitz.
American Theatre Magazine
October 2013
American Theatre asked me what I was excited about this coming season. Click HERE to see what I had to say!
To Kill a Mockingbird
September 2013
I reprised the role of Calpurnia in the Page-to-Stage Series at the Off-Square Theatre Co. in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird by Christopher Sergel. Directed by Caryn Flanagan
Please click HERE for more information.
Please click HERE for more information.
Good People
August - September 2013
I played the role of Kate in the Colorado premiere of Good People at the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts. I shared the stage with fellow Rutgers alum, Craig Dolezel!
Orange is the New Black is now on Netflix
July 2013
I'm now on Netflix in what is being called "the most impressive group of female characters ever assembled in a series." - Mary McNamara, LA Times
I appear in Episode 4 "Imaginary Enemies" around the 16 minute mark.
If you have Netflix, watch it HERE.
And if you dont have Netflix yet, they are offering a free month HERE.
I appear in Episode 4 "Imaginary Enemies" around the 16 minute mark.
If you have Netflix, watch it HERE.
And if you dont have Netflix yet, they are offering a free month HERE.
Good Dancer
July 2013
I read the role of Erica in a wonderful play called Good Dancer by Emily Chadick Weiss at The Lark in NYC. The show was commissioned by Gregg Mozgala of The Apothetae whose mission is to promote works that illuminate the experiences of people with disabilities. The cast included Gregg Mozgala, Brian D. Coats, Natasha A. Williams, Cathy Curtin, & Brad Bellamy.
Bohemian Valentine
June 2013
I read the roles of Sara and Jacey in a staged reading of Bohemian Valentine written by Mateo Moreno and directed by Kent Burnham at the Gene Frankel Theatre. Thanks to everyone for their support!
Dividing the Estate
April & May 2013
I played the role of Cathleen in Dividing the Estate by Horton Foote directed by Lee Massaro at the Arvada Center for Performing Arts. Check out the video HERE - I come in around the 1:20 mark.
National Toyota Radio Commercial
March 2013
While I was back in NYC I recorded a national voiceover for the Toyota RAV - 4. The spot is currently running!
A Raisin in the Sun
February & March 2013
I played the role of Ruth in A Raisin in The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry at the Clarence Brown Theatre in Knoxville, TN. I worked with an amazing cast and legendary director, Woodie King, Jr. The show starred Lonette McKee and Jaymes Jorsling.
Myrna in Transit
December 2012
I was blessed to play the part of Myrna in Myrna In Transit by Angela Hanks, directed by Chuck Patterson at Ensemble Studio Theatre as a part of the Unfiltered Festival with the Obie Award winning Youngbloods. It is the story of a young black woman returning home to Dallas, Texas (my hometown!) to deal with the death of a loved one. It was an all-star cast and amazing experience. Click here for more info and photos.
Orange is the New Black on Netflix
November 2012
I recently shot a co-star role in the new Lionsgate production, Orange is the New Black. The series is now on Netflix. Check out the details above.
Staged Reading of excerpts from Detroit '67
October 2012
On Saturday, October 27th, I took part in a staged reading of excerpts from Detroit '67. The reading was a part of an awards ceremomy honoring playwright, Dominique Morisseau. Ms. Morisseau was honored with the Stavis Award for her play, which will be co-produced this season by The Public Theater, The Classical Theatre of Harlem and The National Black Theatre. The event was by invitation only but find out more info about the upcoming production HERE.
Asking for Trouble
October 2012
I recently performed in the musical Harpoon'd by Eric March and directed by Jeremy Bloom in the Asking for Trouble Festival with the Youngbloods at Ensemble Studio Theatre.
Blue Bloods on C.B.S.
Summer 2012
I appeared in the Season 3 premiere of Blue Bloods. I shared a scene with Tom Selleck and Marcella Lowery. If you missed it, click HERE to check it out.
Certain Dri National Commercial
Summer 2012
I am starring in a national commercial! It has been spotted on BET, ESPN, Comedy Central and Oxygen! Please click HERE to view it.
Price WaterhouseCooper
Summer 2012
I appeared in a video for the world's largest professional services firm.
New Haarlem Arts Theatre
Summer 2012
I played the role of Mariable in FLYING FABLES, a play conceived and adapted to the stage by Obie Award winner Stephanie Berry and directed by John-Martin Green. Please visit: http://newhaarlemartstheatre.org/current.htm for the details!
Ensemble Studio Theatre
Summer 2012
I read the role of Myrna in MYRNA IN TRANSIT by Angela Hanks as a part of Bloodworks at EST, Monday, June 25th.
Juneteenth Legacy Theatre
Spring 2012
I played the role of Mary Boyd Yates in Quincy's Ghost written by Geoffrey Craig and directed by Ilana Becker in the Juneteenth Legacy Theatre's Festival of New Plays. For More information please visit: www.juneteenthlegacytheatre.com
Graduation
Spring 2012
I graduated from Rutgers with my MFA Acting Program in May. Check out the updates of all of my wildly talented, beautiful and successful classmates HERE.
Showcase
Spring 2012
Rutgers participated in the New League Actor Presentation. Please visit www.RutgersMFAActors2012.com for the headshots and resumes of my classmates.