Kecia Lewis

Last updated
Kecia Lewis
Kecia Lewis in 2024.jpg
Lewis at the 77th Tony Awards 2024
Born
Bronx, NY
Education High School of Performing Arts
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1980–present

Kecia Lewis, also credited as Kecia Lewis-Evans [1] is an American singer and actress. [2] Lewis made her Broadway debut as a replacement in the musical Big River (1985), followed by roles in Once on This Island (1990), Leap of Faith (2012), and Hell's Kitchen (2024), the latter of which earned her the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

Early life

Lewis was born and raised in New York City and is a graduate of the High School of Performing Arts. [7]

Career

Lewis in 2025. KeciaLewis-byPhilipRomano.jpg
Lewis in 2025.

She served as an understudy for Nell Carter in the revival of Ain't Misbehavin' . In 1990, she originated the role of Asaka in Once on This Island .[ citation needed ] In 2006, she originated the role of Trix the Aviatrix in The Drowsy Chaperone .[ citation needed ] In 2006, she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performance as Dorcas in Dessa Rose .[ citation needed ]

In 2017, her performance as Sister Rosetta Tharpe in Marie and Rosetta earned her an Obie Award and a nomination for the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play.[ citation needed ] In 2018, she starred as Mrs. Norman in a revival of Children of a Lesser God at the Studio 54. [8] In 2019, Lewis played the recurring role of Tonya on the 2019 follow-up of NBC television series Mad About You . [9] In 2022, she was cast in the Peacock thriller film The Independent. [10]

In 2023, she appeared off-Broadway in the show Hell's Kitchen , originating the role of music educator Miss Liza Jane, and reprised the role on Broadway in 2024, receiving a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Lucille Lortel Award along with a Drama League Award nomination. [11] Lewis also teaches stage and drama acting at the Atlantic Acting School.[ citation needed ] During her career Lewis also starred in films and television series, including recurring roles in Mad About You , The Passage, The Blacklist , and Law & Order.[ citation needed ]

Acting credits

Film

YearsTitleRoleNotes
2014 Shelter Shelter Worker
2020 Shirley Nurse
2022 The Independent Tonya

Television

YearsTitleRoleNotesRef.
1992 Law & Order LangstromEpisode: "The Fertile Fields"
2000 The Hughleys DonnaEpisode: "Love or Money"
2002 Crossing Jordan Intake NurseEpisode: "Secrets & Lies: Part 1"
2013–2020 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Judge Constance Copeland4 episodes
2013 Royal Pains NurseEpisode: "Game of Phones"
2015 Limitless ChrystalEpisode: "This Is Your Brian on Drugs"
2016 Blue Bloods Sandi HarperEpisode: "Town Without Pity"
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt StephanieEpisode: "Kimmy Gives Up!"
Conviction Judge Melissa HindsEpisode: "A Simple Man"
2017 Madam Secretary Ms. MoralesEpisode: "Revelation"
2019 SMILF Aunt ReneeEpisode: "Smile More if Lying Fails"
Wu-Tang: An American Saga Aunt Goldie3 episodes
Mad About You Tonya12 episodes
The Passage Lacey Antoine7 episodes
2020–2021 The Blacklist Esi Jackson10 episodes
2021 With Love MiaEpisode: "Independence Day"
And Just Like That... LauraEpisode: "Tragically Hip"
2022 The Good Fight Angela Allen-HellmanEpisode: "The End of STR Laurie"

Theatre

YearsTitleRoleVenueRef.
1985–1987 Big River Ensemble / Alice (replacement) Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Broadway [12]
1988–1989 Ain't Misbehavin' Standby Ambassador Theatre, Broadway [13]
1990–1991 Once on This Island Asaka Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway
Booth Theatre, Broadway [14]
2005 Dessa Rose Janet / Gemina / Field Hand / Dorcas Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, Off-Broadway [15]
2006–2007 The Drowsy Chaperone Trix Marquis Theatre, Broadway [16]
2008 Shrek the Musical Dragon 5th Avenue Theatre [15]
2008–2010 Chicago Matron "Mama" Morton (replacement) Shubert Theatre, Broadway [17]
2010 Hairspray Motormouth Maybelle Benedum Center [15]
2011–2012 Chicago Matron "Mama" Morton (replacement) US National Tour [15]
2012 Leap of Faith Ida Mae Robinson St. James Theatre, Broadway [18]
2014 The Little Mermaid Ursula North Shore Music Theatre [15]
2014–2015 Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella MarieUS National Tour [15]
2016 Mother Courage and Her Children Mother Courage (replacement) Classic Stage Company, Off-Broadway
Marie and RosettaSister Rosetta TharpeAtlantic Theater Company, Off-Broadway
2017 Children of a Lesser God Mrs. Norman Berkshire Theatre Festival
2018 Studio 54, Broadway [19]
2023–2024 Hell's Kitchen Miss Liza Jane The Public Theater, Off-Broadway [20]
2024–2025 Shubert Theatre, Broadway [21]

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
2024 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical Hell's Kitchen Won [22]
Drama League Awards Distinguished Performance Nominated [23] [24]
Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Featured Performer in a MusicalWon [25]
Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway MusicalWon [26]
Tony Awards Best Featured Actress in a Musical Won [27]
Grammy Awards Best Musical Theater Album Won [28]

References

  1. ↑ "Kecia Lewis-Evans". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  2. ↑ Soloski, Alexis (January 5, 2016). "Kecia Lewis to Step Into Role of Mother Courage at Classic Stage Company". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  3. ↑ Millward, Tom (October 19, 2017). "Kecia Lewis & Rebecca Naomi Jones to star in Atlantic's Marie and Rosetta at Linda Gross Theater". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  4. ↑ Henderson, Kathy (April 22, 2024). "Kecia Lewis, the Backstage 'Mama' of Broadway's Hell's Kitchen, Has Wisdom to Share". Broadway in Atlanta. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  5. ↑ Myers, Victoria (September 20, 2019). "An Interview with Rebecca Naomi Jones and Kecia Lewis". The Interval. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Kecia Lewis Assumes Title Role in Off-Broadway's Mother Courage, Replacing Tonya Pinkins". Playbill . January 4, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Production - Once On This Island". Playbill . Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  8. ↑ Stasio, Marilyn (April 12, 2018). "Broadway Review: Joshua Jackson in 'Children of a Lesser God'". Variety . Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  9. ↑ Petski, Denise (August 29, 2019). "'Mad About You': Kecia Lewis To Recur In Revival Limited Series For Spectrum Originals". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  10. ↑ Rooney, David (November 1, 2022). "'The Independent' Review: John Cena, Jodie Turner-Smith and Brian Cox in Tepid Political Thriller". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  11. ↑ Kennedy, Mark (May 20, 2024). "Kecia Lewis in Broadway's 'Hell's Kitchen' delivers the soul and earns a Tony Award nomination". ABC News . Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Big River (Broadway, 1985)". Playbill. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Ain't Misbehavin' (Broadway, 1988)". Playbill. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Once on This Island (Broadway, 1990)". Playbill. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kecia Lewis AboutTheArtists
  16. ↑ "The Drowsy Chaperone (Broadway, 2006)". Playbill. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Kecia Lewis Artist". Playbill. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Leap of Faith (Broadway, 2012)". Playbill. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Children of a Lesser God (Broadway, 2018)". Playbill. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  20. ↑ "'Hell's Kitchen' Review: Alicia Keys Soundtracks a Powerhouse Cast in Vibrant Off-Broadway Depiction of Teen Girlhood". Variety . Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Hell's Kitchen (Broadway, 2024)". Playbill. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  22. ↑ Rosky, Nicole (April 29, 2024). "2024 Drama Desk Awards Nominations- The Full List". BroadwayWorld.com . Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  23. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 22, 2024). "2024 Drama League Awards Nominations Are Out; Read the Full List". Playbill . Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  24. ↑ "2024 Drama League Awards". Drama League Awards . April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  25. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 5, 2024). "Ars Nova and National Black Theatre's (Pray) Leads 2024 Lucille Lortel Awards; Read the Full List of Winners". Playbill . Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  26. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (2024-05-13). "Stereophonic Leads 2024 Outer Critics Circle Awards, Wins Best Play; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  27. ↑ Huston, Caitlin (April 30, 2024). "'Stereophonic,' Alicia Keys' 'Hell's Kitchen' Lead Tony Award Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  28. ↑ "2025 GRAMMYs: See The OFFICIAL Full Nominations List | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
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