Tina Fabrique

Tina Fabrique
Born	1944or1945(age 80–81) Harlem, New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupations	Singer actress

Tina Fabrique (born 1944or1945) ^[1] is an American singer and actress known for performing on Broadway. She sang the original theme song for the children's show Reading Rainbow . When Fabrique was sixteen, she won an award from the Apollo Theater, in Manhattan. ^[2] Other awards that she has received include the Kevin Kline Award and Florida's Carbonell Award ^[3] for her portrayal of Ella Fitzgerald in the show Ella.

Early life

Tina Fabrique was born in Harlem, New York, where she grew up singing at her church. ^{[2] [4]}

Career

She has appeared on The Today Show, One Life to Live, and All My Children. ^[5] She also sang the theme song for the HBO film Mike Mulligan's Steam Shovel.

She originated the role of Mother Vera in the musical Abyssinia, presented by Musical Theater Works in 1987 at the CSC Repertory Theater. ^[3]

In 2005, she originated the role of Ella Fitzgerald in Ella: Off the Record. She has continued to perform in the show, since renamed Ella The Musical, in various productions and tours through 2022. ^{[6] [7]}

Theater credits

• Ensemble role in Truely Blessed (1990) ^[2]
• Bella in Angel Levine (1995, Playhouse) ^[2]
• 'da Singer in Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk (1999) ^[2]
• Miss Jones in How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying (1999) ^{[2] [8]}
• Sara's friend in Ragtime (2000)
• Rose in Dessa Rose (2005, Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater) ^[2]
• Melba Jones in 70, Girls, 70 (2006, Encores! staging) ^[9]
• Mattie Michael in Women of Brewster Place (2007) ^[10]
• Grandmother Ethel in The First Noel (2016) ^[11]
• Medda Lark in Newsies (2017) ^[12]
• Vivienne in The Haunted Life (2019) ^[13]
• Duppy Mary in Marys Seacole (2022) ^{[14] [15]}
• Hattie McDaniel in (mis)UNDERSTANDING MAMMY: The Hattie McDaniel Story (2023) ^[16]

Awards and recognition

Year	Awards	Category	Work	Role	Result	Ref
2020	AUDELCO Awards	Outstanding Achievement Award	n/a	n/a	Won	[17]
2024	Lucille Lortel Awards	Outstanding Ensemble	(pray)	Ensemble	Won	[18]

References

1. "She sang the iconic 'Reading Rainbow' theme. Decades later, her voice is going viral on TikTok". www.nbcnews.com. Archived from the original on 2022-04-28. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
2. Hill, Anthony D. (2018). "Fabrique, Tina". Historical Dictionary of African American Theater. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 193. ISBN   9781538117293.
3. Holden, Stephen (1987-04-12). "THEATER: 'ABYSSINIA,' A MUSICAL". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2025-10-20.
4. Irwin, Barbara (2024). Creating Reading Rainbow: The Untold Story of a Beloved Children's Series. Tony Buttino, Pam Johnson (1st ed.). Blue Ridge Summit: North Country Books, Incorporated. pp. 171–173. ISBN   978-1-4930-7733-5.
5. "Tina Fabrique". Goodman Theatre. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
6. Hetrick, Adam (2022-09-22). "Ella The Musical, With Tina Fabrique, Begins Long Wharf Run Sept. 22". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
7. Handelman, Jay. "There's only one Ella Fitzgerald, but Tina Fabrique does her best". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
8. Swain, Marianka. "HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING Opens This Week at Connecticut Repertory Theatre". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
9. Isherwood, Charles (2006-04-01). "'70, Girls, 70' Presents Old Faces Above Young Hearts". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2025-10-20.
10. "'Women of Brewster Place' Is Put to Music". NPR. 2007-10-18. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
11. BWW News Desk. "Classical Theatre of Harlem's THE FIRST NOEL Starts Holiday Tradition at The Apollo Tonight". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
12. Harrison, Joseph. "Review: NEWSIES at Connecticut Repertory Theatre". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
13. Grossman, Nancy. "Review: World Premiere THE HAUNTED LIFE: Kerouac's Back in Lowell". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
14. Brickman, Ravelle (2022-05-27). "Tina Fabrique talks about 'Marys Seacole' at Mosaic". DC Theater Arts. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
15. Lincer, Mary. "Review: MARYS SEACOLE at Mosaic Theater Company". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
16. Rabinowitz, Chloe (2023-06-29). "Tina Fabrique To Star In (MIS)UNDERSTANDING MAMMY: The Hattie McDaniel Story At The Schoolhouse Theater". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
17. Wild, Stephi. "Winners Announced For 2020 AUDELCO Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
18. Ingenthron, Blair. "(PRAY), THE COMEUPPANCE, and More Take Home 2024 Lucille Lortel Awards - Full List of Winners!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-10-20.

Sources

• Arnott, Christopher (2020-12-17). "Spirit of Ella returns in Christmas concert". Hartford Courant. pp. B3. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
• Delp, Eric (2007-05-23). "You'll be jazzed to see 'Ella' at Asolo". The Bradenton Herald. p. 41. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
• Ersten, Hap (2006-07-30). "Tina Fabrique is...Ella". The Palm Beach Post. pp. 101, 105 . Retrieved 2025-10-20.
• Harbaugh, Pam (2009-12-30). "Star of the show". Florida Today. p. 30. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
• Isaacs, Bob; Karen, Isaacs (2010-10-14). "Ella - a must see". East Haven Courier. pp. A24. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
• Sokol, Fred (2005-07-09). "Fabrique passionate as Ella". The Republican. p. 40. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
• Okamoto, Sandra (1997-01-03). "Back in business". Ledger-Enquirer. p. 13. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
• Rist, Curtis (1984-04-19). "Bright, Bold Entertainment from the Crossroads". Bernardsville News. p. 62. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
• Rizzo, Frank (2010-09-19). "The life of a legend". Hartford Courant. pp. G01, G08 . Retrieved 2025-10-20.
• Sjostrom, Jan (2006-07-13). "'Ella' gains new lease on life". Palm Beach Daily News. pp. A1, A4 . Retrieved 2025-10-20.
• "Tina Fabrique to perform at Teaneck fundraiser". Northern Valley Suburbanite (South). 2018-01-25. pp. A5. Retrieved 2025-10-20.

External links

• Tina Fabrique at the Internet Broadway Database
• Tina Fabrique at IMDb