Kecia Lewis

Last updated
Kecia Lewis
Born1963
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, known primarily for her work on the stage. [2] 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. In 2006, she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performance as Dorcas in Dessa Rose . Her performance in Hell's Kitchen earned her a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical and won a Lucille Lortel Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

During her career Lewis also sterred in films and television series, including recurring roles in Mad About You, The Passage, The Blacklist and Law & Order.

Life and career

Lewis was born and raised in New York City and is a graduate of the High School of Performing Arts. [7] She made her Broadway debut at 18 years old in the original cast of Dreamgirls , directed by Michael Bennett, where she replaced Sheila Ellis in the role of Edna Burk and was the understudy of Effie Melody White played by Jennifer Holliday. [8] She followed this serving 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 . In 2006, she originated the role of Trix the Aviatrix in The Drowsy Chaperone .

In 2018, she starred as Mrs. Norman in a revival of Children of Lesser God at the Studio 54. [9] In 2019 Lewis played the recurring role of Tonya on the 2019 follow-up of NBC televvision serie Mad About You. [10] In 2022 she was cast on Peacock thriller film The Independent. [11]

Since 2023 she has been perfornimg on Broadway in the show Hell's Kitchen , originating the role of music educator Miss Liza Jane, receiving nominations at the Lucille Lortel Awards and Drama League Awards. [12] Lewis also teaches stage and drama acting at the Atlantic Acting School.

Theatre and musical

Lewis had performed in severals Broadway, Off-Broadway and US stage companies.

Broadway productions

TitleYearsRoleLocationNotes
Dreamgirls 1981–1985Ensemble / Edna Burke / Effie Melody White Imperial Theatre Original stage musical;

written by Tom Eyen, directed by Michael Bennett, music by Henry Krieger

Big River 1985–1987Esembre / Alice Eugene O'Neill Theatre Original stage musical;

written by William Hauptman, directed by Richard Maltby, Jr., music by Roger Miller

Ain't Misbehavin' 1988–1989Standby Ambassador Theatre Stage musical;

directed by Richard Maltby, Jr.

The Gospel at Colonus 1988Chorus Lunt-Fontanne Theatre Original stage musical;

written and directed by Lee Breuer, Jr., music by Bob Telson

Once on This Island 1990–1991Asaka Booth Theatre Stage musical;
Chicago 1996Matron "Mama" Morton Ambassador Theatre Stage musical;

directed by Rodney Fisher

Dessa Rose 2005Various Vivian Beaumont Theater Stage musical;
The Drowsy Chaperone 2006–2007Trix Marquis Theatre Stage musical;
Chicago 2008Matron "Mama" Morton Shubert Theatre Stage musical;
2009–2010 Richard Rodgers Theatre Stage musical;
Leap of Faith 2012Ida Mae Robinson St. James Theatre Stage musical;
Children of a Lesser God 2018Mrs. Norman Studio 54 Stage musical;
Hell's Kitchen 2024Miss Liza Jane Shubert Theatre Original stage musical;

written by Kristoffer Diaz, directed by Michael Greif, music by Alicia Keys

Off-Broadway productions

TitleYearsRoleLocationNotes
Once on This Island 1990–1991Asaka Playwrights Horizons Stage musical;
Alysha2013Queen Victoria Manhattan Theatre Club Stage musical;
Mother Courage and Her Children 2015–2016Mother Courage Classic Stage Company Stage musical;
Marie and Rosetta2016Sister Rosetta Tharpe Linda Gross Theater Stage musical;
The Skin of Our Teeth 2017Mrs. Antrobus Theatre for a New Audience Stage musical;
The Secret Life of Bees 2017Various Powerhouse Theater Stage musical;
American Eclipse2022Naomi ButterOpen Jar Studios Stage musical;
Hell's Kitchen 2024Miss Liza Jane The Public Theater Stage musical;

Other productions

TitleYearsRoleLocationNotes
Louisiana Purchase 1999Beatrice Pasadena Playhouse Stage musical;
Shrek the Musical 2008Dragon 5th Avenue Theatre Stage musical;
Hairspray 2010Motormouth Maybelle Benedum Center Stage musical;
Leap of Faith 2010Ida Mae Sturdevant Ahmanson Theatre Stage musical;
Chicago 2011–2012Matron "Mama" Morton North American Tour Stage musical;
Sleeping Beauty Wakes 2011Doctor La Jolla Playhouse Stage musical;
Berlind Theatre Auditorium Stage musical;
Ain't Misbehavin' Nell Long Wharf Theatre Stage musical;
Breath and Imagination: The Story of Roland Hayes2013Angel Mo' Hartford Stage Theatre Stage musical;
City Theatre Stage musical;
Ain't Misbehavin': The Fats Waller Musical 2014NellDelaware Theatre Company Stage musical;
The Little Mermaid Ursula North Shore Music Theatre Stage musical;
Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella 2014–2016MarieNorth American Tour Stage musical;
Children of a Lesser God 2017Mrs. Norman Berkshire Theatre Festival Stage musical;
Big NightVarious Kirk Douglas Theatre Stage musical;
Goddess2022Siti Berkeley Repertory Theatre Stage musical;

Filmography

FIlms

TitleYearsRoleNotes
Shelter2014Shelter WorkerTelevision Movie
Shirley 2020NurseDirected by Josephine Decker
The Independent 2022TonyaDirected by Amy Rice

Television

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

Awards and nominations

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
Lucille Lortel Awards 2017Outstanding Lead Actress in a PlayMarie and RosettaNominated
2024Outstanding Featured Performer in a MusicalHell's KitchenWon [13]
Drama Desk Award 2006 Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Dessa RoseNominated
2024Outstanding Featured Performance in a MusicalHell's KitchenPending [14]
Drama League Awards 2024Distinguished PerformanceHell's KitchenNominated [15] [16]
Obie Award 2017 Distinguished Performance by an Actress Marie and RosettaWon
Outer Critics Circle Awards 2024Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway MusicalHell's KitchenWon [17]
Tony Awards 2024 Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Hell's KitchenPending [18]

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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. Gans, Andrew (April 26, 2008). "Kecia Lewis-Evans Will Join Broadway's Chicago Prior to Shrek". Playbill . Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  9. Stasio, Marilyn (April 12, 2018). "Broadway Review: Joshua Jackson in 'Children of a Lesser God'". Variety . Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. Rosky, Nicole (April 29, 2024). "2024 Drama Desk Awards Nominations- The Full List". BroadwayWorld.com . Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  15. Culwell-Block, Logan (April 22, 2024). "2024 Drama League Awards Nominations Are Out; Read the Full List". Playbill . Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  16. "2024 Drama League Awards". Drama League Awards . April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  17. 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.
  18. Huston, Caitlin (April 30, 2024). "'Stereophonic,' Alicia Keys' 'Hell's Kitchen' Lead Tony Award Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved April 30, 2024.