Kecia Lewis

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Kecia Lewis
Born1963
EducationHigh 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.[3][4][5][6][7]

Life and career[edit]

Lewis was born and raised in New York City and is a graduate of the High School of Performing Arts.[8] 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.[9] 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. She is currently performing 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. Lewis also teaches stage and drama acting at the Atlantic Acting School.

Theatre and musical[edit]

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

Broadway productions[edit]

Title Years Role Location Notes
Dreamgirls 1981–1985 Ensemble / Edna Burke / Effie Melody White Imperial Theatre Original stage musical;

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

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

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

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

directed by Richard Maltby, Jr.

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

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

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

directed by Rodney Fisher

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

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

Off-Broadway productions[edit]

Title Years Role Location Notes
Once on This Island 1990–1991 Asaka Playwrights Horizons Stage musical;
Alysha 2013 Queen Victoria Manhattan Theatre Club Stage musical;
Mother Courage and Her Children 2015–2016 Mother Courage Classic Stage Company Stage musical;
Marie and Rosetta 2016 Sister Rosetta Tharpe Linda Gross Theater Stage musical;
The Skin of Our Teeth 2017 Mrs. Antrobus Theatre for a New Audience Stage musical;
The Secret Life of Bees 2017 Various Powerhouse Theater Stage musical;
American Eclipse 2022 Naomi Butter Open Jar Studios Stage musical;
Hell's Kitchen 2024 Miss Liza Jane The Public Theater Stage musical;

Other productions[edit]

Title Years Role Location Notes
Louisiana Purchase 1999 Beatrice Pasadena Playhouse Stage musical;
Shrek the Musical 2008 Dragon 5th Avenue Theatre Stage musical;
Hairspray 2010 Motormouth Maybelle Benedum Center Stage musical;
Leap of Faith 2010 Ida Mae Sturdevant Ahmanson Theatre Stage musical;
Chicago 2011–2012 Matron "Mama" Morton North American Tour Stage musical;
Sleeping Beauty Wakes 2011 Doctor 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 Hayes 2013 Angel Mo' Hartford Stage Theatre Stage musical;
City Theatre Stage musical;
Ain't Misbehavin': The Fats Waller Musical 2014 Nell Delaware Theatre Company Stage musical;
The Little Mermaid Ursula North Shore Music Theatre Stage musical;
Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella 2014–2016 Marie North American Tour Stage musical;
Children of a Lesser God 2017 Mrs. Norman Berkshire Theatre Festival Stage musical;
Big Night Various Kirk Douglas Theatre Stage musical;
Goddess 2022 Siti Berkeley Repertory Theatre Stage musical;

Awards and nominations[edit]

Award Date of ceremony Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Lucille Lortel Awards 2017 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play Marie and Rosetta Nominated
2024 Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical Hell's Kitchen Pending [10]
Drama Desk Award 2006 Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Dessa Rose Nominated
2024 Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical Hell's Kitchen Pending [11]
Drama League Awards 2024 Distinguished Performance Hell's Kitchen Pending [12][13]
Obie Award 2017 Distinguished Performance by an Actress Marie and Rosetta Won
Outer Critics Circle Awards 2024 Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical Hell's Kitchen Pending [14]
Tony Awards 2024 Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Hell's Kitchen Pending [15]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  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. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "Production - Once On This Island". Playbill. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  9. ^ Gans, Andrew (April 26, 2008). "Kecia Lewis-Evans Will Join Broadway's Chicago Prior to Shrek". Playbill. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  10. ^ Russo, Gillian (2024-04-04). "2024 Lucille Lortel Award nominations announced". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  11. ^ Rosky, Nicole (April 29, 2024). "2024 Drama Desk Awards Nominations- The Full List". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  12. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 22, 2024). "2024 Drama League Awards Nominations Are Out; Read the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  13. ^ "2024 Drama League Awards". Drama League Awards. April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  14. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 23, 2024). "Dead Outlaw Leads 2024 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations; Read the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  15. ^ Huston, Caitlin (April 30, 2024). "'Stereophonic,' Alicia Keys' 'Hell's Kitchen' Lead Tony Award Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
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