Kecia_Lewis
Kecia Lewis
American actress
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][7]
Kecia Lewis | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1963 |
| Education | High School of Performing Arts |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1980–present |
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.
Lewis had performed in severals Broadway, Off-Broadway and US stage companies.
Broadway productions
Off-Broadway productions
| 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
| 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 | Won | [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 | Won | [14] |
| Tony Awards | 2024 | Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical | Hell's Kitchen | Pending | [15] |
- "Kecia Lewis-Evans". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Myers, Victoria (September 20, 2019). "An Interview with Rebecca Naomi Jones and Kecia Lewis". The Interval. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- "Kecia Lewis Assumes Title Role in Off-Broadway's Mother Courage, Replacing Tonya Pinkins". Playbill. January 4, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- 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.
- "Production - Once On This Island". Playbill. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- Gans, Andrew (April 26, 2008). "Kecia Lewis-Evans Will Join Broadway's Chicago Prior to Shrek". Playbill. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- 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.
- Rosky, Nicole (April 29, 2024). "2024 Drama Desk Awards Nominations- The Full List". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- Culwell-Block, Logan (April 22, 2024). "2024 Drama League Awards Nominations Are Out; Read the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- "2024 Drama League Awards". Drama League Awards. April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- 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.
- Huston, Caitlin (April 30, 2024). "'Stereophonic,' Alicia Keys' 'Hell's Kitchen' Lead Tony Award Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 30, 2024.