Kecia Lewis, also credited as Kecia Lewis-Evans[1] is an American singer and actress, known primarily for her work on the stage.[2] Lewis made her Broadway debut as a replacement in the musical Big River (1985). She has since returned to Broadway in the musicals Once on This Island (1990), Leap of Faith (2012), and Hell's Kitchen (2024), the later of which earned her the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.[3][4][5][6]
Kecia Lewis | |
|---|---|
 Lewis at the 77th Tony Awards 2024 | |
| Born | June 30, 1965 Bronx, NY |
| Education | High School of Performing Arts NYU, Tisch School of the Arts |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1980–present |
Early life
editLewis was born and raised in New York City and is a graduate of the High School of Performing Arts.[7]
Career
editShe 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 2006, she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performance as Dorcas in Dessa Rose.
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 2018, she starred as Mrs. Norman in a revival of Children of a Lesser God at the Studio 54.[9] In 2019 Lewis played the recurring role of Tonya on the 2019 follow-up of NBC television series Mad About You.[10] In 2022 she was cast in the Peacock thriller film The Independent.[11]
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.[12] Lewis also teaches stage and drama acting at the Atlantic Acting School. 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.
Acting credits
editFilm
edit| Years | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Shelter | Shelter Worker | |
| 2020 | Shirley | Nurse | |
| 2022 | The Independent | Tonya |
Television
edit| Years | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Law & Order | Langstrom | Episode: "The Fertile Fields" | |
| 2000 | The Hughleys | Donna | Episode: "Love or Money" | |
| 2002 | Crossing Jordan | Intake Nurse | Episode: "Secrets & Lies: Part 1" | |
| 2013–2020 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Judge Constance Copeland | 4 episodes | |
| 2013 | Royal Pains | Nurse | Episode: "Game of Phones" | |
| 2015 | Limitless | Chrystal | Episode: "This Is Your Brian on Drugs" | |
| 2016 | Blue Bloods | Sandi Harper | Episode: "Town Without Pity" | |
| Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Stephanie | Episode: "Kimmy Gives Up!" | ||
| Conviction | Judge Melissa Hinds | Episode: "A Simple Man" | ||
| 2017 | Madam Secretary | Ms. Morales | Episode: "Revelation" | |
| 2019 | SMILF | Aunt Renee | Episode: "Smile More if Lying Fails" | |
| Wu-Tang: An American Saga | Aunt Goldie | 3 episodes | ||
| Mad About You | Tonya | 12 episodes | ||
| The Passage | Lacey Antoine | 7 episodes | ||
| 2020–2021 | The Blacklist | Esi Jackson | 10 episodes | |
| 2021 | With Love | Mia | Episode: "Independence Day" | |
| And Just Like That... | Laura | Episode: "Tragically Hip" | ||
| 2022 | The Good Fight | Angela Allen-Hellman | Episode: "The End of STR Laurie" |
Theatre
editLewis had performed in severals Broadway, Off-Broadway and US stage companies.
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Association | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play | Marie and Rosetta | Nominated | |
| 2024 | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical | Hell's Kitchen | Won | [21] | |
| 2006 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Dessa Rose | Nominated | |
| 2024 | Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical | Hell's Kitchen | Won | [22] | |
| 2024 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance | Hell's Kitchen | Nominated | [23][24] |
| 2017 | Obie Award | Distinguished Performance by an Actress | Marie and Rosetta | Won | |
| 2024 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical | Hell's Kitchen | Won | [25] |
| 2024 | Tony Awards | Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Hell's Kitchen | Won | [26] |
References
edit- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Stasio, Marilyn (April 12, 2018). "Broadway Review: Joshua Jackson in 'Children of a Lesser God'". Variety. Retrieved May 27, 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Big River (Broadway, 1985)". Playbill. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ "Ain't Misbehavin' (Broadway, 1988)". Playbill. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ "Once on This Island (Broadway, 1990)". Playbill. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ "Chicago (Broadway, 1996)". Playbill. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ "The Drowsy Chaperone (Broadway, 2006)". Playbill. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ "Leap of Faith (Broadway, 2012)". Playbill. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ "Children of a Lesser God (Broadway, 2018)". Playbill. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ "Hell's Kitchen (Broadway, 2024)". Playbill. Retrieved November 3, 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.