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Anika Noni Rose
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Cite This SourceAnika Noni Rose (born September 6, 1972 in Bloomfield, Connecticut) is a Tony Award-winning American singer and actress.
Early life
Anika Noni Rose was born in Bloomfield, Connecticut. In her freshman year in high school, she appeared in a school production and caught the acting bug. "That's also when I started singing--I didn't know I could sing at all before. I was in the school chorus, but who wasn't in that? You could be tone deaf and be in that chorus. So it was really a delight when I found out that this was something I not only could do, but could do well and really love." She then attended Florida A&M University where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre. Then after studying drama at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, CA, Rose moved to New York without a job. After three months she secured the role of Rusty in Broadway's Footloose. "I had one more unemployment check coming, period," she states. "I got Footloose the week before that check came. It was a fabulous introduction to Broadway. It was a big showcase role. People like to hate on Footloose, but I am telling you, it was so much fun."Broadway career
Rose followed Footloose up with numerous workshops and two musicals using pre-existing song catalogs, Eli's Comin' off-Broadway and Me and Mrs. Jones with Lou Rawls in Philadelphia. Both of the full-scale tuners were rumored for transfers, but neither made it anywhere after their limited engagements ended. She was down to $20 in the bank before she landed her next gig, a movie musical. Rose's big Broadway break was getting cast as Tonya Pinkins' daughter in Caroline, or Change. In 2004, Rose was awarded the Theatre World Award, Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actress and the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, for Caroline, or Change.
In 2008 she will star on Broadway as Maggie, the Cat in an all-African-American production of Tennessee Williams's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Debbie Allen. She will appear alongside stage veterans James Earl Jones (Big Daddy) and Phylicia Rashad(Big Mama), as well as film actor Terrence Howard, who will make his Broadway debut as Brick.
Stage Credits
| Year | Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Valley Song | Veronica Vanesssa Jonkers |
| 1998 | Hydriotaphia, or the Death of Dr. Browne | His Soul |
| 1999 | Tartuffe | Marianne |
| 1999 | Threepenny Opera | Polly Peachum |
| 2000 | Footloose (musical) | Rusty |
| 2000 | Aida (musical) | Amneris |
| 2001 | Carmen Jones | Cindy Lou |
| 2001 | Eli's Comin' | The Woman |
| 2001 | Me and Mrs. Jones | Cookie |
| 2003 | Caroline, or Change | Emmie Thibodeaux |
| 2004 | Caroline, or Change | Emmie Thibodeaux |
| 2008 | Cat on a Hot Tin Roof | Maggie "The Cat" |
Movie career
Rose began her movie career in 1999 in the movie "King of the Bingo Game" as Film Noir Female. After her debut, she was later featured in From Justin to Kelly as Kaya in 2003. In 2004, Rose made her third movie "Temptation" and later appeared in "Surviving Christmas" as the choir. In 2006, Rose starred in Dreamgirls as Lorrell Robinson with Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, and Eddie Murphy. Rose is scheduled to appear in the upcoming films Just Add Water, Razor, and in Disney's upcoming animated feature The Princess and the Frog as the voice of the lead character Tiana, the first black Disney Princess. She will also star alongside Jill Scott in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency which will be directed by Anthony Minghella.Movies
| Year | Movie | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | King of the Bingo Game | Film Noir Female |
| 2003 | From Justin to Kelly | Kaya |
| 2004 | Temptation | Fog |
| 2004 | Surviving Christmas | Choir |
| 2006 | Dreamgirls | Lorrell Maya Robinson |
| 2007 | Just Add Water (completed) | R'ch'lle |
| 2007 | Razor (filming) | Kay |
| 2008 | The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (filming) | Grace Makutsi |
| 2009 | The Princess and the Frog (filming) | Tiana (voice) |
Television Works
Television Appearances
| Year | Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 100 Centre Street(1 Episode) | - |
| 2002 | Third Watch(1 Episode) | Monay |
| 2007 | The Starter Wife (miniseries) | Lavender |
Awards and Nominations
- 2008, Outstanding Actress in a Mini-Series/ Television Movie: The Starter Wife (Nominated)
- 2007, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Dreamgirls (Nominated)
- 2007, Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture: Dreamgirls (Nominated)
Awards & Nominations
| Year | Award Show | Award/Nomination |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | ? | Garland/Drama-Logue Award |
| 1998 | ? | Dean Goodman Choice Award |
| 1999 | ? | S.F Bay Guardian Upstage/Downstage Award |
| 2001 | OBIE Award | Performance |
| 2004 | Theatre World Award | ? |
| 2004 | Lucille Lortel Award | Best Featured Actress |
| 2004 | Drama Desk Award | Oustanding Featured Actress in a Musical |
| 2004 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actress in a Musical |
External links
- Anika Noni Rose at the Internet Movie Database
- Official Dreamgirls site
- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof All African-American production website
References
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Last updated on Sunday March 09, 2008 at 11:29:15 PDT (GMT -0700)
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