Kecia Lewis
American actress
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kecia Lewis, also credited as Kecia Lewis-Evans[1] is an American singer and actress.[2] Lewis made her Broadway debut as a replacement in the musical Big River (1985), followed by roles in Once on This Island (1990), Leap of Faith (2012), and Hell's Kitchen (2024), the latter of which earned her the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.[3][4][5][6]
Kecia Lewis | |
|---|---|
Lewis in 2025 | |
| Born | Bronx, NY |
| Education | High School of Performing Arts |
| Occupations | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1980–present |
Life and career
Early years and education
Lewis was born and raised in New York City and is a graduate of the High School of Performing Arts.[7]
Career
Lewis made her Broadway debut at the age of 18 when she joined the original production of Dreamgirls as a replacement for the role of Edna Burke and understudy for the role of Effie White.[8][9] She served 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.[10][11]In 2006, she originated the role of Trix the Aviatrix in The Drowsy Chaperone.[10][12][13] In 2006, she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical her performance as Dorcas in Dessa Rose.[14]
In 2017, her performance as Sister Rosetta Tharpe in Marie and Rosetta earned her an Obie Award[15] and a nomination for the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play.[16] In 2018, she starred as Mrs. Norman in a revival of Children of a Lesser God at the Studio 54.[17] In 2019, Lewis played the recurring role of Tonya on the 2019 follow-up of NBC television series Mad About You.[18] In 2022, she was cast in the Peacock thriller film The Independent.[19]
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.[20] Lewis also teaches stage and drama acting at the Atlantic Acting School.[21] 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.[22]
Acting credits
Film
| Years | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Shelter | Shelter Worker | |
| 2020 | Shirley | Nurse | |
| 2022 | The Independent | Tonya | |
Television
| 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" | |
| 2025 | Sub/liminal | [23] | ||
Theatre
| Years | Title | Role | Venue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985–1987 | Big River | Ensemble / Alice (replacement) | Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Broadway | [24] |
| 1988–1989 | Ain't Misbehavin' | Standby | Ambassador Theatre, Broadway | [25] |
| 1990–1991 | Once on This Island | Asaka | Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway | |
| Booth Theatre, Broadway | [26] | |||
| 2005 | Dessa Rose | Janet / Gemina / Field Hand / Dorcas | Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, Off-Broadway | [27] |
| 2006–2007 | The Drowsy Chaperone | Trix | Marquis Theatre, Broadway | [28] |
| 2008 | Shrek the Musical | Dragon | 5th Avenue Theatre | [27] |
| 2008–2010 | Chicago | Matron "Mama" Morton (replacement) | Shubert Theatre, Broadway | [29] |
| 2010 | Hairspray | Motormouth Maybelle | Benedum Center | [27] |
| 2011–2012 | Chicago | Matron "Mama" Morton (replacement) | US National Tour | [27] |
| 2012 | Leap of Faith | Ida Mae Robinson | St. James Theatre, Broadway | [30] |
| 2014 | The Little Mermaid | Ursula | North Shore Music Theatre | [27] |
| 2014–2015 | Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella | Marie | US National Tour | [27] |
| 2016 | Mother Courage and Her Children | Mother Courage (replacement) | Classic Stage Company, Off-Broadway | |
| Marie and Rosetta | Sister Rosetta Tharpe | Atlantic Theater Company, Off-Broadway | ||
| 2017 | Children of a Lesser God | Mrs. Norman | Berkshire Theatre Festival | |
| 2018 | Studio 54, Broadway | [31] | ||
| 2023–2024 | Hell's Kitchen | Miss Liza Jane | The Public Theater, Off-Broadway | [32] |
| 2024–2025 | Shubert Theatre, Broadway | [33] | ||
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical | Hell's Kitchen | Won | [34] |
| Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance | Nominated | [35][36] | ||
| Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical | Won | [37] | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical | Won | [38] | ||
| Tony Awards | Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Won | [39] | ||
| Grammy Awards | Best Musical Theater Album | Won | [40] |