# Kecia Lewis

Kecia Lewis, also credited as Kecia Lewis-Evans is an American singer and actress, known primarily for her work on the stage. 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.

## Early life

Lewis was born and raised in New York City and is a graduate of the High School of Performing Arts.

## Career

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. 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. In 2019 Lewis played the recurring role of Tonya on the 2019 follow-up of NBC television series Mad About You. In 2022 she was cast in the Peacock thriller film The Independent.
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. 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
### Film

| Years | Title | Role |
| 2014 | Shelter | Shelter Worker |
| 2020 | Shirley | Nurse |
| 2022 | The Independent | Tonya |

### Television

| Years | Title | Role | Notes |
| 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" |
| 2016 | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Stephanie | Episode: "Kimmy Gives Up!" |
| 2016 | 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" |
| 2019 | Wu-Tang: An American Saga | Aunt Goldie | 3 episodes |
| 2019 | Mad About You | Tonya | 12 episodes |
| 2019 | The Passage | Lacey Antoine | 7 episodes |
| 2020–2021 | The Blacklist | Esi Jackson | 10 episodes |
| 2021 | With Love | Mia | Episode: "Independence Day" |
| 2021 | And Just Like That... | Laura | Episode: "Tragically Hip" |
| 2022 | The Good Fight | Angela Allen-Hellman | Episode: "The End of STR Laurie" |

### Theatre

Lewis had performed in several Broadway, Off-Broadway and US stage companies.
| Years | Title | Role | Venue |
| 1981–1985 | Dreamgirls | Ensemble / Edna Burke Effie Melody White | Imperial Theatre, Broadway |
| 1985–1987 | Big River | Ensemble / Alice | Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Broadway |
| 1988–1989 | Ain't Misbehavin' | Standby | Ambassador Theatre, Broadway |
| 1988 | The Gospel at Colonus | Chorus | Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway |
| 1990–1991 | Once on This Island | Asaka | Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway |
| 1990–1991 | Once on This Island | Asaka | Booth Theatre, Broadway |
| 1996 | Chicago | Matron "Mama" Morton | Ambassador Theatre, Broadway |
| 1999 | Louisiana Purchase | Beatrice | Pasadena Playhouse, California |
| 2005 | Dessa Rose | Various | Vivian Beaumont Theater, Broadway |
| 2006–2007 | The Drowsy Chaperone | Trix | Marquis Theatre, Broadway |
| 2008 | Shrek the Musical | Dragon | 5th Avenue Theatre, Washington |
| 2008 | Chicago | Matron "Mama" Morton | Shubert Theatre, Broadway |
| 2009–2010 | Chicago | Matron "Mama" Morton | Richard Rodgers Theatre, Broadway |
| 2010 | Hairspray | Motormouth Maybelle | Benedum Center, Pennsylvania |
| 2010 | Leap of Faith | Ida Mae Sturdevant | Ahmanson Theatre, California |
| 2011 | Sleeping Beauty Wakes | Doctor | La Jolla Playhouse, California |
| 2011 | Ain't Misbehavin' | Nell | Long Wharf Theatre, Connecticut |
| 2011–2012 | Chicago | Matron "Mama" Morton | North American Tour |
| 2012 | Leap of Faith | Ida Mae Robinson | St. James Theatre, Broadway |
| 2014 | Ain't Misbehavin': The Fats Waller Musical | Nell | Delaware Theatre Company |
| 2014 | The Little Mermaid | Ursula | North Shore Music Theatre, |
| 2014–2016 | Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella | Marie | North American Tour |
| 2015–2016 | Mother Courage and Her Children | Mother Courage | Classic Stage Company, Off-Broadway |
| 2016 | Marie and Rosetta | Sister Rosetta Tharpe | Linda Gross Theater, Off-Broadway |
| 2017 | The Skin of Our Teeth | Mrs. Antrobus | Theatre for a New Audience, Off-Broadway |
| 2017 | The Secret Life of Bees | Various | Powerhouse Theater, Off-Broadway |
| 2017 | Children of a Lesser God | Mrs. Norman | Berkshire Theatre Festival |
| 2017 | Big Night | Various | Kirk Douglas Theatre, California |
| 2018 | Children of a Lesser God | Mrs. Norman | Studio 54, Broadway |
| 2022 | American Eclipse | Naomi Butter | Open Jar Studios, Off-Broadway |
| 2022 | Goddess | Siti | Berkeley Repertory Theatre |
| 2024 | Hell's Kitchen | Miss Liza Jane | The Public Theater, Off-Broadway |
| 2024 | Hell's Kitchen | Miss Liza Jane | Shubert Theatre, Broadway |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Association | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| 2017 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play | Marie and Rosetta | Nominated |
| 2024 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical | Hell's Kitchen | Won |
| 2006 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Dessa Rose | Nominated |
| 2024 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical | Hell's Kitchen | Won |
| 2024 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance | Hell's Kitchen | Nominated |
| 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 |
| 2024 | Tony Awards | Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Hell's Kitchen | Won |
| 2025 | Grammy Awards | Best Musical Theater Album | Hell's Kitchen | Won |