Tamika Lawrence
Tamika Sonja Lawrence is an American actress and singer. She is known for performances on Broadway in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, If/Then, The Book of Mormon, and Matilda.[1][2][3][4][5]
Early life
Lawrence was born on January 11, 1987 in Columbus, Ohio. She moved to Phoenix, Arizona at the age of four, where she later attended South Mountain High School. After high school, she attended the University of Arizona and graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre.
Career
Lawrence made her off-Broadway debut understudying Joanne Jefferson in the musical Rent. She made her Broadway debut in 2012 as a replacement Mrs. Brown in The Book of Mormon, before understudying Mrs. Phelps and Mrs. Wormwood in Broadway's Matilda, and starring as Elena in If/Then, in which she also understudied Kate. She also played Ceres in The Tempest off-Broadway in 2015. In 2016, she starred in the film White Girl, and she played a munchkin in the 2015 TV film The Wiz Live!. Also in 2016, she returned to Broadway as Shirelle and Janelle Woods in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.
Tamika and the Slay
Lawrence is also the head singer of the rock/soul band Tamika and the Slay, which was founded in early 2014 and frequently performs in venues across New York. Along with Lawrence, the band features Damien Bassman, Drew Coles, Craig Magnano, and Marc Schmeid.[6][7]
Lawrence released a debut EP in May 2017 with The Slay entitled "UGLY". The album features 6 tracks, 4 of which Lawrence wrote and composed.
Theatre credits
Broadway
- The Book of Mormon, Mrs. Brown, Mar. 27 - Dec. 16, 2012
- Matilda, Ensemble/Mrs. Wormwood (u/s)/Mrs. Phelps (u/s), Apr. 11 - Sep. 15, 2013
- If/Then, Elena/Kate (u/s), Mar. 30, 2014 - Mar. 22, 2015
- Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Shirelle/Janelle Woods, 2016
Off-Broadway
- Rent, Joanne (u/s)
- The Tempest, Ceres, May/June 2015
Regional theatre
- The Miracle Worker, Viney, Arizona Repertory Theatre
- Violet, Ensemble, Arizona Repertory Theatre
- Loves Labors Lost, Rosaline, dir. Brent Gibbs, Arizona Repertory Theatre
- The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Jewel, dir. Samantha Wyer, Arizona Repertory Theatre
- To Kill a Mockingbird, Helen Robinson/Calpurnia (u/s), Arizona Theatre Company
- Hair, Tribe/Dionne (u/s), Arizona Theatre Company
- Ain't Misbehavin', Swing, dir. Kent Gash
- Shout!, Red Girl, dir. Patty Wilcox
Screen credits
Film
- Love the Coopers, sings "O Holy Night", 2015
- White Girl, Co-Star, 2016
- Breakable You, Tara, 2016
Television
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Mignon, 1 episode, 2011
- Christmas in Rockefeller Center, Playback singer, TV special, 2014
- Holiday Wishes Concert|Idina Menzel: Holiday Wishes, Singer, iHeart Radio concert special, 2014
- Blue Bloods, Nina, 1 episode, 2015
- Show Me a Hero, Young Mother, 2 episodes, 2015
- The Wiz Live!, Deputy Munchkin, TV film, 2015
- Vinyl, Starr, 2016
Discography
- Matilda (Original Broadway Cast Recording), background vocals, 2013
- If/Then (Original Broadway Cast Recording), 2014
- Love the Coopers (Original film soundtrack), 2015
References
- ↑ Snetiker, Mark (August 12, 2013). "Jerry Dixon, Jenn Colella, Jason Tam and Tamika Lawrence Join Idina Menzel in Broadway-Bound Musical If/Then". Broadway. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ↑ Gioia, Michael (November 6, 2016). "Single in the City—How an Actor Navigates the Dating Scene". Playbill. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ↑ "New York Minute: If/Then's Tamika Lawrence on How NYC Is Like a Small Town". Broadway.com. June 26, 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ↑ Gioia, Michael (April 13, 2014). "Idina Menzel, Anthony Rapp and Tamika Lawrence Lead Cast of If/Then in "Seasons of Love" Post-Show Sing-Along (Video)". Playbill. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ↑ "Jess LeProtto and Tamika Lawrence Get Personal on "The Ensemblist," and Side Show Photo Journal Released". Playbill.com. December 30, 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ↑ Gioia, Michael (February 3, 2016). "Tamika Lawrence and Her Band, The Slay, Will Slay Lower Manhattan This Month". Playbill. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ↑ "See If/Then's Tamika Lawrence Sing Dolly Parton's 'Little Sparrow' at 54 Below". Broadway.com. July 15, 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2016.