Valisia LeKae (born September 25, 1979)Date of birth, Familysearch.org; accessed June 4, 2014. is an American actress and singer. She was nominated for a 2014 Grammy Award and in 2013 she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical both for her performance as Diana Ross in the Broadway musical Motown: The Musical.
Personal life LeKae was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee,Gans, Andrew. "DIVA TALK: A Chat With 'Motown The Musical' Star Valisia LeKae", playbill.com, March 15, 2013 and listened to Motown records in her grandfather's barbershop as a youngster. She started to sing in church at age six and then worked at the Dollywood theme park.Mandell, Jonathan. In the Middle with You: Motown Stars Valisia LeKae and Brandon Victor Dixon", playbill.com, May 2, 2013 LeKae graduated from college with a degree in Psychology and minor in Child and Family Studies from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
LeKae left Motown: The Musical in December 2013 to be treated after a diagnosis of ovarian cancer.Hetrick, Adam. "Tony Award Nominee Valisia LeKae Departs Broadway's Motown to Undergo Treatment for Ovarian Cancer" playbill.com, December 17, 2013
In February 2014, LeKae was named spokesperson for The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.
Career She starred as Diana Ross in Motown: The Musical on Broadway, which opened in April 2013.Hetrick, Adam. " 'Hail to the Beat': 'Motown: The Musical' Opens On Broadway April 14" , playbill.com, April 14, 2013 The reviewer for TheaterMania wrote of her performance in Motown: The Musical:The one person who truly shines, though, is Valisia LeKae as Gordy's longtime paramour, superstar Diana Ross. It's not just her almost spot-on re-creation of Miss Ross' breathy voice and steely demeanor that commands our attention. The consistent display of her genuine star power – most evident in a thrilling 'Reach Out and Touch' segment – also draws us in.Lipton, Brian Scott. "Review. 'Motown: The Musical'", theatermania.com, April 14, 2013 The TalkinBroadway reviewer wrote: "Valisia LeKae does a killer impersonation of Ross, and effectively mimics her smoky innocence."Murray, Matthew. "Broadway Reviews. 'Motown: The Musical'", talkinbroadway.com, April 14, 2013
For her performance she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.Gans, Andrew. "Nominations Announced for 67th Annual Tony Awards; 'Kinky Boots' Earns 13 Nominations" , playbill.com, April 30, 2013. She was also nominated for a Drama League Award (Distinguished Performance Award)Gans, Andrew. "Nominees Announced for 79th Annual Drama League Awards" , playbill.com, April 23, 2013 and Outer Critics Circle Award (Outstanding Actress in a Musical)Gans, Andrew. "'Pippin' Is Big Winner of 2012-13 Outer Critics Circle Awards" , playbill.com, May 13, 2013. and won the Theatre World Award (Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway debut performance).Gans, Andrew. "Tom Hanks, Bertie Carvel, Valisia LeKae, Rob McClure and More Are Theatre World Award Winners" , playbill.com, May 7, 2013.Witherspoon, Chris. "Motown Actress Valisia LeKae Delivers as Diana Ross", thegrio.com, May 20, 2013.
Previously, she was a swing and understudy in the Broadway productions of The Book of Mormon (2011), Ragtime (2009) for which she was the winner of a Joseph Jefferson Award, and The Threepenny Opera (2006) and a performer in 110 in the Shade (2007)."Valisia LeKae Listing", playbillvault.com"Valisia LeKae Profile", broadway.com
Filmography YearTitleRoleNotesRef.2008Camelot: Live from Lincoln CenterEnsembleTV special2009-2010One Life to LiveEvangeline Body Double2 episodes2015The Adventures of Lillian KateLillian KateWeb series, 3 episodes2017Blue BloodsLeah WalkerEpisode: "The Forgotten"2019The BlacklistGunman #3Episode: "Dr. Hans Koehler (No. 33)"2020Scenes from Sweet LorraineLorraine HansberryShort film2022FBI: Most WantedJade JohnsonEpisode: "Shattered"2023The Marvelous Mrs. MaiselLucyEpisode: "Susan"
Stage credits YearTitleRoleVenueRef.2003Mamma MiaEnsembleLas Vegas, Mandalay Bay Theatre2003-2004LisaU.S. National Tour2005Almost Heaven - John Denver's AmericaPerformerRegional, Center Repertory Company2006The Threepenny OperaSwingBroadway, Studio 54All Shook UpLorraineU.S. National Tour2007110 in the ShadeVivian Lorraine TaylorBroadway, Studio 542008Caroline, or ChangeEmmie ThibodeauxRegional, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley2009Little Shop of HorrorsChiffonRegional, Stages St. Louis2010RagtimeEnsembleBroadway, Neil Simon TheatreSarahRegional, Drury Lane Theatre2011-2012The Book of MormonUnderstudyBroadway, Eugene O'Neill Theatre2013-2015MotownDiana RossBroadway, Lunt-Fontanne Theatre2016SingleJessicaOff-Broadway, June Havoc Theatre2019Rock and Roll Man: The Alan Freed StoryLavern BakerRegional, Berkshire Theatre GroupMark Twain's River of SongEnsembleRegional, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley2022SuperHeroMomOff-Broadway, The Frank Shiner Theater at the Sheen Center2023Rock & Roll ManLavern BakerOff-Broadway, New World Stages2025The Color PurpleShug AveryRegional, Casa Mañana Theatre
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2010Joseph Jefferson AwardOutstanding Actress in a Supporting Role - MusicalRagtime2013Tony AwardBest Actress in a MusicalMotownOuter Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Actress in a MusicalDrama League AwardDistinguished PerformanceTheatre World AwardOutstanding Debut2014Grammy AwardBest Musical Theater Album
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