Tamika Lawrence
Tamika Lawrence | |
|---|---|
| Born | Tamika Sonja Lawrence |
| Education | University of Arizona (BFA) |
| Occupations |
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| Website | tamikalawrence |
Tamika Sonja Lawrence is a two-time Grammy winning American actress, singer, and writer.[1] She is known for her Broadway stage performances in productions like Caroline, or Change and Black No More.[2][3]
Early life and education
Lawrence received her BFA in musical theatre from the University of Arizona.[1]
Career
Lawrence made her off-Broadway debut in the 2011 revival of Rent as the "Seasons of Love" Soloist. Since then she has appeared in over seven Broadway shows and made several television and film appearances. In 2017 Lawrence and her band, "The Slay", released their album UGLY. Lawrence won a Grammy for the Dear Evan Hansen album in 2018.[4][5][6]
During the COVID-19 lockdown beginning in early 2020, Lawrence started an independent streetwear clothing company called Ready Set Wear and donated a portion of the profits to the NAACP and ACLU, with the goal of supporting the Black Lives Matter protest movement and advocating for sustainable fashion.[7][8] She also began an educational social media series called "It Be Like That" in response to interest in topics of police reform and gun violence in the United States.[2][7]
Lawrence's debut solo album, Two Faced, was released in October 2020.[9] Her second album, Barely In The Calm House was released March 2026.[10]
For her performance as Buni in the original off-Broadway production of Black No More, Lawrence was nominated for the 2022 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical[11] and Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical.[12][7]
Acting credits
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Rent | Mrs. Jefferson/Ensemble/Joanne (u/s) | Off-Broadway |
| 2012 | The Book of Mormon | Mrs. Brown | Broadway |
| 2013 | Matilda | Ensemble/Mrs. Wormwood (u/s)/Mrs. Phelps (u/s) | Broadway |
| 2014–2015 | If/Then | Elena/Kate (u/s) | Broadway |
| 2015 | The Tempest | Ceres | Off-Broadway |
| 2016 | Beautiful: The Carole King Musical | Shirelle/Janelle Woods | Broadway |
| 2016–present | Dear Evan Hansen | Virtual Community Voice | Broadway |
| 2017–2022 | Come From Away | Standby for Janice, Hannah, Bonnie, Beulah, & Diane | Broadway |
| 2018 | Gettin' the Band Back Together | Roxanne Velasco | Broadway |
| 2019 | Hercules | Calliope | Off-Broadway |
| 2021 | Caroline, or Change | Dotty Moffett | Broadway |
| 2022 | Black No More | Buni | Off-Broadway |
| 2024 | The Heart of Rock and Roll | Roz | Broadway |
| 2025 | Drag: The Musical | Dixie Coxworth | Off-Broadway |
| 2026 | Oh Happy Day[13] | Niecy | Off-Broadway |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | White Girl | Female Visitor #1 | |
| Breakable You | Tara | ||
| 2019 | Rent: Live | RENT Alumni Singer | Uncredited |
| 2022 | Better Nate Than Ever | Drugstore employee | |
| 2025 | Fucktoys | Dion |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Mignon | Episode: "True Believers" |
| 2014 | Christmas in Rockefeller Center | Playback singer | TV special |
| Idina Menzel: Holiday Wishes | Singer | iHeartRadio concert special | |
| 2015 | Blue Bloods | Nina | Episode: "Home Sweet Home" |
| Show Me a Hero | Young Mother | 2 episodes | |
| The Wiz Live! | Deputy Munchkin | TV special | |
| 2016 | Vinyl | Starr | Episode: "The Racket" |
| 2018 | The Last O.G. | Dawn | Episode: "Tray-ning Day" |
| 2021–2022 | That Damn Michael Che | Recurring | |
| 2022 | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Shy Baldwin Backup Singer | Episode: "How to Chew Quietly and Influence People" |
| 2024 | Sherri | Musical Guest | Season 2, Episode 122: "Huey Lewis/Mally Roncal/Tamika Lawrence" |
Discography
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Matilda (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Background vocals |
| 2014 | If/Then (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | |
| 2015 | Love the Coopers (Film Soundtrack) | Sings "O Holy Night" |
| 2017 | The Greatest Showman (Film Soundtrack) | Ensemble vocalist |
| UGLY | With Tamika & The Slay | |
| 2018 | Gettin' the Band Back Together (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | |
| 2020 | Two Faced | Solo album |
| 2021 | In the Heights (Film Soundtrack) | Vocal ensemble |
| Needle in a Timestack (Film Soundtrack) | Sings "Won't Be Undone" | |
| Caroline, or Change (New Broadway Cast Recording) | ||
| 2025 | The Farewell, Vol2 | A cinematic concert written and performed by Lawrence[10] |
| 2026 | Barely In The Calm House | Solo album |
References
- 1 2 "Tamika Sonja Lawrence". University of Arizona | School of Theatre, Film & Television. Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
- 1 2 Miller, Amanda Marie (June 10, 2022). "Tamika Lawrence on the Past and Future In Her Own Words". www.theatrely.com. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
- ↑ "DSO celebrates Aretha Franklin with four concerts on its PNC Pops Series, May 26-28". Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
- ↑ "AMC: Tamika Lawrence and Bel-Ami". Apollo Theater. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
- ↑ "Tamika Lawrence". Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
- ↑ "Tamika Lawrence Brings You Backstage at Broadway's Original, New Musical Gettin' The Band Back Together | The Daily Scoop". www.broadwaybox.com. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
- 1 2 3 BWW, Team (2022-06-17). "BWW Interview: Tamika Lawrence Looks Back on the Impact of BLACK NO MORE and More". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
- ↑ Kluge, Haley (2020-12-23). "Seven Broadway Stars Who Have Created New Businesses During the Pandemic". Variety. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
- ↑ "DSO presents Simply The Best: The Music of Tina Turner in Orchestra Hall, July 8". Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
- 1 2 "The Farewell - Ars Nova". arsnovanyc.com. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
- ↑ Moynihan, Caitlin (May 16, 2022). "Six and Kimberly Akimbo Lead 2022 Drama Desk Nominations". Broadway.com. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 7, 2022). "2022 Lucille Lortel Awards: See the Complete List of Nominees". Playbill. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ↑ "Review: A Divine Flood Threatens a Mississippi Family in Oh Happy Day! - TheaterMania.com". 2025-10-16. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
External links
- Tamika Lawrence at IMDb
- Tamika Lawrence at Playbill Vault
- Tamika Lawrence at the Internet Broadway Database
- Tamika Sonja Lawrence at the Internet Off-Broadway Database (archived)