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Danielle Brooks

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Danielle Brooks BIO

Danielle Brooks starred as “Tasha ‘Taystee’ Jefferson” in Netflix’s Emmy nominated series “Orange is the New Black,” a role that garnered her two NAACP Image Award nominations for “Best Actress in a Comedy Series.” She also received the Young Hollywood Award for “Breakthrough Actress.” Next up, Brooks will star opposite John Cena in the HBO Max series “Peacemaker,” the spinoff series to James Gunn’s upcoming The Suicide Squad movie. Brooks starred as the legendary Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson in director Kenny Leon’s “Mahalia” which premiered on Lifetime in April. For her performance, Brooks earned the “Actress Award for Television” from the Critics Choice Association Celebration of Black Cinema & Television. Additionally, Brooks was nominated for a Critics Choice TV “Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television” Award and received a Primetime Emmy Award Nomination as a producer on “Mahalia.” On stage, Brooks starred as “Beatrice” in The Public Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park production of Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Kenny Leon. For her performance, she received the AUDELCO Award for “Lead Actress in a Musical,” the ANTONYO Award for “Best Actor in a Play, Off-Broadway,” and a Drama League Award nomination for “Distinguished Performance.” Brooks made her Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning revival of The Color Purple, which earned her a Tony Award nomination, a Drama Desk Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award. She also received a Grammy Award and a Theatre World Award for “Significant Broadway Debut.” Other feature work includes a leading role opposite Anna Kendrick in Chris Morris’ The Day Shall Come, produced by See Saw and released by IFC, and a role opposite Alfre Woodard, Wendell Pierce, and Aldis Hodge in Clemency, which won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and was released by Neon. Other television work includes a recurring role on Aziz Ansari’s Emmy Award-winning Netflix comedy series “Master of None,” and guest lead roles on HBO’s “High Maintenance” and “Girls.” Brooks’ voice work includes Sony’s animated feature Angry Birds, HBO Max’s Close Enough, and Netflix’s Karma’s World. Danielle released her four track EP entitled FOUR. Brooks co-wrote the songs including “Seasons,” which is featured in the series finale of “Orange if the New Black.” Danielle is the co-founder of “Black Women on Broadway,” which honors the legacy of Black Women’s contributions to the theatre. She serves on the Artistic Board of Urban Arts Partnership, which advances the intellectual, social and artistic development of underserved public school students through arts-integrated education programs to close the achievement gap. Danielle grew up in South Carolina and is a graduate of The Juilliard School.

Danielle Brooks Photos

Danielle Brooks STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival Production, 2022
Berniece

[Off-Broadway]
Shakespeare In the Park, 2019
Beatrice

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival Production, 2015
Sofia


Danielle Brooks Movies

[2014]Time Out of Mind Receptionist

[2015]I Dream Too Much Abbey

[2016]The Angry Birds Movie Olive Blue, Monica the Crossing Guard

[2018]Sadie Carla

[2019]The Public's Much Ado About Nothing Beatrice

[2019]All the Little Things We Kill Claire Soto

[2019]Clemency Evette Wilkinson

[2019]The Day Shall Come Venus

[2020]Eat Wheaties! Wendy

[2023]The Color Purple Sofia


Danielle Brooks TV Shows

Modern Love Raimy

Girls Laura

Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure Ruthless Ruth

[ 2015-2017]Master of None Shannon

Elena of Avalor Charica

High Maintenance Regine

[ 2013-2019]Orange Is the New Black Tasha 'Taystee' Jefferson

Social Distance Imani

Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine Jordana Bachman

Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia Mahalia Jackson

[ 2020-2022]Close Enough Pearle

[ 2022-2023]Peacemaker Leota Adebayo

Danielle Brooks Videos

Danielle Brooks News

SOME LIKE IT HOT, PARADE, and More Take Home 2023 Drama Desk Awards; Full List of Winners!

Winners for the 67th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced today. Among the big winners were Some Like It Hot, Parade, and more.

Wake Up With BWW 5/23: THE COLOR PURPLE Trailer, PETER PAN GOES WRONG Extends, and More!

Top stories: watch the trailer for The Color Purple movie musical, Peter Pan Goes Wrong extends its Broadway run, and more!

Video: Watch THE COLOR PURPLE Movie Musical Trailer With Fantasia Barrino, Halle Bailey & More

The first teaser trailer for the new movie musical adaptation of The Color Purple has been released. Get a first look at Fantasia Barrino, Halle Bailey, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, and more in the new video trailer now! The film is directed by Blitz Bazawule and produced Oprah Winfrey.

Annaleigh Ashford, SOME LIKE IT HOT, LEOPOLDSTADT & More Win 2023 Drama League Awards

Today, May 19, the best of Broadway gathers to celebrate the 89TH Annual Drama League Awards, which will be held at the Ziegfeld Ballroom. Check back to find out who will win!

SOME LIKE IT HOT, LEOPOLDSTADT & More Win 2023 Outer Critics Circle Awards

The Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of writers on New York theatre for out-of-town newspapers and national publications, is pleased to announce the winners of the 72nd Annual Outer Critics Circle Awards, honoring the 2022-2023 Broadway and Off-Broadway season. Find out who won here!

World Premiere of Michael R. Jackson & Anna K. Jacobs' TEETH & More Set for Playwrights Horizons 2023-24 Season

Playwrights Horizons has announced its 2023-24 season, featuring six new productions. Learn how to purchase tickets!

Brian Stokes Mitchell Will Receive the John Willis Award For Lifetime Achievement In The Theatre At 2023 Theatre World Awards

The Theatre World Awards Board of Directors announced that Tony Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell is the recipient of the 10th Annual John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, which will be presented to him at this year's Theatre World Award ceremony.

Julie Benko, Jodie Comer & More Will Receive 2023 Theatre World Awards

The Theatre World Awards Board of Directors has announced the 2023 Honorees for the Theatre World Award for an Outstanding Debut Performance in a Broadway or Off-Broadway Production. See the full list!

Recap Tony Awards Eligibility Decisions of the 2022-23 Season

The Tony Awards Administration Committee has been meeting all year to discuss the eligibility of the 2022-23 Broadway productions all leading up to Tuesdays big announcement... the Tony nominations.

SHUCKED, SOME LIKE IT HOT Lead Nominations for 2023 Drama Desk Awards

Nominations for the 67th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced today and BroadwayWorld has the full list here!

Video: WORKING IN THE THEATRE Docuseries Spotlights THE PIANO LESSON

The hit Broadway revival of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson is featured in the latest episode of “Working in the Theatre” with director LaTanya Richardson Jackson and set designer Beowulf Boritt. The episode features exclusive interviews and discussion on their collaboration on August Wilson's The Piano Lesson.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK; SOME LIKE IT HOT; & More Lead Nominations for Outer Critics Circle Awards

The Outer Critics Circle has announced the nominees for the 72nd Annual Outer Critics Circle Awards, honoring the 2022-2023 Broadway and Off-Broadway season. Leading the pack with the most honors of the season is the Broadway musical New York, New York, with twelve nominations. Check out the full list of nominations here!

Photos: Inside THE COLOR PURPLE Movie Musical CinemaCon Presentation

Oprah Winfrey presented a first look at the upcoming movie musical adaptation of The Color Purple at CinemaCon yesterday. Winfrey was joined by director Blitz Bazawule and stars Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, and Fantasia Barrino. Check out photos from inside the presentation now!

Wake Up With BWW 4/26: SUMMER, 1976 Reviews, Drama League Nominations, Plus a Message From Ramin Karimloo

Top stories: Read the reviews for Summer, 1976, plus check out the full list of nominees for the Drama League Awards, and watch an exclusive video message from Ramin Karimloo for BWW's 20th anniversary!

Oprah Debuts First Footage of THE COLOR PURPLE Movie Musical at CinemaCon

Fantasia Barrino leads the cast of the film as Celie. Danielle Brooks will reprise her Tony-nominated performance as Sofia, which we played in the musical's 2016 revival. Taraji P. Henson is slated to play Shug Avery. The cast also includes Halle Bailey, Colman Domingo, H.E.R., Ciara, Jon Batiste, and more. Check out a photo of the first poster!

INTO THE WOODS, SWEENEY TODD, A DOLL'S HOUSE & More Lead in Nominations for 2023 Drama League Awards

The Drama League has announced the 2023 Drama League Awards Nominees. See the full list!

The American Academy Of Dramatic Arts Welcomes Producer Brian Anthony Moreland To Board Of Trustees

The American Academy of Dramatic Arts has appointed Brian Anthony Moreland to its Board of Trustees.

THE COLOR PURPLE Movie Musical Shifts Release Date to Christmas Day

As BroadwayWorld previously announced, a movie musical film adaptation of Alice Walker's The Color Purple will premiere later this year. The film, previously set to come to cinemas on December 20, has now shifted its opening day to Christmas Day, December 25.

Complete Cast and Creative Team Set for THE COTILLION World Premiere at A.R.T./New York

New Georges and The Movement Theatre Company will present The Harriet Holland Social Club Presents The 84th Annual Star-Burst Cotillion in the Grand Ballroom of The Renaissance Hotel written and directed by Colette Robert.

Danielle Brooks FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Danielle Brooks has appeared on Broadway in 2 shows.

Danielle Brooks has not appeared in the West End

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Piano Lesson , Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for The Piano Lesson , Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Piano Lesson , Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Much Ado About Nothing , Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The Color Purple Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Color Purple and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Color Purple .

Danielle Brooks's next show will be The Piano Lesson which opens on 10/13/2022 on Broadway.

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