Ann Duquesnay is an American musical theatre singer/actress, composer
and lyricist best known for Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk,
which earned her a Tony Award and Grammy Award nomination.Duquesnay's
parents were Southern sharecroppers who moved to Harlem when she was
five years old. Although she did not have formal music training until
well after her stage years, she developed a passion for theatre,
encouraged by director George C. Wolfe. Duquesnay's Broadway debut was
in the revue Blues in the Night in as a standby. Two years later, she
played Glinda in a revival of The Wiz. She was next seen in Jelly's
Last Jam as Gran Mimi and Ancestor. She was a replacement on Broadway
in "It Ain't Nothin But the Blues".[citation needed]She has toured
extensively in the U. S. and internationally. Critically acclaimed for
her performance in roles as Alberta Hunter "Cookin at the Cookery"
(Drama League Recognition Award and Drama Desk nominee); and Billie
Holiday "Lady Day" (Bay Area Critics Circle Award). Off-Broadway &
Regional "Sheila's Day" at Hartford Stage, Crossroads Theatre, and
Market Theatre, Johannesburg SA; "Sammy" Old Globe Theatre (NAACP
Theatre Award nominee); revival of "Hallelujah Baby" Arena Stage
(Helen Hayes Award); "Our Leading Lady" Manhattan Theatre Club
(Audelco Award nominee); Spunk (NAACP Theatre Award) collaborated on
music; "Porgy & Bess" (Maria) Houston Grand Opera & Japan tour; "Ma
Rainey's Black Bottom" (Ma Rainey) Denver Centre Theatre. Narrator in
Ken Burns documentaries and the biographical audio book of Aretha
Franklin "Aretha From These Roots".[citation needed]
and lyricist best known for Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk,
which earned her a Tony Award and Grammy Award nomination.Duquesnay's
parents were Southern sharecroppers who moved to Harlem when she was
five years old. Although she did not have formal music training until
well after her stage years, she developed a passion for theatre,
encouraged by director George C. Wolfe. Duquesnay's Broadway debut was
in the revue Blues in the Night in as a standby. Two years later, she
played Glinda in a revival of The Wiz. She was next seen in Jelly's
Last Jam as Gran Mimi and Ancestor. She was a replacement on Broadway
in "It Ain't Nothin But the Blues".[citation needed]She has toured
extensively in the U. S. and internationally. Critically acclaimed for
her performance in roles as Alberta Hunter "Cookin at the Cookery"
(Drama League Recognition Award and Drama Desk nominee); and Billie
Holiday "Lady Day" (Bay Area Critics Circle Award). Off-Broadway &
Regional "Sheila's Day" at Hartford Stage, Crossroads Theatre, and
Market Theatre, Johannesburg SA; "Sammy" Old Globe Theatre (NAACP
Theatre Award nominee); revival of "Hallelujah Baby" Arena Stage
(Helen Hayes Award); "Our Leading Lady" Manhattan Theatre Club
(Audelco Award nominee); Spunk (NAACP Theatre Award) collaborated on
music; "Porgy & Bess" (Maria) Houston Grand Opera & Japan tour; "Ma
Rainey's Black Bottom" (Ma Rainey) Denver Centre Theatre. Narrator in
Ken Burns documentaries and the biographical audio book of Aretha
Franklin "Aretha From These Roots".[citation needed]
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