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Micki Grant

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BIO

Ms. Grant has been involved in the creation of some 18 theatrical productions, five of them on Broadway.



With the long-running Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, in which she also starred, she became the first woman to win a Grammy Award for the score of a Broadway musical. She also received Tony nominations for book, music, and lyrics. Another Grammy nomination for the score (with Alex Bradford) of Your Arms Too Short to Box with God followed, as well as another Tony nomination for the score of Working. When Your Arms Too Short... and It's Nice to Be Civilized opened on sub-sequent evenings, Grant had the distinction of having two Broadway musicals running simultaneously.

She wrote the music and contributed lyrics for J. E. Franklin's Prodigal Daughter and contributed additional lyrics to Eubie! and Sweet & Hot: The Songs of Harold Arlen. For Jacques Brel Blues, she supplied the English lyrics for 20 songs by the Belgian songwriter.

Along with ...I Can't Cope and Your Arms Too Short..., she has an extensive list of collaborations with the dynamic Emmy-winning director, Vinnette Carroll. She has written songs for educational television's Infinity Factory, and one of her several commercial jingles garnered the ad industry's prestigious CLIO Award.

Her creative body of work has been celebrated in two Off-Broadway musicals, Step Into My World at Amas Repertory Theatre, and Looking Back at New Federal Theatre.

As an actress, Ms. Grant has performed on and Off Broadway and in regional theatres around the country having made her Broadway debut as the ingenue in Langston Hughes' Tambourines to Glory. In the late '90s, a two-year National tour of the play Having Our Say took her to more than 68 U.S. cities and to Johannesburg, South Africa, earning her the Helen Hayes Award for her performance as Sadie Delany. She also appeared in the CBS movie of the same name.

The first African-American contract player on a daytime serial, she played the role of attorney Peggy Nolan on NBC's Another World for seven years, and has had continuing roles on Edge of Night and Guiding Light, as well as guesting on All My Children.

Directing credits include, among others, Ruby Dee's Two Ha Ha's and a Homeboy, starring Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee at Crossroads Theatre Company, and I Can't Cope for the Apollo Modern Black Classic Series.

A multitude of awards include the OBIE, NAACP Image, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Audelco's Outstanding Pioneer, AEA's Paul Robe-son, and the National Black Theatre Festival's Living Legend and the Sidney Poitier Lifelong Achievement awards. Grant was also the 2012 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Dramatists Guild of America.

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1972
Performer

[Broadway]
1969
Performer (Standby)

[Off-Broadway]
1965
Performer

[Off-Broadway]
Off-Broadway Revival, 1964
Ella Foreman

[Off-Broadway]
1964
Ella Foreman

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1963
Marietta Johnson

[Off-Broadway]
1963
Performer

[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 1962
Camille

Camille

Productions

 
[Broadway, 1982]
Composer
 
[Broadway, 1980]
Composer
 
[Broadway, 1976]
Composer

Writing

Composer/Lyricist
Bookwriter
Composer
Lyricist
Bookwriter/Composer/Lyricist
Bookwriter
Composer
Lyricist
Composer
Lyricist
Composer
Lyricist
Composer
Lyricist

Awards and Nominations


winner
Helen Hayes Awards - 1997 - Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production

Micki GrantHaving Our Say

Tony Awards - 1978 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Micki Grant, Working

Tony Awards - 1973 - Best Book of a Musical

Micki Grant, Don't Bother Me

Tony Awards - 1973 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Micki Grant, Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1972 - Most Promising Lyricist

Micki Grant, Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1972 - Outstanding Performance

Micki Grant, Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope


winner
Obie Awards - 1972 - Music and Lyrics

Micki GrantDon't Bother Me, I Can't Cope

News


Cast Set for HERO: THE BOY FROM TROY, A NEW MUSICAL ABOUT YOUNG JOHN LEWIS Tour

From the same creative team as JABARI DREAMS OF FREEDOM, HERO: THE BOY FROM TROY, book by Nambi E. Kelley with lyrics, composition, and music direction by Joe Plummer, directed by Daniel Carlton, will tour. Learn how to purchase tickets.
10 of Broadway's Female Firsts You Might Not Know About

In this column, I wanted to give readers 10 fun facts on firsts achieved by women on Broadway. Female writers are much more than just statistics, and women deserve recognition for more than just breaking a barrier to an accomplishment.
Joseph Hayward & Debra Walton Assume New Roles at The York Theatre Company

The York Theatre Company has revealed that Joseph Hayward is stepping into the role of Interim Producing Artistic Director, and Debra Walton, as the Interim Associate Artistic Director.
Center Theatre Group to Present 2nd Taper Legacy Reading THIS BRIGHT WILDERNESS

Center Theatre Group will present the second Taper Legacy Reading with THIS BRIGHT WILDERNESS, continuing to celebrate classic and contemporary works in their ongoing series. Learn how to purchase tickets.
Jennifer Ashley Tepper's 'Women Writing Musicals' Book Will Get November Release

Jennifer Ashley Tepper, writer of BroadwayWorld's Broadway Deep Dive series, has revealed that her next book is in the works. Titled 'Women Writing Musicals: The Legacy That the History Books Left Out', the book will be published by Applause on November 19, 2024.
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO MICKI GRANT to be Presented at New Federal Theatre

New Federal Theatre will present The World According to Micki Grant. Learn more about the show and see how to purchase tickets.
Adam Guettel, Austin Pendleton and More Will Be Honored with Dramatists Guild Awards

The Dramatists Guild previously announced that playwright Christopher Durang will receive a Lifetime Achievement award at this year’s ceremony. He will be joined by two additional recipients, George C. Wolfe and Emily Mann.
New Federal Theatre Relocates To WP Theater

Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT) has relocated and is now in residence at The WP (formerly Women's Project) Theater, with performance space located at 2162 Broadway @ 76th Street and administrative offices at 55 West End Ave. Floor 1, Unit 2, NYC 10023. 
Liz Callaway, Hugh Panaro & More to Join Amas Musical Theatre Benefit Concert

Amas Musical Theatre has revealed the line-up of talent that will be on hand to celebrate the company's 55th Anniversary at its annual Gala Benefit Concert. Learn more about the gala and see how to purchase tickets.
Christopher Durang to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at 2024 Dramatists Guild Awards

Playwright Christopher Durang is the recipient of The Dramatists Guild's 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. Learn more about Durang and about the award!
Amas Musical Theatre To Honor Patricia Birch And Len Cariou At 55th Annual Benefit Gala Concert

Amas Musical Theatre will celebrate its 55th Anniversary at its annual Gala Benefit Concert on Monday, May 13, 2024 at Baruch Performing Arts Center.
Spotlight: WORKING at Creative Cauldron

Creative Cauldron launches Working a musical adaptation of the Best-Selling Studs Terkel book about American Workers. Working paints a vivid portrait of the workers that the world so often takes for granted: the school teacher, the phone operator, the waitress, the millworker, the mason and the housewife, just to name a few.
WORKING Comes to Creative Cauldron in February

 In February, Creative Cauldron will mount a production of Working, a musical based on the Studs Terkel Book: Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do. Learn more about the production here!
How Often Do Actors Go On to Write Musicals?

This time, the reader question was: What is the history of theatre actors who later wrote musicals as well? 
Review: WORKING at MUK Theater

There might be no better place for a university for music and arts than in the heart of Vienna, surrounded by historical buildings where the greatest composers of all time have been strolling around. Unsurprisingly, many now-famous musical actors, like the latest newcomer, Moritz Mausser (ROCK ME AMADEUS's Leading Man), were trained at this prestigious institution. Getting the chance to see future graduates perform in front of an audience is something you definitely can't miss. Seeing the (potential) future of Musical Theatre is always worth a visit.
Belmont University Musical Theatre's WORKING: A MUSICAL Offers Audiences a Heartfelt, Emotional Tribute to American Workers

Over the past three-and-a-half decades, I have had the privilege of seeing some remarkably talented and gifted young actors on every stage on the Belmont campus and never have I ever left a performance there without feeling inspired, absolutely certain that the future of theater as we know it is pre-ordained and so very hopeful.
New Federal Theatre to Hold 53rd Anniversary Celebration Next Month at Edison Ballroom

NEW FEDERAL THEATRE will hold its 53rd Anniversary Celebration on October 2 at Edison Ballroom, honoring Woodie King, Jr., Gabrielle Kurlander, and Sade Lythcott. The gala is chaired by Kenny Leon and Lynn Whitfield.
New Federal Theatre To Hold 53rd Anniversary Celebration in October

Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT), led by Producing Artistic Director Elizabeth Van Dyke, will hold a 53rd Anniversary Celebration October 2, 2023 at Edison Ballroom, 240 West 47th Street.  
THE PROM, An Homage to Frida Kahlo & More Set for Wirtz Center 2023-24 Season

The Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts at Northwestern University has revealed its 2023-24 season of musicals, dramas and theatre for young audiences by celebrated theater makers. 
Creative Cauldron Sets 2023-24 Season, Final Season at Pearson Square Location

The 2023-24 Season will mark Creative Cauldron’s final season at its current home in Pearson Square, before moving to a new black box theater in the Broad and Washington project.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Micki Grant been in?

Micki Grant has appeared on Broadway in 3 shows.

How many West End shows has Micki Grant been in?

Micki Grant has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Micki Grant been nominated for?

Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production (Helen Hayes Awards) for Having Our Say , Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Working, Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Don't Bother Me, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, Most Promising Lyricist (Drama Desk Awards) for Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, Outstanding Performance (Drama Desk Awards) for Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope and Music and Lyrics (Obie Awards) for Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope.

What awards has Micki Grant won?

Micki Grant has won the following awards: Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production (Helen Hayes Awards) for Having Our Say; Most Promising Lyricist (Drama Desk Awards) for Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope; Outstanding Performance (Drama Desk Awards) for Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope; and Music and Lyrics (Obie Awards) for Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope.

How many shows has Micki Grant written?

Micki Grant has written 7 shows including The Ups and Downs of Theophilus Maitland (Composer/Lyricist), Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope (Bookwriter), The Prodigal Sister (Composer), Your Arms Too Short to Box With God (Composer/Lyricist), Working (Composer), Alice (Composer/Lyricist), It's So Nice to be Civilized (Bookwriter/Composer/Lyricist).

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