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Saidah Arrika Ekulona

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BIO

Saidah Arrika Ekulona is an award-winning theatre, television and film actress. She's originated roles on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in regional theatres and international theatres, and originated the role of Mama Nadi in the Pulitzer Prize winning play Ruined, for which she won an Obie Award, Lucille Lortel Award, Jeff Award, Audelco Award and the Black Theatre Alliance Award. Saidah received her BA from Albright College and her MFA from University of Minnesota.


Photos

STAGE CREDITS

[Off-Broadway]
Primary Stages Productions, 2011
Performer

[Off-Broadway]
2009
Mama Nadi

[Off-Broadway]
2008
Lotty

[Off-Broadway]
2007
Lady Montague

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2006
Kay

Others

Kay, and others

[Off-Broadway]
2004
Allison/ Mother/ Inmate #2/ Devora/ Ensemble

[Off-Broadway]
2004
Ensemble

[Off-Broadway]
1999
Eunice Hubbell


Awards and Nominations

Drama Desk Awards - 2009 - Outstanding Actress in a Play

Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Ruined


winner
Obie Awards - 2009 - Performance

Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Ruined

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2009 - Outstanding Actress in a Play

Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Ruined


winner
The Lortels - 2009 - Outstanding Lead Actress

Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Ruined

News


Ojai Playwrights Conference Announces Actors, Directors, And Dramaturgs For 2024 New Works Festival

Ojai Playwrights Conference has announced the full roster of artists for its 27th Annual New Works Festival to be held August 1 - 4 in Ojai, CA.
Listen: Saidah Ekulona Talks Her Stage and Screen Career and More on LITTLE KNOWN FACTS

Little Known Facts is a weekly podcast hosted by stage and film actress Ilana Levine. This week's episode features Saidah Arrika Ekulona who talked about her stage and screen career, and more!
Photo/Video: First Look at Rosie O'Donnell & More in Prime Video's A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN Series

Watch the official trailer for the highly anticipated series A League of Their Own. The series features Rosie O'Donnell, who starred in the original film as Doris Murphy, Robert Colindrez (Fun Home) as Lupe, Molly Ephraim (Into the Woods) as Maybelle, and Chanté Adams (Skeleton Crew) as Max. Plus, check out a first photo of O'Donnell in costume.
VIDEO: Roberta Colindrez, Molly Ephraim & More Star in A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN Series Teaser

A League of Their Own evokes the spirit of Penny Marshall's classic, while taking a deeper look at race and sexuality, following the journey of a new ensemble of characters as they carve their own paths towards the field, both in the league and outside of it. The series stars Roberta Colindrez (Fun Home), Molly Ephraim (Into the Woods), and more.
2022 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Awarded to Benedict Lombe for LAVA

The 2022 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has been awarded to U.K. playwright Benedict Lombe for her debut play Lava. In a special presentation at Shakespeare's Globe in London, the Blackburn Prize judges presented Lombe with a cash prize of $25,000, and a signed limited-edition print by renowned artist Willem de Kooning, created especially for the Prize. 
The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Announces 2022 Finalists

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize today announces 10 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, the oldest and largest prize awarded to women+ playwrights - now in its 44th year .
Hugh Dancy, Kathleen Chalfant, Noah Galvin, and More Join THE 24 HOUR PLAYS on June 29

The 24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues will premiere on Tuesday, June 29th, with an all new series of unforgettable performances.
Jason Butler Harner, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Robert Cuccioli & More to Star in PARADISE LOST Presented by Red Bull Theater

Today, Red Bull Theater announced the first public presentation of a new dramatization of John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost, adapted and directed by Michael Barakiva. Presented in two parts, this event will feature Jason Butler Harner, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Stephen Bel Davies, Sheldon Best, Gisela Chípe, Robert Cuccioli and more.
Noah Galvin, James Lapine and More Collaborate In Return Of THE 24 HOUR PLAYS: VIRAL MONOLOGUES

The 24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues made a triumphant return last night with their nineteenth all-new edition! A group of stage and screen's finest writers and actors came together (virtually, of course) to write, rehearse, perform and produce 14 original pieces in just 24 hours.
Noah Galvin, James Lapine, Patrick Wilson and More Join Latest Edition of THE 24 HOUR PLAYS: VIRAL MONOLOGUES

The 24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues are back tonight with an all-new edition! A group of stage and screen's finest writers and actors will come together (virtually, of course) to write, rehearse, perform and produce 15 original pieces in just 24 hours.
VIDEO: Santino Fontana, Ashley Park And More Star In THE 24 HOUR PLAYS: VIRAL MONOLOGUES

The 24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues' seventh edition last night was one for the books! A group of the best actors in the business were paired with celebrated writers, who worked through Monday night to create unique pieces especially for them. From 6 PM on, 24 new monologues were published, one every 15 minutes.
VIDEO: Watch MOTHERHOOD OUT LOUD on STARS IN THE HOUSE

Stars in The House continues today (2pm) with Plays In The House: MOTHERHOOD OUT LOUD: Conceived by Susan R. Rose and Joan Stein (Jayne Atkinson, Andréa Burns, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Michael Gill, Justin Guarini and Jane Kaczmarek) and tonight (8pm) for the 85th Annual New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards (Will Arbery, David Byrne, Adam Feldman, Jeremy O. Harris, Michael R. Jackson, Brian Stokes Mitchell, John Mulaney, Deirdre O'Connell, Heidi Schreck and Michael Shannon).
Santino Fontana, Rita Wilson and More Join THE 24 HOUR PLAYS: VIRAL MONOLOGUES

The 24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues has an incredible lineup in store for its seventh edition tonight on IGTV @24hourplays and at https://24hourplays.com/viral-monologues/. A group of the best actors in the business have been paired with celebrated writers, who've worked through the night to create unique pieces especially for them.
Rubicon Theatre Co Extends WOMEN BEYOND BORDERS; Plus New Rotating Casts

Rubicon Theatre of Ventura has announced a two-week extension of the company's World Premiere presentation of WOMEN BEYOND BORDERS, a funny, poignant and powerful new play about the shared experiences of women everywhere, inspired by the remarkable true journey of a small group of women artists who wanted to find a way to inspire change through creative expression.
Abby Mueller and Ben Jacoby Will Lead THE LAST FIVE YEARS in Montana

The Warren Miller Performing Arts Center (Executive Director John Zirkle) in Big Sky Montana announced today it will present a limited engagement of Jason Robert Brown's award-winning musical THE LAST FIVE YEARS, directed by Jason McDowell-Green and starring Abby Mueller as Cathy and Ben Jacoby as Jamie. Mueller and Jacoby were recently seen together on Broadway in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, where the pair starred as Carole and Gerry Goffin, King's first husband.
Ford Theatres Presents THE SECRET CITY

The Ford Theatres presents The Secret City, the Obie Award-winning arts organization that presents community celebrations of everyday creative life, on Sunday, October 14 at 12:00pm.
Photo Flash: Get A First Look At SIZE THE KING at La Jolla Playhouse

La Jolla Playhouse presents Seize the King, by Will Power (The Seven, Honey Bo and the Goldmine POP Tour), directed by Playhouse Associate Artistic Director Jaime Castañeda (At the Old Place, Tiger Style!, Guards at the Taj), running through September 16 in the Playhouse's Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre.
Photo Flash: Get A First Look At SIZE THE KING at La Jolla Playhouse

BroadwayWorld has a first look as La Jolla Playhouse's Seize the King, by Will Power (The Seven, Honey Bo and the Goldmine POP Tour), directed by Playhouse Associate Artistic Director Jaime Castañeda (At the Old Place, Tiger Style!, Guards at the Taj), running through September 16 in the Playhouse's Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre.
BWW Review: SEIZE THE KING at La Jolla

SEIZE THE KING is playing at the La Jolla Playhouse through September 16th at the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre www.lajollaplayhouse.org
Julian Parker, Jesse Perez and More Lead La Jolla Playhouse's SEIZE THE KING

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast and creative team for its world premiere of Seize the King, by Will Power (The Seven, Honey Bo and the Goldmine POP Tour), directed by Playhouse Associate Artistic Director Jaime Castañeda (At the Old Place, Tiger Style!, Guards at the Taj), running August 21 - September 16 in the Playhouse's Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Saidah Arrika Ekulona been in?

Saidah Arrika Ekulona has appeared on Broadway in 1 shows.

How many West End shows has Saidah Arrika Ekulona been in?

Saidah Arrika Ekulona has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Saidah Arrika Ekulona been nominated for?

Outstanding Actress in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Ruined, Performance (Obie Awards) for Ruined, Outstanding Actress in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Ruined and Outstanding Lead Actress (The Lortels) for Ruined.

What awards has Saidah Arrika Ekulona won?

Performance (Obie Awards) for Ruined and Outstanding Lead Actress (The Lortels) for Ruined.

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