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The Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy

About Me

Rosetta LeNoire was born on this date in 1911. She was an African-American actress.
From New York City, her birth name is Rosetta Burton. She came from a family with connections in the growing artistic scene of the Harlem Renaissance. As a teen, LeNoire took piano lessons from the legendary composer Eubie Blake. She first performed professionally in 1926 as a dancer in a revue with her uncle, Bill Bojangles Robinson, and in 1936 played the First Witch in a production of "Macbeth". She reached Broadway in 1939 alongside her uncle in "The Hot Mikado" and later toured with the show.
She was in the original Broadway cast of Philip Yordan's "Anna Lucasta"--which was turned from all black to all-white for the 1949 film version. LeNoire, however, reprised her stage role in the all-black 1958 remake, co-starring with Eartha Kitt and Sammy Davis Jr. In the 1950s, LeNoire worked with the Corning Glass Theatre, and she last performed on Broadway as Rheba in "You Can't Take It With You." As a theatrical producer, in 1968, she founded the AMAS (Spanish for "you love") Repertory Theatre Company and has since produced, created and occasionally appeared in a host of productions, including the original 1980 version of "Mama, I Want to Sing.
In 1976, she established the Eubie Blake Children's Theatre and LeNoire has since spent much of her time performing in school, youth centers, and even shelters. While she did some experimental TV work in the 40s and appeared as Noah's Wife in the 1957 "Hallmark Hall of Fame" production of "Green Pastures" (NBC), LeNoire did not see her TV career become solid until the late 60s, when she joined the cast of the ABC soap opera "A World Apart." During the 70â€--s she appeared in "The Guiding Light" (1971), "Another World" (1971-73),"Ryan's Hope" (1975) and "Calucci's Department" (1973).
Beginning in 1981, LeNoire made several guest appearances on "Gimme a Break" as Nell Carter's contentious mother becoming a regular in 1986. She followed this with work on "Family Matters" (1989-97and 1997-98). She also has used much of her income to support her theatrical producing. LeNoire has also appeared in a number of TV-movies and films, "The Father Clements Story" (NBC, 1987), "The Sunshine Boys" (1975),"Daniel" (1983), "Moscow on the Hudson" (1984), and "The Brother From Another Planet" (1984). Ms. LeNoire died in 2002.Academy Students Pushing Foward, Behind The Scenes Of The Next Future Successes
Academy Student Working Hard To Reach A Goal
Former Student Actor At His Best
ANTICHRIST LAMENT: Prison Monologue

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Bittar/Sweet Dancing

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THIS VIDEO FEATURES MZ J BACKGROUND SINGING AND DANCING WITH CORINA BACK IN THE DAY ON CLUB MTV..NOW THAT'S BACK IN THE DAYZ
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Member Since: 4/11/2007
Band Website: www.AmasMusical.org
Band Members: Gimme A Break Clip From The Final Episode "Mama's Date"

Family Matters

Gimme A Break Clip From "Save The Church"

Influences: Founder and artistic director of the AMAS Musical Theater and Repretory Company.--

Her godfather was Bill Robinson, the tap dancer known as Bojangles.--

In 1988, the Actors' Equity Association created an award, named after LeNoire, to be given annually to theaters or producers that notably hire ethnic minorities to play non-traditional roles.--

She lived at the Actors' Fund Nursing and Retirement Home in Englewood, N.J., after spending most of her life in the Bronx, New York City--

Goddaughter of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson.--

She made her Broadway debut in 1939 in "The Hot Mikado," an all-black version of the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta.--

Because she suffered from rickets when she was seven, doctors broke her legs in order to reset them. Her "Uncle Bill" (Bojangles Robinson) helped her recover by teaching her to dance.--

She was the first recipient of what became the Actors' Equity annual award for broadening participation in theater. The award was named for her.--

Studied piano with entertainer Eubie Blake.--

Son, William, two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.--

First appeared on Broadway in 1939's "Hot Mikado," starring Bojangles Robinson. LeNoire played "Peep-Bo," one of the three little maids.--

Was presented with the National Medal of the Arts by President Bill Clinton in 1999.--

Was a Broadway producer.--

She took care of James Earl Jones when he was an infant, while she was a member of his father's acting troupe.--

Her father was one of the first licensed plumbers in New York State.--

Was directed by Orson Welles in a landmark, all-black version of "Macbeth" in the 1930s.--

Suffered from rickets as a child and had to wear leg braces for 13 years.--

Her mother died of pneumonia at age 27 after giving birth to her brother in a Harlem hospital corridor because segregated policies barred her from using a room.--

Husband Egbert Brown, who owned a fleet of cabs, died in 1974.--

Sounds Like: The Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy Show History.

37 Years of Multi-Ethnic Musical Theatre

2004-2005 - FOOTLOOSE

2003-2004 - GODSPELL

2002-2003 - THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM

2001-2002 - ONCE ON THIS ISLAND

2000-2001 - THE ME KNOWBODY KNOWS

1999-2000 - CAREFULLY TAUGHT

1998 - 1999 - VIRTUAL FAMILIES

Continue - The Shows Extend From - 1973 - Present.
Record Label: Amas Musical Theatre

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