Since age 18, Kecia Lewis has left an indelible mark on Broadway, and with each role, she’s making way for the Black women who follow her.
Destined for greatness, Lewis’ Broadway debut was performing in the legendary original company of Dreamgirls; other theater credits include Big River, Once on This Island, Chicago, Cinderella, and a host of different titles, including the off-Broadway productions of The Skin of Our Teeth, Mother Courage, and Marie and Rosetta.
Beyond the stage, Lewis has appeared in recurring roles on numerous television series, including Law & Order: SVU and The Blacklist, but her heart has always remained with theater.
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“I have been in the business, this past June 15 made 41 years, and I’ve been doing Broadway and film and television for all these years,” she told MadameNoire. I have always considered myself a gifted actor, but wasn’t necessarily celebrated in the way I expected, especially in my younger years when I was a lot less humble. It was like, can’t they see I’m fabulous, but as the years go by, I figured out, it’s not about that. “I didn’t get into this to be fabulous. I got into this because I’m passionate about it.”
In 2024, Lewis joined the Broadway production of Hell’s Kitchen, where she continues to shine as Miss Liza Jane. The role has earned her numerous accolades and praise, including a 2024 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical.
“I’ve been told many times that my character is the heart of the story,” she said. “That Miss Liza Jane represents someone that we all, practically everyone in the world, have had, which is a mentor. She is someone who cares about our leading lady, Ally, our protagonist in the show, and she wants to see her excel. She wants to see her utilize the gifts and talents that she has and not waste them. She also wants her to be aware of all those who have come before her, and how important it is for her to be conscientious about her gift, and that she is part of a long line of Black women who have contributed…in this way.”
“It’s a privilege to play Miss Liza Jane. I’ve had so many Miss Liza Jane’s in my life and Mister Liza Jane’s, if you will, that it is an absolute privilege to be able to represent that for so many people. No matter who you are, no matter where they come from, people just identify with her.”
Like many industries, Black women continue to fight for equality and better treatment within the world of theater. Recently, Lewis demanded better behavior from fellow thespian Patti LuPone after she referred to Hell’s Kitchen as “too loud.”
The jukebox musical features music and lyrics by Alicia Keys and is loosely based on the singer’s life, and LuPone’s comments came about when she starred in The Roommate stage play, which shared a wall with Hell’s Kitchen.
Ultimately, LuPone issued an apology after Lewis called out the fellow Broadway veteran for being “offensive, rude, and racially microaggressive,” but admits that comments like these barely touch the surface of the prejudices Black actors face both on and off the stage.
