Nikki Crawford

Nikki Crawford is a Tony-nominated and Obie Award-winning actress known for her iconic portrayal of Tedra in James Ijames' celebrated 2022 Pulitzer Prize-winning play Fat Ham,[1] first at the Public and then at the American Airlines Theatre. Between the Public and Broadway iterations of Fat Ham, Crawford starred in James Ijames' The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington[2] at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre. Guest star roles[3] include recurring role on Sony's Cruel Intentions, Tracker, NCIS: LA, 9-1-1, NCIS, United States of Al, Selena: The Series, and a starring role in Lifetime's A Country Christmas Harmony. In the theater world, Crawford was handpicked by the legendary Mike Nichols to open the Vegas company of Spamalot for which she was named Vegas Showstopper of the Year.[4] She also starred opposite Leslie Uggams in Stormy Weather[5] at the Pasadena Playhouse, playing the young Lena Horne and winning the NAACP Theatre Award. She also received the Helen Hayes Award Best Supporting Actress nominee for Play On!.[6] Crawford hopscotches between film, TV and theater; equally versed in comedy, drama, musical and dramatic theater, and sings like a bird. She's a DC native and holds a degree from Carnegie Mellon, BFA Dramais.[3]

Career

After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University's drama program, Crawford was offered a leading role in the European Tour of Bubbling Brown Sugar, which launched her career.[7]

Her career has taken her from Los Angeles, to New York, to Europe and Canada, and regional theatres all across America.

Theatre credits

Year(s) Production Role Location Category Ref
1999 Play On! Lady Liv Pasadena Playhouse Regional [8][9]
2002 A Class Act Felicia Pasadena Playhouse Regional [10]
2004 The Ten Commandments Ensemble [11]
2007 Spamalot Lady of the Lake Wynn Las Vegas [12]
2008 Respect: The Girl Em-Powered Musical El Portal Forum Theatre [13]
2009 Stormy Weather Young Lena Pasadena Playhouse Regional [14]
2013 Show Boat Julie Wells Fargo Pavilion [15]
2017 Man of La Mancha Aldonza/Dulcinea La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts [16]
2019 Fairview Beverly Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company [17]
2020 The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington Ann Dandrige Steppenwolf Theatre Company [18]
2022 Fat Ham Tedra The Public Theater Off-Broadway [19]
2023 American Airlines Theatre Broadway
2024 Geffen Playhouse Regional [20]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Role Show Result Ref
2001 Helen Hayes Awards[21] Outstanding Supporting Performer, Resident Musical Lady Liv Play On! Nominated
2010 NAACP Theatre Awards Best Lead Actress-Equity Young Lena Stormy Weather Won [22][23]
2023 Tony Awards Best Featured Actress in a Play Tedra Fat Ham Nominated [1]
2024 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards Featured Performance [24]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2022 A Country Christmas Harmony Carole Dukes TV film [25]
2020 How to Deter a Robber Officer Martin Feature film
2019 Desperate Waters District Attorney Grace Feature film
2016 Dance Night Obsession Detective Brecht Feature film
2016 96 Souls Nina Orleans Feature film
2012 Contradictions of the Heart Patrice DTV
2009 Applause for Miss E Sista Burns Feature film
2005 Duck Bus Driver Feature film
2000 Retiring Tatiana Tatiana Feature film
1997 Wag the Dog Mom Feature film

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2024 Tracker Miggy TV series
2024 Elsbeth Solani Mani Episode 7 [26]
2024 Cruel Intentions Mrs. Grover TV series
2022 United States of Al Barbara Guest appearance
2021 Selena: The Series Tina Knowles Recurring role
2020 Two Degrees Nikki Guest appearance
2019 Crown Lake Valerie St. Martin Recurring role
2019 9-1-1 Leticia Barry Guest appearance
2017 Criminal Minds Marla Grace Guest appearance
2016 Pretty Little Liars Agent Leigh Guest appearance
2015 Switched at Birth Kendall Booth Guest appearance
2014 Legit Dr. Pollitt Guest appearance
2013 Happily Divorced Monica Guest appearance
2006 Numb3rs ER Doctor Guest appearance
2004 Malcolm in the Middle Nell Guest appearance
2001 The District Reporter #2 Guest appearance
1996 Homeboys in Outer Space Heather Guest appearance
1996 Martin Woman #3 Guest appearance
1995 Dream On Colette Perry Guest appearance
1994 Living Single Renatta Guest appearance
1991 A Different World Girl Guest appearance

Web

Year(s) Title Role Notes
2012–2013 H+ Julie Martin 10 episodes (web series) [27]

References

  1. ^ a b Sherman, Rachel; Cohn, Gabe (2023-05-02). "Tony Awards Nominations 2023: The Complete List". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  2. ^ "The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington (Regional, Steppenwolf -- Upstairs Theatre, 2022)". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2025-06-21. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  3. ^ a b "Nikki Crawford - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  4. ^ "Nikki Crawford". Geffen Playhouse. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  5. ^ "Stormy Weather, Musical of Horne's Life, Starring Uggams, Begins West…". archive.ph. 2012-09-06. Archived from the original on 2024-12-11. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  6. ^ "Nikki Crawford". Broadway.com. 2025-08-21. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  7. ^ "Broadway Actress, Nikki Crawford, Competes for Highest Honor Tonight at Tony Awards". Los Angeles Sentinel. 2023-06-11. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  8. ^ Manus, Willard (8 July 1999). "Pasadena Playhouse Celebrates Duke Ellington's 100th Birthday". Playbill. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  9. ^ Jones, Kenneth (21 June 2000). "Play On! Finds Its Way to Small Screen, on PBS, June 21". Playbill. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  10. ^ Jones, Kenneth (3 May 2002). "A Class Act Has Post-Bway Bow in CA May 3-June 16; Price Directs Picardo, Bullock". Playbill. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  11. ^ Hernandez, Ernio (27 September 2004). ""Let My People Go...": Kilmer Is Moses as The Ten Commandments Musical Opens, Sept. 27". Playbill. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Spamalot, Starring O'Hurley, Opens in Vegas March 31". BroadwayWorld.com. 30 March 2007. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  13. ^ Gans, Andrew (26 June 2008). "Crawford, George, Seiden and Taylor to Star in Respect: The Girl Em-Powered Musical". Playbill. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Stormy Weather, Powerhouse Evening in Pasadena". BroadwayWorld.com. 3 February 2009. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  15. ^ Mancuso, Christina. "Photos: First Look at Ron Bohmer, Jennifer Hope Wills, Nikki Crawford and More in SHOW BOAT at Music Circus". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  16. ^ Grigware, Don (5 June 2017). "Review: Davis Gaines Steals MAN OF LA MANCHA at La Mirada". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  17. ^ Smith, Paul (17 September 2019). "Review Roundup: What Did Critics Think of FAIRVIEW at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company?". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  18. ^ Cristi, A. A. "Steppenwolf Announces Complete Casting for The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington and Catch As Catch Can". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  19. ^ Rabinowitz, Chloe (19 May 2022). "Photos: First Look at the Pulitzer Prize-Winning Fat Ham at The Public Theater". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  20. ^ Henerson, Evan. "Review: FAT HAM at Geffen Playhouse". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  21. ^ Jones, Kenneth (8 May 2001). "Judith Light, Side Show, The Dead Among D.C. Helen Hayes Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  22. ^ Sierra, Gabrielle (27 July 2010). "Kim Coles, Quinton Aaron Annouce [sic] Nominees For 20th Annual Naacp Theatre Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  23. ^ "Obba Babatunde, Levar Burton, Nikki Crawford, et al. Win NAACP Theatre Awards". 2010-09-02. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  24. ^ Rabinowitz, Chloe. "The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Reveals 2024 Season Award Finalists and Special Award Honorees". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  25. ^ "A Country Christmas Harmony - Full Cast & Crew". TVguide.com. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  26. ^ Sharpe, Josh. "Comprehensive Guide to Broadway Actors in CBS's Hit Series ELSBETH". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  27. ^ "In "H+" a possible blueprint for digital series". Deseret News. September 4, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
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