Amber Iman
Amber Iman | |
|---|---|
| Born | Atlanta, Georgia United States |
| Alma mater | Howard University (BFA) |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
Amber Iman is an American actress, activist, and filmmaker.
Life and career
[edit]Iman graduated from North Springs Charter High School (North Springs High School) located in Sandy Springs. She participated in theatre from a young age and studied rigorously at Atlanta Ballet, Ballethnic, Atlanta Street Theatre, and Alliance Theatre Summer Camp. She was active in Girl Scouts and Toastmasters International, as well as her home church, Cascade United Methodist. Iman is an only child and the daughter of actress Margo Moorer and William Moorer.[1]
Iman studied at the Cap21 Summer Intensive at NYU in 2007. After graduating magna cum laude, with a full academic scholarship from Howard University in 2008, (BFA in musical theatre), she began her career in regional theatre in her hometown of Atlanta. Her credits included The Rabbit in Goodnight Moon and Lucinda in Into the Woods (Alliance Theatre), Woman #1 in The Colored Museum, produced by Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company.[2], Daughter in Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery (Horizon Theatre), and Erzulie in Once on this Island (Aurora Theatre).
After briefly touring with Lauryn Hill as a background vocalist, Iman moved to New York City in January of 2012. She made her Off-Broadway debut in June in the New World Stages production of Rent as the Seasons of Love soloist, and appeared in A Civil War Christmas at the New York Theatre Workshop.[3]
She made her Broadway debut in 2013, becoming a Clive Barnes award finalist for her portrayal of the High Priestess of Soul, Nina Simone, in Soul Doctor. She followed this in 2016 playing dual roles in the musical Shuffle Along, which was nominated for 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical.[4]
Her regional credits include Cheryl in Stick Fly with Arena Stage and the Huntington Theatre Company, for which she was nominated for an IRNE Award, The Moon in Oo-Bla-Dee and Mame in Radio Golf with Two River Theater.[5] In 2018, she appeared as Crystal in the Kennedy Center production of Little Shop of Horrors.[6]
[7] In 2016, she was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical for her performance as Aldonza in Man of La Mancha with the Shakespeare Theatre Company. For this performance, she was also awarded the Emery Battis Award for Acting Excellence.[8][9]
In 2017, she played Peggy Schuyler / Maria Reynolds in the first national tour of Hamilton.
In 2022, she performed her Webby award nominated one-woman show An Evening with Amber Iman at the Minetta Lane Theatre, which was recorded by Audible for streaming. That same year, she starred as Nadira in Goddess (Berkeley Rep), and Rafaela in Lempicka (La Jolla Playhouse), winning the Ovation Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.[10] In 2023, Iman made her A.C.T. debut as Pam Brown in Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical.
In 2024, Iman returned to Broadway, originating the role of Rafaela in the musical Lempicka. For her performance she was recognized by the Drama League for Distinguished Performance and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
Iman is a founding member of the Broadway Advocacy Coalition, an organization that aims to "use arts and storytelling to build a more equitable society".[11] She is also a founding member of Black Women on Broadway, an organization that aims to “seek, support, and celebrate black women in theatre”.[12]
On TV, Amber has been seen on High Maintenance for HBO, and her self-produced short film Steve, has been a critical darling at film festivals across the country and internationally, winning Best Short, Best Actress, and the Audience Choice Award. She wrapped production on her second short, Blackberry Winter, this Spring.
References
[edit]- ^ "Soul Doctor's Amber Iman on Following Her Mom Into Show Business and Feeling the Power of Nina Simone". Broadway.com.
- ^ Denette, Kelsey. "True Colors Theatre Company Announces THE COLORED MUSEUM 3/25-4/17". BroadwayWorld.com.
- ^ "4 Tips From 'Soul Doctor' Star Amber Iman On Following Your Dreams".
- ^ "Arts Chat: Amber iman". UGA Calendar of Events.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (2010-02-19). "Huntington's Stick Fly, with Benton, Dirden, Jones, Iman, Salter, Wright, Begins Feb. 19". Playbill. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ Marks, Peter (2018-10-26). "It took 36 years for 'Little Shop' to play the Kennedy Center. It was worth the wait". Washington Post. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ "About 5". The Clive and Valerie Barnes Foundation.
- ^ Johnson, Nicole "Blackberri" (October 17, 2015). "Amber Iman Honored with Emery Battis Award for Acting Excellence".
- ^ "Nominees & Recipients Database". TheatreWashington.
- ^ "Amber Iman to Perform Live at the Minetta Lane Theater this Spring | About Audible". www.audible.com.
- ^ "ABOUT". Broadway Advocacy Coalition.
- ^ Tran, Diep (6 March 2024). "Amber Iman on Readying Lempicka While Advocating for Black Women on Broadway". Playbill.