|
| |
| |
 |
| |
|
As Director and Producer
Acting
Credits
A ONE WOMAN PRODUCTION OF THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED "PASSING" AVAILABLE
FOR PRESENTATION
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS!
Nancy Cheryll Davis ~
Director/Producer/Teacher
213/712-6944 ~
bel-ami@pacbell.net www.townestreet.org
2007: Director/Producer
Family by Haile Ford - Film
Short for TST Films
Digital Natives by Barbara White
Morgan
Towne Street Theatre – Los Angeles
2006: Director
Madwoman of Chaillot by Jean Giraudoux:
Culver City Public Theater – Culver City, CA
Director
Story in Harlem Slang by Zora Neale
Hurston: Company of Angels Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
2005: Director/Producer
Psychology of Chromosome X by Shontina
Vernon
2 NAACP Nominations for Best
Actress & Supporting Actor
Towne Street Theater – Los Angeles, California
2004: Director/Producer
Skinny Little Girl in a Fat Ass World
by Anita Taylor
TST Workshop Production - Los Angeles, California
Executive Producer/Lead Actor
Passing by Sheri Bailey
Towne Street Theater at Stella Adler Theatre - Los Angeles,
California
2003: Director/Producer
Summer Dreams by Sheri Bailey (Film
Short)
2004 Pan African Film Festival Entry
SB INK Productions - Norfolk,
Virginia
Shadow Director
ABC Talent Development Program
Multi-Cultural Talent Showcase - Los Angeles, California
Director (staged reading)
Skinny Little Girl in a Fat Ass World
by Anita Taylor
Robey Theatre Company - Los Angeles, California
Director/Producer
Summers in Suffolk by Sheri Bailey
Towne Street Theater – Los Angeles, California
Director/Producer
Haints, Conjuremen & Leaving by David Lee
Lindsey
NAACP Nomination for Best Supporting Actor
Towne Street Theater – Los Angeles, California
2002/01: Director/ Producer
Joleta by Harriet Dickey
Towne Street Theater – Los Angeles, California
NAACP Nomination for Best Ensemble – Winner for Best
Writer-2001
2000: Director/ Producer
Millennium in Black by
Harriet Dickey
Towne Street Theater – Los Angeles, California
1999: Director
L.A. Hair Story by Hallie Hobson
Cornerstone Theatre – Festival of Malls Plays – Los Angeles,
California
1999:
Director/ Producer
Passing by Sheri Bailey -Towne
Street Theater – Los Angeles, California
Director/ Producer
Millennium in Black by
Harriet Dickey
Towne Street Theater – Los Angeles, California
1998:
Director/ Producer
Five on The Black Hand Side by
Charlie Russell
Towne Street Theater – Los Angeles, California
Director & Producer
Summers In Suffolk by Sheri
Bailey
Old Dominion University - Norfolk, Virginia
1997: Director & Producer
Summers In Suffolk
by Sheri Bailey
Wilder Center for the
Performing Arts - Norfolk, Virginia
Director: Theater Noire/Original
Imitations by Rickerby Hinds
Cornerstone Theater/A.SK. Theater Projects Reading Series –
Los Angeles, CA
Executive Producer - Towne Street Theatre
(Founding Artistic/Prod. Director:1993 to current)
2004/05: Passing – 3 NAACP Nominations – Best Lighting,
Choreography Costumes
2002/03: The Start of Conversation -
2 Valley Theater League Nominations - Best Ensemble
& Best Production/ Comedy
The Phonograph: Scenes in the Life a Harlem Family -
2 NAACP Nominations -
Best Actress & Best Costumes
An American Tract
Haints, Conjuremen & Leaving –
NAACP Nomination for Best Supporting Actor
1997/98: Passing 5 NAACP Nominations
– Best Play, Best Playwright, Best Supporting Actor
Best Actress, Best Costumes (Winners)
1995/96: The Dance
Begins When The Waltz Goes Backwards by Barbara
White Morgan
Summers in Suffolk
by Sheri Bailey
1994: Walking with A Panther by Sheri Bailey,
Science & The Primitives by Bernardo Solano
1993: The Hand of God by Cyndi James Reese,
For Sale by Louise Mita
1992: The Play’s The Thing - 12 month staged
reading series
Teaching Experience:
1993 to Current: Acting/Audition
Technique/Directing/ Producing/Children’s Theatre
Towne Street Theatre - Los Angeles, California
August/September 2005: Acting and Audition Technique -
Louisiana State University – Shreveport, LA
September 2005: Cold Reading – Purdue University
1997/98: Acting and Directing - Juneteenth Foundation
– Norfolk, VA
Education:
American Conservatory Theatre Professional Training
Program (Certificate of Completion - 1980) Antioch University
(2000/02/Liberal Arts) Western Michigan University (1976-1978/Theatre Arts)
Harvey Lembeck Comedy
Workshop/Los Angeles, Actors Workshop/Boston, Brian Reise Cold Reading
Technique, Lee Sankowich/Acting Honors/Awards/Nominations:
League of Allied Arts Recognition Award for Excellence in Producing Theatre
in Los Angeles/2004 /Selected for Lincoln Center’s Director’s Lab
West/03/1997 NAACP Best Actress Winner/ 1994 Best Actress Nominee/St. Louis
Black Repertory Panels: Directing-Alliance of Los Angeles Area
Playwrights/’04 * Producing-Director’s Lab West/’03 * Memberships:
SAG, AFTRA, and Equity, Past Theatre L.A. Board Member, Theatre L.A. Ovation
Voter *
Sample Press Reviews for
Nancy Cheryll Davis-Bellamy
MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT
Review Plays.com – July 2006
Culver City Public Theatre tackles Jean
Giraudoux’s absurdist piece with aplomb….Never does the talented cast
and director Nancy Cheryll Davis-Bellamy expect the audience to take this
play literally, yet as with all good comedy, there is one foot in
reality at all times – it’s a delight.
COLORED CONTRADICTIONS
L.A.Weekly – Feb. 2006
The lengthiest segment is a
vibrant adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston’s 1942 short story, Story in
Harlem Slang. Directed by Nancy Cheryll Davis-Bellamy, it’s a comic
face-off, relayed in vivid patois.
L.A. Times
Also a highlight is a bluesy treatment
of Zora Neale Hurston's "Story in Harlem Slang" (directed by Nancy Cheryll
Davis-Bellamy). In it, the showboating behavior of competing hustlers
(Freddie DeGrate and Charles Allen) bears a striking resemblance to
attitudes now permeating hip-hop.
PSYCHOLOGY OF CHROMOSOME X
LA Weekly: Written 02/25/2005 (Erin Aubry
Kaplan)
… the latest offering from the Towne Street
Theatre company is a madcap, mostly satisfying collection of mini one-acts
by Shontina Vernon that broadly examine sex and black women in the modern
world. Director Nancy Cheryll Davis-Bellamy never really settles on an
overall tone, which ranges from sitcom to the crystalline object lesson
of a short story, but the fluctuations are part of its appeal, and its
point.
SUMMERS IN SUFFOLK
LA
WEEKLY - Written 6/19/2003 (Jim Crogan)
This stirring drama
chronologically traces the fortunes of an African-American family in
Virginia, their descendants and friends, through a quartet of stories circa
1870, 1900, 1930 and 1957. The show begins with director Nancy Cheryll
Davis-Bellamy’s’ powerful dance number in the fog-laced Suffolk
swampland, performed by Lynn Shamburger playing an iconic medicine woman
named Mama Mojo who serves as a spiritual touchstone for the other
characters. Keyed by Davis’ stirring direction, the final two
playlets feature the beguiling Lira Angel as Carrie Clark, a free-spirited,
newly minted Communist/spoiled rich girl living off her father Amos’ money.
And in the final story, Teressa Taylor delivers an emotion-laden performance
as a single mother.
JOLETA
Los Angeles Times –
Philip Brandes -April 5, 2002:
As in previous stagings, this revival of the Towne Street Theatre's popular
production sports different casts on alternating weekends.
Clear, insightful
direction
by Nancy Cheryll Davis-Bellamy emphasizes stereotype-free characters, no
matter which cast you end up seeing.
Backstage West – Madeline Shaner –April
10,2002:
Superb performances by all the women and Nancy Cheryll Davis-Bellamy's
hands-on, passionate direction. Production values are splendid,
reinforced by Nathaniel Bellamy's fine set and lighting, and Joan Francis'
1980s costumes.
Theatre Scope – Willard Manus – June 16,
2001: Noteworthy for its strong
ensemble acting and skillful direction by Nancy
Cheryll Davis-Bellamy.
The L.A. Sentinel - 2001: Nancy Cheryll Davis-Bellamy's direction
deserves high marks. JOLETA is rewarding theater with
plenty of laughs and tears
.
A few Audience Responses to Productions
at Towne Street ….
Summers In Suffolk:
|
|
Audience Review:
Sy, know you won't read this until your return home, but had to send
it anyway. Ellen, her sister Mary,
Arthur & I were absolutely wowed with Summers in Suffolk!! What a
production....what great actors....we had front row seats, and I
almost felt as if I was in the swamp with Mama Mojo!!!
Congratulations on this fine work to all
involved and especially to you and Nancy Cheryll Davis.
Mary A. |
|
|
Audience Review:
From Sugano: Beautifully written,
historical, educational, entertaining and powerfully engrossing, this
piece portrays four generations of an African- American family
commencing in 1870 following the abolition of slavery and the trials
and tribulations they confront as they embark on a new path thru 1957.
The English of the time period was properly applied, phrases,
i.e.,"she was with child,"and "bedded down" were added terms used of
the time period with graceful effect. The early costumes were hand
crafted, the colours, cut and detail were right on cue. Sprinkled with
dance numbers which incorporated African tribal, Tap, and Lindy-hop
and the accompanied music were a welcomed surprise. I was impressed
with the authentic props employed that added a sense of reality. The
ensemble of 13 actors took this fine work of writing and gave life and
emotion to the point where I became a part of the presentation (of
course it doesn't hurt if you are seated in the front row.) I left,
having felt I actually shared the lives of these people. |
|
|
Audience Review:
Dear Nancy:
Enjoyed the production. I liked the spirit of the actors, all were
living the story. That same good spirit seems to permeate the space in
which you work. I'm sure that has a lot to do with the efforts of you,
your husband, and staff.
Yes, I would like to be added to your audience list. Expect a check in
the mail for a subscription to other productions.
CONGRATULATIONS on your "TENTH." -
Adolphus |
An American Tract – 2002
I also wanted to thank you for a
wonderful afternoon at the theater. An American Tract was
extremely well done as well as riveting. One of my students also
commented on the professionalism and grace of all those working behind
the scenes and especially those who welcomed us in the lobby. She and I
were both struck by the almost universal poise of the Black women we were
greeted by and who took our tickets and conversed with us. A very good
impression!!!! Good luck in 2003 and happy holidays. Sincerely, Niama
Williams
I TOTALLY enjoyed the play,
both me and my best Ujima did. It sounded like the tamest of all the shows I
have seen with Towne Street, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I must say
that I was surprised and enjoyed myself so much.
Thanks for the invite and thanks for all
the hard work you've done! You guys are THE BOMB!
Edmund
Hello Ms. Nancy Davis: I was so
impressed by An American Tract I would like to be included on your guest
list. I also will make a donation prior to Jan. 1.Please keep me informed
regarding future programs and events.- Collins Munns
JOLETA – 2002
I live in SC, but recently I heard about
this play from a friend. She could not stop saying enough good things
about it, and after reading the summaries and reviews I've read I can
see why. It seems to be a very wonderful play and Ms. Dickey quite a
talented writer.
The performance was enjoyed by all. In
fact, I took the opportunity to have my name added to your guest list. I
wouldn't want to miss your next production. The entire cast was
fantastic.... Mary Jackson
I too enjoyed the play for the second time and even with a
different cast. The Orange cast presented a
different edge, but delivered the same message.
Rotation of cast is a new and enjoyable experience for me,
something I look forward to seeing again … P.Dewberry
|
| |
|
