Allison Russell
Biography
Grammy-winning artist Allison Russell is a weaver of stories and tales through the medium of music. Since the release of her first solo album three years ago, the self-taught singer, songwriter, poet, activist, and multi-instrumentalist has redefined what artistry means in the 21st century. From her devastatingly moving celebration of survivors’ joy through Outside Child to the body-shaking, mind-expanding, soulful expression of Black liberation that is The Returner, Russell’s music exceeds all reasonable (and unreasonable) expectations and affirms her place among today’s most vital artists.
Various honors include her Grammy win for Best American Roots Performance for the powerful single “Eve Was Black” alongside 7 additional nominations, the Juno Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year, the Americana Music Association’s 2023 Spirit of Americana Award & 2022 Album of the Year Award, two International Folk Music Awards, three Canadian Folk Music Awards, and four UK Americana Music Awards.
Alongside the Rainbow Coalition Band ⎯ a talented ensemble of Black and POC, queer, and historically marginalized musicians from across the U.S. ⎯ Russell uses the power of music in order to spread her message of the “Beloved Community” and is dedicated to lifting others upwards as her own star climbs higher.
Credits
Hadestown
Related Cast Members
Phillip Boykin
Currently in: Hadestown
Phillip Boykin is a 2012 Tony Award, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominee for his work in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. He is also a Grammy Award nominee for his role as Tonton Julian in the Tony Award-winning Once On This Island. Winner of a Theatre World Award and The Distinguished Alumni and The Anchor Award from the U of H Hartt School of Music. Other performances on Broadway: The Music Man, On the Town and Sunday in the Park With George. Other performances: Joe in the National Tour of Show Boat, The Pirate King/Samuel in Pirates of Penzance, Ken in Ain’t Misbehavin’, Crown/Jake in Porgy and Bess, Caiaphas in JCS, and Jesus Christ Superstar Gospel, Fred in Smokey Joe's Cafe, The Lion in The Wiz, and Jim in Big River, just to name a few. Phillip performed as Booker T. Washington in the Anniversary Concert of Ragtime at Lincoln Center. Mr. Boykin portrayed the role of Big Hand in the movie Freedom (starring Cuba Gooding Jr.) and The Driver in Top Five (starring Chris Rock). He also studied at SC State University, Howard University, and the NC School of the Arts. He has toured throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, Russia, Poland, and North America. Mr. Boykin is the Founder, Director, and Manager of the NY GOSPEL BROTHERS.
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Lillias White
Currently in: Hadestown
Lillias made her Broadway debut in Barnum. Other Broadway credits include Cats, Carrie, Dreamgirls, Once On This Island, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, Chicago, and FELA! (Tony nomination). For her role in The Life, she won Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards. Off-Broadway, White performed in the New Group’s Black No More, the Public Theater’s Romance In Hard Times (Obie Award), Dinah Was at the Gramercy Theatre, Second Stage Theatre’s Crowns (Audelco Award) and Texas In Paris at the York Theatre Company. Concert performances include the critically acclaimed cabaret show at 54 Below called The Lillias White Effect, Funny Girl, Hair, Dreamgirls, and South Pacific, which was broadcast on PBS in “Great Performances.” She also has appeared in concert at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center, and has toured internationally with her one-woman show, From Brooklyn To Broadway. Television appearances include a regular role on “Sesame Street” (Emmy Award); recurring roles on FX’s "Grotesquerie," Netflix’s “The Get Down” and “Russian Doll,” and guest star appearances on “New Amsterdam,” “Search Party,” “Gotham,” “Person of Interest,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Law & Order,” and “NYPD Blue.” Her screen credits include Heartworm, The Drummer, Disney’s Hercules, Anastasia, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Game 6, Pieces Of April and Then She Found Me. Lillias holds an honorary Ph.D in Fine Arts from the City University of New York.
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Malcolm Armwood
Currently in: Hadestown
Broadway debut! National tour: Motown the Musical, Smokey Joe’s Cafe. Regional: The Black Clown; Grease; Ragtime; Kiss Me, Kate; Show Boat. Praises to God who never fails! Much love to Dad, Mom, McKenzie, family, and friends. Special thanks to Danny at Hudson Artist Agency. ECU Alum.
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Tara Jackson
Currently in: Hadestown
Tara Jackson is honored to be making her Broadway debut in Hadestown! Hailing from Calgary, Alberta, she is an honors graduate from Berklee College of Music. Favorite credits include her three-time award-winning performances of Celie in The Color Purple and Hadestown’s Canadian premiere. Much love to Steven and family.
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Tom Hewitt
Currently in: Hadestown
Broadway credits include Chicago, Amazing Grace, Dr. Zhivago, Jesus Christ Superstar, Dracula the Musical,The Rocky Horror Show (Tony, Drama Desk nominations), The Lion King, Art, The Sisters Rosensweig. Off-Broadway: Aaron Marks’ Another Media, Treasure Island, Jeffrey, Beau Jest (Outer Critics nomination), Richard III, Othello. National tours: Finding Neverland, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby, Urinetown. Recent regional credits: Sweeney Todd (Provincetown Theatre), I Hate Hamlet (Bucks County), The Sting (Papermill Playhouse), My Paris (Long Wharf), Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (La Jolla Playhouse). TV and film include “Elementary,” “Law & Order,” “Frasier,” and Julie Taymor’s Fools’ Fire.
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Brandon Cameron
Currently in: Hadestown
Broadway Debut! Regional: Sight & Sound, American Music Theatre. Film: Cupid for Christmas. So grateful and excited to be joining the Hadestown family. God is good! Love to Mom, Mikayla, Laurel, family, friends, and mentors. Special thanks to Jeremy and the Nicolosi & Co. team. BFA Shenandoah University Conservatory ’22.
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