Carla Renata
{{short description|American actress and singer}}
{{notability|biography|date=September 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Carla Renata
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Cherry Point, North Carolina, United States
| years_active = 1992–present
| occupation = Actress, singer
| website = [http://www.CarlaRenata.com Carla Renata]
| awards = NAACP Theatre Awards Nomination
| notable_works = Gary Coleman in Avenue Q
}}
Carla Renata (sometimes credited as Carla Renata Williams) is an American actress, film critic, and singer. She was born in Cherry Point, North Carolina and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. Renata has starred in several long-running Broadway musicals, national tours, and appears on television shows. She is creator and host of The Curvy Critic with Carla Renata which streams via YouTube and Facebook Live.
Biography
Carla Renata graduated from Howard University with a B.A. in Broadcast Production and was cast in the Matthew Broderick Broadway revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. She has worked in Broadway musicals. The Life, Smokey Joe's Cafe and in Vegas for the rock group Queen as "Killer Queen" in their hit musical We Will Rock You.
She made history becoming the 1st African American actress to secure recurring roles on four television shows - TWICE: Shake It Up,{{cite web|title=Shake It Up: Cast & Details|url=http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/shake-it-up/cast/307879|work=TV Guide|accessdate=February 10, 2012}} Hart of Dixie, How to Live With Your Parents, Mr. Box Office and Superstore.
She is best known for her roles in Avenue Q,{{cite web|title="Diff'rent Strokes": Renata Will Be Coleman in Avenue Q|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/118668-Diffrent-Strokes-Renata-Will-Be-Coleman-in-Avenue-Q|work=Playbill|publisher=Playbill, Inc.|accessdate=February 10, 2012|author=Andrew Gans|date=June 13, 2008}} Smokey Joe's Cafe on Broadway.
The New York Times called her an "Energizer Bunny of a comedian with a big ponytail, giant hoop earrings and an impressive résumé"{{cite news|title=So Many Hopefuls, So Few Puppets|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/25/theater/25goodwin.html?pagewanted=all|work=The New York Times – Theater|author=Joy Goodwin|date=March 25, 2007}} and cites her vocalism and style as ranging from "quasi-operatic" to gospel and rock.{{cite news|title=New York Times review|url=http://theater.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?_r=1&res=9E0CE0DD1731F937A3575AC0A964958260 | work=The New York Times}} The NAACP Theatre Awards nominated her performance for being outstanding in the Los Angeles production of The Lion King as Shenzi.
Broadway credits
- The Lion King Original Los Angeles Production
- How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying{{cite web|title=Carla Renata|url=http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/56177/Carla-Renata|work=Playbill Vault|publisher=Playbill, Inc|accessdate=February 10, 2012}}{{cite web|author=The Broadway League |url=http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=75818 |title=The official source for Broadway Information |publisher=IBDB |accessdate=January 28, 2012}}
- Avenue Q – Gary Coleman{{cite web|title=Carla Renata Williams|url=http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=75818|work=Internet Broadway Database|publisher=The Broadway League|accessdate=February 10, 2012}}
- The Life{{cite web|url=http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/56177/Carla-Renata |title=Carla Renata – Broadway Theatre Credits, Photos, Who's Who |publisher=Playbill Vault |accessdate=January 28, 2012}}
- Smokey Joe's Café
Off-Broadway
- Back to Bacharach and David – soloist
Film
- Latte & the Magic Waterstone - Boar's Mother
TV credits
- According to Jim - Sherri (2 episodes)
- Anger Management – Angelina (1 episode)
- Bones – Maureen Mack (1 episode)
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – Devine (1 episode)
- Frasier – Louise (1 episode)
- Hart of Dixie – Susie / Zombie No. 6 (19 episodes)
- How to Live With Your Parents – Mrs. Fogelman (2 episodes)
- Invincible Fight Girl – Goldy (voice) (4 episodes)
- It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia – Police Clerk (1 episode)
- Lastman – Additional Voices (3 episodes)
- Life in Pieces – Physician's Assistant (1 episode)
- Living Biblically – Gracie (6 episodes)
- Modern Family – Nikki (1 episode)
- Mr. Box Office – Lois Yearwood (2 episodes)
- New Girl – Octopussy (1 episode)
- Reba - IRS Agent Miller (1 episode)
- Shake It Up – Marcie Blue (6 episodes)
- Superstore – Janet (28 episodes)
- The Haves and the Have Nots – Joanne (2 episodes)
- The Neighbors – Leslie (1 episode)
- The Suite Life of Zack and Cody – Veronica (1 episode)
- Wabbit – Tooth Fairy (voice) / Grandma (voice) (2 episodes)
- Young & Hungry – Ms. Higgs (1 episode)
- Zoey 101 – Nurse Kafader (1 episode)
National touring credits
- Avenue Q – Gary Coleman{{cite news|title='Avenue Q' can really grow on you|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/cl-et-avenueq20jul20,0,4363636.story|work=Los Angeles Times – Entertainment|accessdate=February 10, 2012|author=Charles McNulty|date=July 20, 2007|archive-date=February 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209075256/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/cl-et-avenueq20jul20,0,4363636.story|url-status=dead}}
- The Who's Tommy – u/s The Acid Queen
Regional theatre credits
- The Lion King – Los Angeles production as Shenzi
Video game credits
- Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City – Lisa Lynn
- Grand Theft Auto V – The Local Population
- Kinect Disneyland Adventures – N/A
- Maneater – Female Hunter 4
Film credits
- Latte and the Magic Waterstone – Boar's Mother (voice)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|1484341}}
- [http://broadwayworld.com/people/gallery-person/Carla_Renata/ Live Concert Photos]
- [http://carlarenata.com Carla Renata Website]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Renata, Carla}}
Category:American video game actresses
Category:American musical theatre actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:Actresses from St. Louis
Category:Howard University alumni
Category:People from Cherry Point, North Carolina