Eisa Davis
Davis sings at NYC Hip-Hop Theater Festival 10th Anniversary benefit in 2010
Born (1971-05-05) May 5, 1971
EducationHarvard University (AB)
Pace University (MFA)
Occupation(s)Playwright, actress, singer-songwriter
RelativesAngela Davis (aunt)

Eisa Davis (born May 5, 1971) is an American playwright, actress and singer-songwriter.[1] She is most commonly known for her work as a playwright, writing shows such as Bulrusher and Angela's Mixtape as well as through her acting work, wherein she won an Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Performance. She resides in Brooklyn.[2]

Early life and education

Davis spent her childhood in San Francisco, California.[3] As a child, she spent her time attending dance classes and learning the piano. She is the niece of political activist Angela Davis. After graduating from Berkeley High School, she earned a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and a Master of Fine Arts from the Actors Studio, where she double majored in playwriting and acting.[4] Her dance skills are notable as well, with the dean of her program saying she could have been admitted to Alvin Ailey.[5]

Career

Davis stars as Addie Pickett, nurse and receptionist at Bluebell, Alabama's local medical practice in The CW's series Hart of Dixie, a fish-out-of-water story about a New York City doctor (Rachel Bilson) adjusting to life in a small Southern town after she inherits a local medical practice. In 2006 Davis was nominated for, and subsequently won, an Obie Award for her performance in Passing Strange. The show premiered at Berkeley Rep, but then moved on to Broadway and Davis went with the show, only later to have the whole production filmed by Spike Lee. In 2009 she wrote and starred in Angela's Mixtapes. The show was autobiographical and went on to make it into the New Yorkers list of best plays from that year.[2] Davis was previously a resident playwright at New Dramatists, during which time she won two playwriting awards, the Whitfield Cook and the Helen Merrill.[1] Recently she has worked at Williams College as an Arthur Levitt Fellow for the 2013/14 season.[1] Currently she is the Symphony Space's artist-in-residence.[6] Davis has two albums of her own music, Something Else and Tinctures. Some of her songs have been featured on the Showtime series Soul Food.[1] Davis also narrated the role of Celestial Davenport Hamilton in the audiobook version of An American Marriage by Tayari Jones.[7] Her play Bulrusher will also be produced at Berkeley Rep OCT 27–DEC 3, 2023.[8]

Artistic philosophy

Davis believes in the Ghanaian principle of Sankofa. The literal translation of the word is "return and collect it" or "go back and get it". This refers to her use of digging through her own lineage and history to find action and themes that can be used in her plays. She also uses her art to answer questions that "haunt" her or ideas that she is grappling with herself. Much of her artistic philosophy can be summed up in her quote, "Theatre is one of the few public spaces we have for active contemplation."[9] She struggles with ideas such as blackness and family through the poetry of her language.[9]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Box Suite Davis
2001 Mourning Glory Victim
2003 Robot Stories Helen
2004 Brass Tacks Tamara
2005 Confess Glyness Bennet
2006 The Architect Linda Freeman
2008 Pretty Bird Corporate Hotshot #3
2010 Welcome to the Rileys Vivian
2011 In the Family Anne Carter
2012 The Letter Therapist
2013 The Volunteer Karen
2014 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit FBI Explosives Expert
2018 First Match Bianca
2019 After the Wedding Tanya
2021 Tick, Tick... Boom! Aspiring Composer and Lyricist
2023 Ex-Husbands Eileen Link

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Now and Again Reporter Episode: "Over Easy"
2000–2009 Law & Order Various roles 4 episodes
2001–2003 Soul Food Rose / Tinctures / Eisa Davis
2002–2008 The Wire Bubbles' Sister
2003 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Vera Galeano Episode: "Soulless"
2009 Great Performances Mother Episode: "Passing Strange"
2009 Damages Carla Stenson Episode: "London. Of Course"
2010 Mercy Producer Episode: "There Is No Room for You on My Ass"
2011–2012 Hart of Dixie Addy Pickett 10 episodes
2012 Smash Abigail 2 episodes
2014 The Blacklist ND Agent Episode: "The Good Samaritan (No. 106)"
2014 The Good Wife Dr. Allison Sugar Episode: "Dramatics, Your Honor"
2015 Gotham Judith Barthel Episode: "The Scarecrow"
2015 American Odyssey Sheila Linderby Episode: "Bug Out"
2015 Madam Secretary Jane Smith Episode: "The Long Shot"
2015–2016 House of Cards Cynthia Driscoll 8 episodes
2016 The Family Julia Beckett Episode: "Of Puppies and Monsters"
2016 Blindspot Alexandra 4 episodes
2016 Falling Water Sarah Henry Episode: "Circular Time"
2018 The Looming Tower Condoleezza Rice 3 episodes
2018 Rise Eva Thorne 5 episodes
2018 Succession Joyce Miller 2 episodes
2018 God Friended Me Lena
2019 Bluff City Law General Virginia Howe Episode: "Need to Know"
2020–2021 Betty Jeanne 5 episodes
2021 Pose Angie Episode: "Intervention"
2021 Mare of Easttown Gayle Graham 4 episodes
2023 Ahsoka Captain Girard Episode: "Part Five: Shadow Warrior"

Awards

Year Award Show Result
2006 Obie Award Passing Strange Won
2007 Pulitzer Prize Bulrusher Nominated
2011 Ruby Prize Ramp Won
2012 Herb Alpert Theatre Award N/A Won
Barrymore Award The History of Light Nominated
N/A Whitfield Cook Award N/A Won
N/A Helen Merrill Award N/A Won
2016 Lucille Lortel Award Preludes Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "about « Eisa Davis". www.eisadavis.com. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  2. 1 2 Elist, Jasmine (2011-08-14). "A double life as actress, playwright". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Archived from the original on 2012-02-11. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  3. ↑ Lee, Felicia R. (2008-03-08). "Eisa Davis – Passing Strange – Theater". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  4. ↑ "Revolution, Racism and Family in "Angela's Mixtape" By FRED DODSWORTH. Category: Election Section from The Berkeley Daily Planet". www.berkeleydailyplanet.com. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  5. ↑ Lee, Felicia R. (2008-03-08). "Eisa Davis – Passing Strange – Theater". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  6. ↑ "A Conversation with the Artists-in-Residence at Symphony Space". Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  7. ↑ "An American Marriage - HighBridge Audio".
  8. ↑ https://www.berkeleyrep.org/shows/bulrusher/
  9. 1 2 "About Eisa Davis | The Herb Alpert Award in the Arts". herbalpertawards.org. 28 April 2013. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
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