Nikki Renée Daniels

Nikki Renée Daniels is a stage actress best known for her performances in musicals on Broadway, including as Nabulungi in The Book of Mormon.

Early life and education

Daniels was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to a mother who taught preschool and a father who managed a meat packing company.[1] She started singing at the age of 13 and attended a performing arts high school in Atlanta.[2] She earned a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music.[3]

Career

Daniels moved to New York City[4] and made her Broadway debut in the musical Aida in 2000.[5] Over the next decade, her Broadway credits included Nine (2003) as Renata, The Look of Love (2003) as Pit Singer, Little Shop of Horrors (2004) as the understudy for Chiffon, Crystal and Ronnette, Lestat (2006) as Eleni.[5] Les Misérables (2007) as Fantine.[6] Further Broadway roles were in |Promises, Promises (2010) as Barbara, Anything Goes (2011) as the understudy for Hope,[5] Porgy & Bess (2012) as Clara,[5][7] The Book of Mormon (2014–2018) as Nabulungi,[8] Company (2021–2022) as Jenny and understudy for Bobbie (the first Black actor to play Bobbie on Broadway)[9] and Once Upon a Mattress (2024), as Lady Larken.[5]

Her other theatre credits include Ragtime as Sarah (2002; North Shore Music Theatre, Massachusetts),[10] Dorian as Celia Vane (2002, Denver Center, Colorado),[11] Anything Goes as Hope (2006, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Massachusetts),[12] Ray Charles Live! as Della B (2007, Pasadena Playhouse, California),[13] Beauty and the Beast as Belle, (2008, American Musical Theatre of San Jose, California),[14] Caroline, or Change as Emmie (2009, The Gunthrie, Minnesota),[15] 1776 as Martha Jefferson (2016, Encores!, New York)[16] and Hamilton as Angelica Schuyler (2019, CIBC Theatre, Chicago).[17]

Theatre credits

Year Production Role Location Ref
2000 Aida Nehebka, Ensemble, u/s Aida Broadway, Palace Theatre [5]
2002 Ragtime Sarah Massachusetts, North Shore Music Theatre [10]
2002 Dorian Celia Vane Colorado, Denver Center [11]
2003 Nine Renata Broadway, Eugene O'Neill Theatre [18]
2003 The Look of Love Pit Singer Broadway, Brooks Atkinson Theatre [5]
2004 Little Shop of Horrors u/s Chiffon, Crystal, Ronette Broadway, Virginia Theatre [19]
National tour [20]
2006 Lestat Eleni Broadway, Palace Theatre [5]
2006 Anything Goes Hope Harcourt Massachusetts, Williamstown Theatre Festival [12]
2006 Les Misérables Factory Worker/Madeleine/Whore, u/s Fantine Broadway, Broadhurst Theatre [5]
2007 Fantine
2007 Ray Charles Live! Della B California, Pasadena Playhouse [13]
2008 Beauty and the Beast Belle California, American Musical Theatre of San Jose [14]
2009 Caroline, or Change Emmie Minnesota, The Gunthrie [15]
2010 Promises, Promises Barbara, Orchestra Voice Broadway, Broadway Theatre [5]
2011 Anything Goes Passenger, u/s Hope Harcourt Broadway, Stephen Sondheim Theatre [5]
2011 Porgy and Bess Clara Boston, American Repertory Theater [7]
2012 Broadway, Richard Rodgers Theatre [5]
2014 The Book of Mormon Nabulungi Broadway Eugene O'Neill Theatre [5]
2019 Hamilton Angelica Schuyler Chicago, CIBC Theatre [17]
2021 Company Jenny, u/s Bobbie Broadway, Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre [21][9]
2024 Once Upon a Mattress Lady Larken Broadway, Hudson Theatre [22]

Film

Year Project Role Notes Ref
2021 The Waves in Quarantine Self [23]
2023 Black Broadway: A Proud History, A Limitless Future Self Concert TV special [24]
2024 Wicked Vocal ensemble [25]

Recordings

Her debut solo album, Home, was released in 2012, to generally positive reviews. Tituss Burgess and Jeff Kready each featured on a song.[26][27]

Concerts

Honors and awards

Year Award Category For Status
2012 IRNE Award Large Theater: Best Supporting Actress (Musical) Porgy & Bess (A.R.T.) Nominated [34]

Personal life

Daniels is married to actor Jeff Kready, whom she met during the 2006 Broadway revival of Les Misérables.[35] The couple wed in 2009 and have two children.[36][37]

References

  1. ^ Blank, Matthew (27 March 2012). "PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: Porgy and Bess' Nikki Renee Daniels". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  2. ^ Johnson, Kevin Ray (21 January 2020). "5 Questions with COMPANY's Nikki Renee Daniels!". OnStage Blog. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  3. ^ "Vocalist - Nikki Renée Daniels". Boston Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  4. ^ Moynihan, Caitlin (8 July 2020). "Broadway Leading Ladies Adrienne Warren, Nikki Renée Daniels and Amber Iman on 'Finding Their Power'". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Nikki Renée Daniels (Performer)". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2025-12-11. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  6. ^ "Nikki Renée Daniels and Lea Salonga to Play Fantine in Les Miz". TheaterMania. 2007-01-03. Retrieved 2026-02-01.
  7. ^ a b "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess". American Repertory Theatre. 17 August 2011. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  8. ^ "The Book of Mormon – Broadway Musical – Original – Replacements". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2026-02-01.
  9. ^ a b Urban, Sasha (2022-04-04). "Nikki Renée Daniels 'Never Dreamed' She'd Become the First Black Actor to Lead Company on Broadway". Variety. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  10. ^ a b Jones, Kenneth (14 May 2002). "Revised Ragtime Gets Resident Premiere — in the Round — at MA's North Shore, May 14". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2026-02-01. Retrieved 2026-02-01.
  11. ^ a b "Wilde-Inspired Dorian Musical, With Cuccioli, Gets Denver Canvas Sept. 12-29". Playbill. 12 September 2002. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  12. ^ a b "Anything Goes | 2006". Williamstown Theatre Festival. Retrieved 2026-02-01.
  13. ^ a b Block, Michael (18 January 2012). "Spotlight on... Nikki Renée Daniels". Theater in the Now. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  14. ^ a b "Beauty and the Beast, with Daniels and Little, Begins San Jose Run May 13". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  15. ^ a b Huyck, Ed (2009-04-30). "Review: Terrific performances in Guthrie's 'Caroline, or Change'". MinnPost. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  16. ^ a b "Critics Review Diverse 1776 at Encores!". Playbill. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  17. ^ a b McPhee, Ryan (1 April 2019). "Nikki Renée Daniels Is Chicago Hamilton's New Angelica Schuyler". Playbill. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  18. ^ Moynihan, Caitlin (2021-02-08). "Black History Month: Nikki Renée Daniels Remembers the Iconic Eartha Kitt". Broadway in Atlanta. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  19. ^ "Resume". Nikki Renée Daniels. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  20. ^ "Nikki Renée Daniels". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  21. ^ Moynihan, Caitlin (21 June 2022). "Tony-Winning Company, Starring Katrina Lenk & Patti LuPone, to Close on Broadway; National Tour Announced". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  22. ^ "Walk to Work with Nikki Renée Daniels, Once Upon a Mattress' Lady-in-Waiting". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  23. ^ Moynihan, Caitlin (22 April 2021). "Raúl Esparza, Alice Ripley, Carmen Cusack & More Star in The Waves in Quarantine". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  24. ^ Robinson, Jennifer (2023-02-14). "Black Broadway: A Proud History, A Limitless Future". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2026-02-01.
  25. ^ "Home". Nikki Renée Daniels. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  26. ^ Lester, Rob. "Talkin' Broadway Sound Advice: Nikki Renée Daniels, Ramin Karimloo and Halie Loren - 7/19/12". Talkin' Broadway. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  27. ^ "CD COLUMN: Bring On the Music - TheaterMania.com". 2012-04-29. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  28. ^ "Exclusive! Backstage and Inside the Secret Garden After-Party". Playbill. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  29. ^ Sullivan, Lindsey (26 April 2022). "Odds & Ends: Ingrid Michaelson, Adrienne Warren & More Set for the New York Pops' 40th Season at Carnegie Hall". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  30. ^ King, Darryn (26 June 2024). "Patrick Wilson, Nikki Renée Daniels, Skylar Astin and More to Pay Tribute to Les Miz Creators with Starry Concert". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  31. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (18 February 2024). "Auli'i Cravalho, Norm Lewis, Nikki Renée Daniels, More Star in Children of Eden Concert February 18". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2025-11-14. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  32. ^ King, Darryn (19 April 2024). "Jennifer Holliday, Norbert Leo Butz, Donna Murphy and More Will Perform Follies in Concert at Carnegie Hall". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  33. ^ King, Darryn (27 February 2025). "Eden Espinosa, J. Harrison Ghee, Conrad Ricamora and More Join Broadway Backwards". Broadway Buzz. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  34. ^ Bacalzo, Dan (2012-02-21). "Joanna Gleason, Norm Lewis, Audra McDonald, Christopher Sieber Receive IRNE Nominations - TheaterMania.com". TheaterMania. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  35. ^ Kennedy, Mark (19 March 2015). "Diapers and greasepaint: A Broadway couple raise a baby". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  36. ^ Lefkowitz, Andy (17 April 2017). "Odds & Ends: Nikki Renee Daniels & Jeff Kready Welcome Baby Girl, Once Upon a Time Musical Episode & More". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  37. ^ "Why Nikki Renée Daniels and Jeff Kready's Daughter Has an Unbeatable Rep Book". Playbill. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
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