IMANI RUSSELL
Actor,
Singer,
Writer
about me.
Imani Russell is a multi-hyphenate artist from Crown Heights (Lenapehoking). Trained in classical music, musical theatre, and acting, Imani made their Broadway debut in November 2023 in the new musical How to Dance in Ohio. Imani has performed off-Broadway and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and is an emerging voice-over artist. As a writer, they think about the connections between time, space, family, queerness, and magic. In 2024, Imani was selected for Breaking the Binary’s 3rd annual festival of new work, and their commissioned scene will be published alongside their fellow TNB2S+ writers next year by Broadway Licensing. They also write music under the name NANí and released their debut album Cowboy Song in May 2024. Imani believes in creating and practicing art as an act of love+community.
Imani is an AEA member managed by CLA Partners for theatre, film, and television.
Imani is represented for commercial work by Courtney Nelson and Stephanie Bellarosa with STATE Management's Lifestyle Division.
photos by Samuel Pickart
news & events.
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The world-premiere production will be the centerpiece of this year’s Next Stage Festival, running on the Irene Diamond Stage at the Pershing Square Signature Center. Previews begin February 12, 2025 with an official opening on February 26.
The company will include Jordan Barbour, Kayli Carter, Elizabeth Ramos, Imani Russell, Cody Sloan and Ryan Jamaal Swain.
Tickets can be purchased now at the link below:
https://cart.2st.com/events/5270?view=calendar&startDate=2025-2
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Next Monday December 2, 2024 at 7:30pm I will be playing Breaking Sound at Sanger Hall in Queens! This will be a chance to hear some of the songs from my recent album, Cowboy Song, live with a small band of incredible musicians. Tickets can be bought at the link below!
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Imani will be writing new work for // DARE: A COLLECTION OF COMMISSIONED SCENES AND MONOLOGUES, which has been co-conceived by L Morgan Lee and George Strus, and which will feature new work by TN2S+ writers. The works will then be published and licensed by Broadway Licensing in 2025.
Read more on playbill and at https://www.btb-nyc.com/24festival
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My play Gold Star has been selected alongside work by five other playwrights for The Bechdel Group's New Play Development Reading Series. An excerpt will be read over zoom as part of this free-reading series in Spring 2025. For more information and content notes, please click the text below:
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a lil something about queerness, the blood that binds us, and the myths we make in between. just in time for the geminis. Available on all streaming services, including Spotify and Apple Music.
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My latest release, "The Pink House," is out now! This song is one of my favorites from my upcoming album Cowboy Song, a queer fable about growing up in/against a cisheteronormative world.
Available on all streaming services, including Spotify and Apple Music.
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The How to Dance in Ohio Original Broadway Cast Album is now available for streaming and to purchase!
Click the text below to stream the song I had the honor of singing 8 shows a week, "Reincarnation" (with the amazing Cristina Sastre)
You can purchase a physical copy of the album by clicking the text below:
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After 2 years of workshops and an out-of-town run, I reprised the role of Mel in How to Dance in Ohio, a new musical by Rebekah Greer Melocik and Jacob Yandura, when it opened on Broadway in November/December 2023! I was so fortunate to make my Broadway debut with this important show under the direction of Sammi Cannold. HTDIO played at the Belasco Theatre from November 15, 2023 to February 11, 2024. For more information, click on the links below:
WORK WITH ME
WORK WITH ME
available for:
performance,
songwriting,
script consultation,
accessibility consultation
& more!
get in touch.
Management:
CLA Partners
Cyd LeVin, Partner
Harold Lewter, Partner
Matilda Bailey, Talent Coordinator
phone: 646.476.2668
email: team@cla.partners