Ella Joyce A Rose Among Thorns Company: Ms. Thing Productions Location: Los Angeles, California Website: www.ellajoyce.com

Biography:
Winner of the JEFF Award and the BTAA Award for her portrayal of Lily Ann Green at The Goodman Theatre (Chicago) in Lynn Nottage’s “Crumbs From the Table of Joy”. Other credits include the original role of Tonya in August Wilson’s world premiere of “King Hedley II”; the original role of Risa in August Wilson’s world premiere of “Two Trains Running” opposite Laurence Fishburne and Samuel Jackson at the Yale Rep, Seattle Rep, Boston Huntington, The Old Globe, and Pittsburgh PublicTheater, directed by the late master director, Lloyd Richards.

Other production credits include Neil Simon’s “Barefoot In The Park” (starring Kim Fields) at the National Black Theatre Festival, Ron Milner’s “Don’t Get God Started!” starring the gospel Winans, “Checkmates” starring Ruby Dee in The Bermuda Arts Festival sponsored by Woodie King, Jr., and “Willie & Esther” at Black Spectrums Theatre (NY), The Black Academy of Arts & Letters (Dallas), The Juneteenth Legacy (KY), and the 2005 National Black Theater Festival in North Carolina. Ella is probably best known and beloved by audiences for her TV role of Eleanor on “Roc” which gave her an NAACP Image Award nomination.

Guest star appearances include “My Wife & Kids”, “Eve”, “The Jamie Foxx Show” “In The House”, “Seinfeld”. Film credits include “Set It Off”, “Bubba Ho-Tep”, “Uncle P”, “Selma, Lord Selma”, “Salvation” (DGA Award), “Stranger Inside”, “The Old Settler”, “Who Made The Potatoe Salad?”, “Lost Signal”, “What About Your Friends?”, “A Simple Promise”, “City Teacher”, and the multiple Award Winning music video TLC’s “Waterfalls”.

She is the voice of Zora Neal Hurston in the late Ron Milner’s “Ruby McCollum Story” (books-on-tape) starring Loretta Divine. Ella has graced the covers of many magazines including JET, Black Masks, and has been written up in TV Times. Ms. Joyce has received the Spirit of Detroit Award twice, and recently received the Community Artist Award from Famili, an organization dedicated to recognizing leaders and famous artists who serve in the Black communities in Los Angeles. Ella is the author of the popular paperback Kink Phobia, Journey Through A Black Woman’s Hair (www.kinkphobia.com), and presents readings from her book with fun and informative Q&A hair discussions afterward.

Currently, Ella is touring her critically acclaimed one-woman play A Rose Among Thorns (a Tribute to Rosa Parks), and has been invited by the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery, Alabama to perform in February 2008. Ella has designed this solo show to fit any venue or special event. This show, or an excerpt from this show with Q&A afterward, has played corporations, organizations, schools, and churches around the country.

Availability:
Available to speak on education and women's issues.