Jannie Jones was last seen in WBTT’s 2019 production of Caroline Or Change. She has also appeared at WBTT as Mama Lena in Raisin. The 2019 Handy Awards (Jay Handelman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune) recognized Jannie in the Best Actress category for her performances in both shows. She created the role of Annabella in Gathering Blue (World Premiere) at the Mt. Gretna Theatre. She played Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone in A Night with Janis Joplin at Capital Rep and The Barter Theatre, and performed in The Black Stars of the Great White Way with Tony Award-winners Norm Lewis and Andre DeShields and Emmy Award-winner Obba Babatunde at the National Black Theatre Festival. Catch her episode of The Get Down (Cool Herc’s Mom) on Netflix and Power on Starz. Jannie has appeared on Broadway in The Full Monty (Joanie Lish; understudy Georgie), Off-Broadway in Mama, / Want to Sing (Sister Carrie) and Faith Journey (Traci), and in the first national Broadway tour of All Shook Up (Sylvia). She won an Audelco Award for August Wilson’s Fences (Rose) and a Bay Area Critics Award for Black Pearl Sings (Pearl). She received critical acclaim for two one-woman shows, My Castle’s Rockin’ (Alberta Hunter) and Ethel Waters: His Eye is on the Sparrow, written by Larry Parr and premiering at Florida Studio Theatre. She can be heard on Barry White’s CD “Practice What You Preach” and has performed at Carnegie Hall.
Jannie Jones
Actor