Carol Woods

Carol Woods (born November 13, 1943) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her roles in ''Sweet and Lowdown'' (1999), ''The Honeymooners'' (2005) and ''Across the Universe'' (2007). In February 2008, she received a standing ovation during the 50th Grammy Awards broadcast singing "Let It Be" from the ''Across the Universe'' soundtrack, with Timothy Mitchum.

Inspired by Barack Obama's campaign and win, Woods recorded Grammy Award winner Julie Gold's song "America". The CD of ''America (The Song)'' made its debut in a Limited Inaugural Edition at the "Shades of Blue" Inaugural Gala, hosted by Create the Vision Source in Washington D.C. January 20, 2009. In July 2009, ''America'' became available to the public at large.

In early 2009, she reprised the role of Matron "Mama" Morton in ''Chicago'' on Broadway, followed by two weeks at the National Theatre (March 31 – April 12, 2009). She remained on tour with the show through June 2010, returning to the Broadway production in July. She is also recording material for a new CD titled ''Blues in the Night''.

Career

Theater

Carol Woods Broadway theatre credits include Matron Mama Morton in ''Chicago'', Stella Deems in the Roundabout Theater's 2001 revival of Stephen Sondheim's ''Follies'', Mrs Crosby in Neil Simon's ''The Goodbye Girl'' (1993), and Maybelle in ''Grind'' in 1985. She also made a special guest appearance in the 2002 ''One Mo Time'' revival as Ma Reed. She was nominated for an Olivier Award for her role in the 1987 London production of ''Blues in the Night'', which led to a NYC run at the Minetta Lane Theater, and in 2008 reprised the role in a San Francisco production. As a founding member of Tony Randall's National Actors Theatre, in 1992, Carol appeared in their first two productions ''A Little Hotel on the Side'' and as Tituba in ''The Crucible''. She left '' Big River'' in 1987 to play Rose in the Tommy Tune-directed play '' Stepping Out''. On tour, she recreated the role of Jeanette Burmeister in ''The Full Monty''.

Off-Broadway, Woods is best known for her portrayal of Big Bertha in The Village Gate's 1979 production of '' One Mo' Time'' and its TV commercial where she sang part of "You've Got The Right Key But You're Working On The Wrong Keyhole" and viewers were invited to see the rest in person. In 1993, she portrayed Lorena Hickok in ''First Lady Suite'' at The Public Theater. In 1997, at the Samuel Beckett Theater, she appeared as Vy, Aladdin's mother in ''Dreamstuff'', a contemporary musical spin on Aladdin.

Her regional theater credits include An Evening Dinner Theatre in Elmsford, New York, where she appeared as Jewel in ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas''. At the McCarter Theater in Princeton, New Jersey, Woods appeared in ''C'mon and Hear: Irving Berlin's America'' (1994), ''A Christmas Carol'' (1996), ''Greensboro: A Requiem'' (1996). At Montclair State University in 1992 Woods repeated the starring role in ''Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'', which she had played in London's Royal National Theatre three years earlier. During Theaterfest '94 she appeared in ''Side by Side by Sondheim'', and during TheatreFest '98, ''Triplets: The Diva Musical'' with Ruth Brown, and Angela Robinson. For the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Woods appeared in '' Hot l Baltimore'' (2000).

Film

Her first film credit was as the infamous Aunt Bunny in ''Eddie Murphy Raw'' (1987). She reprised her stage role of Rose in '' Stepping Out'', based on the play of the same name, with Liza Minnelli, Shelley Winters, Bill Irwin and Jane Krakowski. Rose's son in the film was played by Carol's real son Raymond Rickman. She performed at both the Toronto Benefit for ''Starlight'' during the filming and at the "Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS" New York Premiere of the film.

In ''Sweet and Lowdown'' (1999), as Helen Minton, she sings ''All Of Me''. In ''The Honeymooners'' (2005) She Plays in Mama Gibson She also appears in ''Across the Universe'' (2007).

Having been directed by Jack Wrangler in cabaret, she appears as herself in the 2008 documentary '' Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon''. Woods is also featured in ''Steam'' as Ella, with Ruby Dee, and in ''When the Evening Comes'' (2009) (as Mrs. Anderson).

Filmography

Television

Recordings

* ''Bosom Buddies'' – with Karen Saunders
* ''Lost in the Stars''
* ''Breakfast at Tiffany's''
* ''Barcelona'' – While appearing in the London production of ''Blues in the Night'', Carol befriended Freddie Mercury, who asked her to sing backup on his album
* Lead vocal on the song "Brighter Tomorrow" from trumpeter Tom Browne from his album '' Rockin' Radio''

Three CDs in The Riverwalk Series: ''New Year's All Star Jam'', ''American Love Songs'' and ''Hot Jazz For A Cool Yule''. She also appears on the Cast Albums of ''Grind'', ''The Goodbye Girl'' and ''Blues In The Night''.

Concerts and cabaret

The Village Gate

''Songs in the Key of Stevie'' reunited her with Ron Richardson

The Stevie Wonder tribute was directed by Obba Babatundé

''New Year's Eve Party'' with opening act Dianna Jones

Featured vocalist at Late Night Swing Shows

During ''One Mo' Time'' made frequent "guest" appearances in the Terrace Bar Cabaret

She continued this practice when she dropped in to see other performers, notably Emmy Kemp, until "The Gate" closed.

Carnegie Hall

''An Evening with Carol Woods'' November 27, 2000

Benefit concerts for the Lauri Strauss Leukemia Foundation honoring Johnny Mercer (2001), Kander and Ebb (2003), and Marvin Hamlisch (2006).

92nd Street Y

Various ''Lyrics and Lyricists'' shows

Downtime

Her CD ''Bosom Buddies'' was recorded there live

Arci's Place

''Stick Around'' ran from January 30 through February 24, 2001

Rainbow and Stars

S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin'' (1992) with Jo Anne Worley

Michael's Pub

Tribute shows to Sammy Davis Jr. and Pearl Bailey (1991)

Freddy's Supper Club June 1985

Nell's

B. Smiths

Iridium

External links

Official site
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Carol Woods
at Internet Off-Broadway Database

{{DEFAULTSORT:Woods, Carol
Living people
African-American actresses
20th-century African-American women singers
20th-century American women singers
20th-century American singers
American musical theatre actresses
1943 births
21st-century African-American people
21st-century African-American women