Carol Woods (performer)

Carol Woods is an American performer. In Feb. of 2008 she performed on the 50th Grammy Awards broadcast singing "Let It Be" from the soundtrack of the film "Across the Universe", with Timothy T. Mitchum. She is currently(2008) appearing on Broadway reprising the role of Matron Mama Morton in "Chicago". Concurrently she is recording material for a new CD

Theater

Carol Woods Broadway theatre credits include Matron Mama Morton in "Chicago". Stella Deems in the Roundabout Theater's 2001 revival of "Steven Sondheim's Follies" , Mrs Crosby in Neal Simon's "The Goodbye Girl" (1993), 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 the Tommy Tune-directed "Stepping Out (play)".On Tour she recreated the role of Jeanette Burmeister in "The Full Monty".

Off-Broadway, she is best known for her portrayal of Big Bertha in the Village Gate's 1979 production of "One Mo Time" and it's 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 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, Carol 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 Carol Woods repeated the starring role in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom", which she had played in London's Royal National Theater 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 she appeared in "Hot L Baltimore" (2000)

Films

Her first film credit was as the infamous Aunt Bunny in " Eddie Murphy Raw" (1987)
She reprises her stage role of Rose in the "Stepping Out (1991 film)" version, with Liza Minnelli, Shelly Winters, Bill Irwin and Jane Krakowski.Rose's son in the film was played by Carol's real son Raymond RickmanShe 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 Alice's Mom .
"Across the Universe (film)"(2007)
Having been directed by Jack Wrangler in cabaret, she appears as herself in the 2008 documentary "Wrangler Anatomy Of An Icon".
"Steam" with Ruby Dee is in Post Production

Television

"The Parent Hood" with Robert Townsend as Mrs Wilcox - Season 1
"Law and Order"
"Third Watch"
"The Practice" episode - "Neighboring Species" in which some fool didn't want to hear her sing.

Recording Artist

"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 was befriended by Freddie Mercury of Queen who asked her to sing backup on this Album

3 CD's in The Riverwalk Series:
"New Year's All Star Jam
American Love Songs"
"Hot Jazz For A Cool Yule."

She also appears on the Cast Albums of :
"Grind,"
"The Goodbye Girl"
"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 Years 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 & 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 30th through February 24th 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

Nell's

B. Smiths

Iridium

External Links

*Carol Woods Website http://www.carolwoodsonline.com/schedule.php
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0940528/ Carol Woods] at the Internet Movie Database
* [http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=71791 Carol Woods] at the Internet Broadway Database