Theatre Register

Novella Nelson

Shows · Novella Nelson

Actor 1939–2017 On stage 1970–1981

Novella Christine Nelson (December 17, 1939 – August 31, 2017) was an American actress and singer. She established her career as a singer, both on the off-Broadway and Broadway stage and in cabaret-style locales.

On stage 3 productions, 11 years

1970 Purlie Broadway Theatre · Original · directed by Philip Rose 688 perf.
1977 Caesar and Cleopatra Palace Theatre · Revival · directed by Ellis Rabb 12 perf.
1981 The Little Foxes Martin Beck Theatre · Revival · directed by Austin Pendleton 126 perf.

Each row is a staging this name appears in the cast list of, read from the production record rather than from the person record. The person record names works instead, and a work cannot say which run somebody was in — that is how Elaine Stritch ends up filed under Show Boat 1927 when she was in the 1994 revival. No row here says what part was played, because no cast list records it.

In the literature8 passages

  • Cast: Cleavon Little, Melba Moore, John Heffernan, Sherman Hemsley, Novella Nelson, George Faisonebooks/Green, Stanley/Broadway Musicals, Show By Show - Seventh Edition - Stanley Green & Cary Ginell.txt
  • and a virtual explosion of song from Melba Moore, with notably strong support from Novella Nelson and Sherman Hemsley. But Purl had a problem: it was a theatrical also-ran, a small-fry production with no important names attached. Coming from an independent and poorly connected producer, Purlie had to struggle for financing and settle for…theatre-pdfs/More Opening Nights on Broadway - Steven Suskin.txt
  • BLACK VISIONS Four one-act plays directed by Kris Keiser and Novella Nelson; Setting, Ademoia Olugebefola; Costumes, Grasanne Lighting, Ernest Baxter; Choreography, Hope Clarke; Producer, Joseph Papp, Associate Producer, Bernard Driskell;theatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1971-72 Season, v. 28 (Willis).txt
  • Stanley Silverman; General Management, Theatre Now; Stage Manager, Patrick Horrigan. CAST: Novella Nelson (Addie), Joe Seneca (Cal), Maureen Stapleton (Birdie), Nicolas Coster (Oscar), Wilham Youmans (Leo), Eluabeth Taylor (Regina), Humbert Allen Astredo (Marshall), Robert Lansing (Benjamin), Aim Talman (Alexandra), J. D. Cannon (Horace).…theatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1981-82 Season, v. 38 (Willis).txt
  • Jean DeBaer (Mary), Deborah Rush (Sheila), Bill Moor (Henry), Burke Pearson (Hopp), Kim Beaty (Lucy), Novella Nelson (Newscaster), lace),theatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1982-83 Season, v. 39 (Willis).txt
  • BREAKING THE PRAIRIE WOLF CODE by Lavonne Mueller; Director, Liz Diamond; Set, Richard Hoover; Lighting, Jane Reisman; Costumes, Mimi Maxmen; Original Score/Musical Director, Alice Eve Cohen; Assistant Director, Janna Gjesdal; Props, Andrea Odezynska; Wardrobe, Mara Williams; Wigs, Vito Mastrogiovanni; Stage Managers, Rebecca Green, Novel…theatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1985-86 Season, v. 42 (Willis).txt

Passages naming this person, found by keyword across 178 books. A keyword match is not a biography, and a common name will pull in the wrong one.

What this page does not know

  • What this person played. No cast list we hold records a character against a performer.
  • Which of the credits above the roles on this record — actor — apply to. The roles sit on the person and never on a credit, so a director who also acted looks the same here as one who did not.

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