Biographie
Liz Mikel is a multifaceted artist that has been a staple in the DFW Arts scene for more than 30 years. Her love of performing, warmth, magnetic presence and dynamic voice has endeared her to audiences worldwide. Like a painter with a blank canvas, she makes every performance an original. An accomplished actress and vocalist, Liz has transitioned seamlessly from stage to television, studio recordings, cabaret and feature films. Ms. Mikel has toured both nationally and abroad and has worked alongside some of the industry's biggest celebrities. Her recurring role as Corrina Williams on NBC's Emmy Award Winning Series, Friday Night Lights, tugged the heartstrings of viewers and critics alike. She had audiences laughing in the star-packed, Martin Lawrence blockbuster, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, playing the wife of the late Michael Clark Duncan. She was cast by comedian/director, Ben Stiller, and body slammed him in, The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty. And director Tate Taylor, (The Help), handpicked Mikel to portray Gertrude Saunders opposite the late, great Chadwick Boseman in the James Brown biopic, Get On Up.
Mikel received rave reviews in both her Off-Broadway and Broadway debuts as the all knowing muse/madam, Hetaira, in the Douglas CarterBeane/Lewis Flinn musical, Lysistrata Jones.
Liz had the prestigious honor of being personally invited by Activist/ Playwright, Eve Ensler to participate in the star-studded 10th anniversary of the Vagina Monologues. In addition to performing her selected monologue, she was also chosen by Ensler to stand in for OprahWinfrey in her absence. Mikel joined Ensler for the World Premiere of her comedy, O.P.C., at the Tony Award winning American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Mass. In 2018, the Tony Award winner sought out Liz for yet another premiere. Ensler teamed up with the Abingdon Theatre Company to bring her trio of short plays, Fruit Trilogy, to the Lucille Lortel Theatre. The play, which deals with the exploitation and eventual reclaiming of the female body, came on the 20th anniversary of her groundbreaking work, The Vagina Monologues.
As a vocalist, Liz has opened for Erykah Badu, Branford Marsalis, Issac Hayes, Joan Rivers, Gennifer Flowers, Chrisette Michele, Ledisi and her friend, Blues legend, Lucky Peterson. In 2017, she joined Peterson for a special New Year's Eve performance at Le Duc des Lombards in Paris, France. New York's Jim Caruso added Liz's powerhouse prowess to his Best Of Cast Party at Town Hall alongside Jane Monheit, Lisa Lampanelli, Linda Lavin and Marilyn Maye. For the past 9 years, Liz has hosted The Entertainer's Showcase at Dallas' oldest Jazz venue, The Balcony Club. During the Covid 19 Pandemic, Liz and pianist Linny Nance switched gears and brought music to fans in their home instead. They broadcasted Monday Night Music Therapy LIVE on Facebook on Monday nights. The Balcony Club has reopened and the showcase is back EVERY Monday in Lakewood. It features some of the best talent in the Metroplex. Also during the pandemic, Liz participated in several high profile virtual events including; That Kindness-A play for Nurses by V, (formerly known as Eve Ensler); The People's Summit/Transformation2020; Manhattan Theatre Club's Ted Snowdon Reading Series and Dallas Theater Center's, In The Bleak Midwinter-A Christmas Carol For Our Times.
Liz has been lauded and recognized for her artistic achievements by D Magazine, Dallas Theater Critics Forum, Dallas Observer, Dallas Voice Reader's Choice Award, The Sankofa Award, Leon Rabin Award, The Column Awards (multiple), Broadway World Award, Black Women In Jazz and was a nominee for Dallas Morning News' 2012 Texan Of The Year. She was selected by the Dallas Observer as one of the City's 30 People to Watch in 2013, and was featured on the cover. Liz is honored to have been selected as a recipient of the 2015 Lunt Fontanne Fellowship by the Ten Chimneys Foundation, and attended a week long intensive workshop with Master Teacher, Phylicia Rashad.
Ms. Mikel received the 2018 Award For Excellence in Community Service from the Dallas Historical Society for making significant contributions to Dallas' quality of life. In the Spring of 2019, Dallas Theater Center honored Liz with the Bill and Linda Custard Award for her extraordinary, distinguished and long-time service to DTC. Mikel was the recipient of the prestigious, 2021 Fullinwider Award at the 10th annual Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theater Awards. The Fullinwider Award is presented to artists with roots in the North Texas community who have gone on to have had significant impact on the local, regional, and national theater communities.
Liz starred as Benjamin Franklin in the National Tour of 1776. She portrayed John Handcock in the Broadway Revival of the musical comedy at The Roundabout Theater. 1776 was directed by Tony Award winner and American Repertory Theater artistic director, Diane Paulus and Jeffrey L. Page. She is a proud member of the Diane and Hal Brierley Resident Acting Company of the Tony Award winning Dallas Theater Center, and in 2021, she celebrated her 30th year at DTC. She is a member of both professional actor's unions, Actors' Equity Association and Screen Actor's Guild. A dedicated mother and grandmother, Liz thanks her family, both biological and chosen for their support and love! Follow Liz online! Facebook: Ms. Liz Mikel; Instagram: @miz_lyzz; Twitter: @mizlyzz YouTube: Mizlyzz
