Biography
Tyra Hughes is a phenomenal American award winning actress, writer, poet, comedian, to name a few. She has a rare, vital, and important theatrical voice. With her strongly seasoned acting skills and remarkable resemblance to Eartha Kitt, Tyra made history in 2015 as Dillard University's first alum in the entire 80 year history of Dillard's theater program to return with her professional one woman show of the life and times of Eartha Kitt: UnAuthorized Confessions of a Sex Kitten.
This United States Air Force Veteran, who achieved 'Outstanding Airmen' as well as 'Distinguished Airmen' status, and New Orleans native, after several visits to Los Angeles, relocated with her 3 talented daughters to take their gifts and talents to the next level.
Tyra hit the ground running and over the years she was named one of Louisiana 'Gambit' weekly's '40 Under 40' Louisianians Worthy of Distinguish', Data News weekly's 'Trailblazer', and the United States 'Air Force' magazines 'Air Force Airman on the Rise' to name a few.
Tyra's original comedy has been featured on BET's hit series 'Comic View', she starred in Comedy Central's hit tv series 'Chocolate News' alongside 'David Allen Grier' as his wife Anita. She's graced the stage of the Famed 'Ha Ha' Comedy club in Hollywood, also Chicago's 'Second City Theater with her stand up comedy, as well as New York's Famous and most coveted stage at the 'Nuyurican Poet Cafe' with her powerful original award winning conscious spoken word poetry.
Tyra's voice has been heard across the nation on the syndicated radio show 'The Weekend Top 30 Countdown' (aka WT30) as the 'Celebrity Gossip' reporter in her own segment 'Tyra's Trash(Trash or Treats) which mostly reported ' good celebrity gossip). She has interviewed celebrities like JayZ, who spoke in a crowd saying of Tyra "Oh Yes, you are 'the Voice" long before the tv series 'The Voice' began. Also interviewing celebs like Adam Levine, Maroon 5, Rubin Studdard, Kevin Little, Yolanda Adams, Brandy, U2, Brittany Spears, Jessica Simpson, Wanda Sykes, and the entire legendary cast of 'Good Times', to name a few, at many star-studded and red carpet events.
Tyra has appeared in several national commercial campaigns such as 'Big Lots', 'Secret Deodorant', 'A & P' Sav-A-Center stores, and a host of infomercials.
Tyra's television credits include: ABC's 'In Justice'' tv series as 'Flora' alongside Erica Alexander and Jason O'mara, HBO's 'Treme' tv series as teacher 'Linda Phillips' alongside Wendell Pierce, Melissa Leo, and Khandi Alexander, BRAVO's 'Workout' tv series alongside fitness guru Jackie Warner. Also HGTV, E! tv, Showtime, and others.
Tyra has appeared in several movies such as 20th Century Fox's 'Baggage Claim' alongside Jill Scott, Paula Patton, Jenifer Lewis, Taye Diggs, and Tia Mowry, Touchstone Pictures 'Mr. 3000' alongside The late great Bernie Mac, and Angela Bassett, the award winning hit film 'Kenya and Alton's Outrageous Wedding' as 'Aretha' alongside Mad TV's Debra Wilson and the legendary Freda Payne, the powerful drama, 'Nobody's Smiling' as 'Ms. Ward', alongside Mike Muscat, Darris Love, Teck Holmes, and 'Shay Roundtree'.
Tyra was nominated 'Best International Actress' for the role of Felicia/Flame in the award winning film 'The Life Project' along with her daughter as her co-star Comedian/Actress Tamika 'Binkki' Firstley.
DID YOU KNOW: Tyra Hughes was a 'costume design seamstress' for Taylor Hackford's Oscar Award winning Universal Pictures film 'Ray' alongside Oscar winner Jamie Fox and Oscar nominated Costume Designer Sharen Davis. 'Ray' also won at least 54 other awards. Tyra also was 'costume design seamstress' for Charles Stone III's award nominated 20th Century film 'Drumline' alongside Nick Cannon, Zoe Saldana, And Orlando Jones. She was also hired as costume design seamstress for Disney's children's tv show 'Bus Life' alongside the talented Vanessa Hudgens.
Coming from a theatrical background, Tyra has been on stage most of her life. At age 14, her high school gave her a budget to cast, direct, costume and produce a play she wrote and was allowed to premier at the schools family night, to the surprise of her own family who had no idea until she was introduced on stage afterwards. Tyra's stage play received a standing ovation and was lauded by many. Tyra went on throughout High school winning trophies every week, best actress every year, and top in the nation for dramatic and humorous interpretations, also duet, poetry, and prose. She auditioned for the renowned Julliard School of Dramatic Arts Division in New York City and won a coveted invitation to attend. Without any support that dream was never realized.
Not giving up Tyra was later offered a Theater/Communications scholarship to Dillard University after auditioning for one of their theatrical productions. Tyra went on to star in many of Dillard's stage productions such as: Langston Hughes' 'Tamborines to Glory' as the lead 'Reverend Laura Wright Reed', August Wilson's 'Joe Turner's Come and Gone' as lead 'Bertha Holly', Pearl Cleage's 'Flyin West' as the lead and powerful character 'Ms. Leah' to name a few. Representing Dillard University Tyra competed in the NASDA(National Association of Speech and Dramatic Arts) competition, bringing home several 1st place trophies in her performance categories: Drama, Prose, and Poetry.
Loving her journey, Tyra took a few years to focus on studying, writing, developing and producing her own one woman show, celebrating and paying tribute to the legendary Eartha Kitt and sharing her story. Tyra, when not in front of the camera, currently takes her live show to Eartha's fans, sharing her story of 'triumph over trouble' always taking the audience on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and always leaving the audience in awe through this powerful performance, as 'Dr. Romeo Brooks'(CEO and Founder of Roots Nutrition and Fitness, author of 'Body Intelligent') stated, "Its 'Edutainment at its best".
Giving back to the youth, Tyra created the award winning 'Starshapers' program, which received an award grant from the 'New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival organization'. It's a program that answers the question: How to prevent the youth from becoming juvenile delinquents? Helping parents identify their child's true passion, how to hone them, and keep them far away from the juvenile delinquent system.
Tyra, a true artist at heart, represents excellence in any genre she commits to, loving the creativity of the arts.
She is also a team member of www.Time2Jamm.com Network 'The Ultimate Entertainment Network Experience'! Preserving History' Honoring Excellence' 'Connecting Generations'. Tyra Hughes is definitely 'one to watch for'.
