Kirsten Childs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kirsten Childs
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| Born | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Playwright, librettist |
| Nationality | American |
| Notable works | The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin; Bella: An American Tall Tale |
| Relatives | Billy Childs (brother) |
Kirsten J. Childs is an American writer who creates plays and musicals. She is also known for her past work as an actress. She has written popular musicals like The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin and Bella: An American Tall Tale.
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Kirsten Childs' Early Life and Acting Career
Kirsten J. Childs was born in Los Angeles, California. Her parents were both schoolteachers. Her younger brother, Billy Childs, grew up to become a famous jazz musician.
Starting on Broadway
Kirsten began her career in theater in the late 1970s. She became a performer on Broadway, which is a famous theater district in New York City. In 1977, a well-known director named Bob Fosse chose her for a main role. She played Velma Kelly in the first national tour of the musical Chicago.
More Acting Roles
Throughout the 1980s, Kirsten continued to act in many Broadway shows. She appeared in productions like Dancin', Jerry's Girls, and Sweet Charity. While she mostly acted on stage, she also had one important film role. In 1989, she was in the comedy movie See No Evil, Hear No Evil. She played Adele, the sister of the character played by Richard Pryor.
Kirsten Childs' Writing Career
After her acting career, Kirsten Childs started writing her own theater shows. This became her main focus.
Famous Musicals
Her first big musical was The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin. It came out in 2000. This show was partly based on her own life. It was performed off-Broadway, which means it was shown in smaller theaters outside the main Broadway district. The musical was very successful and won an Obie Award.
Kirsten Childs has written several other musicals as well. These include Miracle Brothers (2005) and Funked Up Fairy Tales (2007). In 2016, she wrote Bella: An American Tall Tale. This musical won the Weston Playhouse New Musical Award.
Teaching and Mentoring
Besides writing, Kirsten Childs has also shared her knowledge with others. She worked as an assistant professor at New York University Tisch School of the Arts. There, she taught in the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing program.
