Vivian Reed (actress, born 1947) facts for kids

Vivian Reed was born on June 6, 1947. She is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her amazing performances on Broadway, which is a famous theater district in New York City.

Vivian Reed was nominated for two Tony Awards, which are like the Oscars for theater! She also won a Drama Desk Award. She recorded several music albums with big record companies like Epic Records and United Artists Records.

Vivian Reed's Career Journey

Vivian Reed started learning to sing when she was only eight years old at the Pittsburgh Musical Institute. Later, she studied at the famous Juilliard School of Music in New York. She also trained a lot in dance. She became a very skilled performer with help from mentors like Honi Coles.

In 1968, she had a popular song called "Yours Until Tomorrow." She became very well-known for her role in the Broadway show Bubbling Brown Sugar. This show was a hit both in America and Europe!

International Performances and TV Shows

Vivian's talent caught the eye of famous fashion designer Pierre Cardin. He invited her to perform in his theater in Paris for many weeks. Through him, she traveled to Japan for the first time and made her first TV special in Europe. Later, the Prince and Princess of Monaco invited her to perform in Monte Carlo.

Vivian has appeared on many TV shows, both in the United States and other countries. These include The Mike Douglas Show, The Tonight Show, and The Today Show. In 1972, she even talked with John Lennon and Yoko Ono on The Mike Douglas Show.

She has shared the stage with many famous people like Bill Cosby, Patti LaBelle, Sammy Davis Jr., and Quincy Jones. Vivian has also acted in movies such as Headin' for Broadway and La Rumba, where she played the famous entertainer Josephine Baker. She also created her own short film called 'What Goes Around'.

Music and Awards

Vivian Reed has performed her nightclub act for big events like Mercedes Benz and IBM. She also performed at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival in Chile. There, she received the special 'Torch Award' from the mayor and people of Viña. She has released six music albums throughout her career.

Teaching and Sharing Knowledge

Vivian Reed loves to share her knowledge with others. She taught a course about vocal performance at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. While she was there, she started an annual concert event called "Singer's Night." Today, she is a vocal professor at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City.

Fashion and Style

Vivian Reed has been featured in many famous magazines like Vogue, Elle, and People. She was even on the covers of Jet and Time magazines! She was named one of the '25 Most Intriguing People of the Year' by People magazine. Besides performing, Vivian is also a professional photographer and designs her own line of scarves called VJR scarves.

Theater Performances

Vivian Reed has performed in many other Broadway and theater shows. Some of these include Sophisticated Ladies, Show Boat (where she played the role of "Queenie"), and Tintypes.

She also played the legendary singer Lena Horne in a show called More Than a Song with the Pittsburgh Ballet. Vivian has created and performed four of her own one-woman shows, which have been very popular and sold out many times.

Honors and Awards

Vivian Reed has received many awards and nominations for her amazing work. These include her two Tony Award nominations, a Drama Desk Award, and a Theatre World Award. She also won the 'Torch Award' from a South American song festival. In 2014, she received the 'Kingdom of Excellence Award' for her many achievements throughout her life.

Discography

• Vivian Reed (1968)
• Brown Sugar (1976)