# Eisa Davis

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American playwright (born 1971)

Eisa Davis Davis in 2024 Born (1971-05-05) May 5, 1971 (age 55) Education Harvard University (AB) The New School for Social Research (MFA) Occupations Playwright, actress, singer-songwriter Relatives Angela Davis (aunt)

**Eisa Davis** (born May 5, 1971) is an American playwright, actress and singer-songwriter.[1] She is known for her work as the co-creator of the [*Warriors*](/source/Warriors_(Lin-Manuel_Miranda_and_Eisa_Davis_album)) concept album with [Lin-Manuel Miranda](/source/Lin-Manuel_Miranda).[2] Her previous works include the plays *Bulrusher* and *Angela's Mixtape*. For her stage acting in New York, she won an Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Performance. She resides in Brooklyn.[3]

## Early life and education

Davis was born and spent her childhood in [Berkeley, California](/source/Berkeley%2C_California).[4] As a child, she attended dance classes and studied voice and classical piano at the Young Musicians Program at UC Berkeley.[5] She is the niece of political activist [Angela Davis](/source/Angela_Davis). Davis' autobiographical play *Angela's Mixtape* tells the story of her upbringing in the Bay Area and the impact of her family's politics on her childhood.[6] After graduating from [Berkeley High School](/source/Berkeley_High_School_(California)), she earned a bachelor's degree from [Harvard University](/source/Harvard_University). Davis earned her Master of Fine Arts from the Actors Studio at the New School for Social Research, where she double majored in playwriting and acting.[7] Her dance skills are notable as well, with the dean of her program saying she could have been admitted to [Alvin Ailey](/source/Alvin_Ailey_American_Dance_Theater).[4]

## Career

Davis began working as a professional actress at the age of 10 with appearances on a local television show, then acted in plays, industrials and films throughout high school and college. Davis moved to Los Angeles after college and worked with Anna Deavere Smith on her piece about that city's uprising, *Twilight, LA, 1992*.[8]

After graduate school, Davis continued to work as an actor in television and film, with roles in The Wire and Soul Food. She became a lifetime member of the Actors Studio, as well as a resident playwright at New Dramatists.[9] Drawing from her work as a hip hop journalist for Rap Sheet and The Source,[10] Davis advocated for the hybrid art form that brings together theatre and hip hop by writing essays[11] and participating in the Hip-Hop Theater Festival.[12] She also became a poetry fellow at Cave Canem, the esteemed organization for black poets.[13]

In 2006, Davis' play *Bulrusher* premiered at Urban Stages and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.[14] [15][16] In 2007, Davis won an [Obie Award](/source/Obie_Award) with the ensemble of [*Passing Strange*](/source/Passing_Strange_(musical)). The show premiered at [Berkeley Rep](/source/Berkeley_Repertory_Theatre), but then moved on to [Broadway](/source/Broadway_theatre) and Davis went with the show, only later to have the whole production filmed by [Spike Lee](/source/Spike_Lee). In 2009, she wrote and starred in *Angela's Mixtape*. The show was autobiographical and went on to make it into *[The New Yorker](/source/The_New_Yorker)*'s list of best plays from that year.[3]

Davis starred as Addie Pickett, nurse and receptionist at Bluebell, Alabama's local medical practice in The CW's series *[Hart of Dixie](/source/Hart_of_Dixie)*, a fish-out-of-water story about a New York City doctor (Rachel Bilson) adjusting to life in a small Southern town after she inherits a local medical practice.[17][18]

In 2012/13 Davis was [Symphony Space's](/source/Symphony_Space) artist-in-residence.[1] She taught at Williams College as an Arthur Levitt Fellow for the 2013/14 season.[7] While continuing to write and act in plays, Davis became more known with roles on House of Cards and Mare of Easttown and Kindred. She also wrote for television for Spike Lee's Netflix series *She's Gotta Have It*, as well as on *Justified: City Primeval*.[19]

In the summer of 2015, she starred in [Dave Malloy](/source/Dave_Malloy)'s musical *[Preludes](/source/Preludes_(musical))* at [Lincoln Center](/source/Lincoln_Center). In the summer of 2017, she starred in *[Julius Caesar](/source/Julius_Caesar_(play))* at the [Delacorte Theater](/source/Delacorte_Theater).[20]

Davis has two albums of her own music, Something Else and Tinctures. Some of her songs have been featured on the Showtime series Soul Food.[1] Davis also narrated the role of Celestial Davenport Hamilton in the audiobook version of *[An American Marriage](/source/An_American_Marriage)* by [Tayari Jones](/source/Tayari_Jones).[21] *Mushroom*, a bilingual play Davis wrote about mushroom pickers around Kennett Square, PA earned several Barrymore nominations after its premiere in 2022.[22] Her play *Bulrusher* was produced at [Berkeley Repertory Theatre](/source/Berkeley_Repertory_Theatre) from October 27 until – December 3, 2023.[23]

In 2024, Eisa Davis's play *Bulrusher* was adapted into an opera by [West Edge Opera](/source/West_Edge_Opera) in Berkeley, California. The production was part of the company's summer festival, bringing Davis's story to a new medium.[24][25]

### Artistic philosophy

Davis believes in the [Ghanaian](/source/Ghanaians) principle of [Sankofa](/source/Sankofa). The literal translation of the word is "return and collect it" or "go back and get it". This refers to her use of digging through her own lineage and history to find action and themes that can be used in her plays. She also uses her art to answer questions that "haunt" her or ideas that she is grappling with herself. Much of her artistic philosophy can be summed up in her quote, "Theatre is one of the few public spaces we have for active contemplation."[26] She explores ideas such as blackness and family through the poetry of her language.[26]

## Filmography

### Film

Year Title Role Notes 1997 Box Suite Davis 2001 Mourning Glory Victim 2003 Robot Stories Helen 2004 Brass Tacks Tamara 2005 Confess Glyness Bennet 2006 The Architect Linda Freeman 2008 Pretty Bird Corporate Hotshot #3 2010 Welcome to the Rileys Vivian 2011 In the Family Anne Carter 2012 The Letter Therapist 2013 The Volunteer Karen 2014 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit FBI Explosives Expert 2018 First Match Bianca 2019 After the Wedding Tanya 2021 Tick, Tick... Boom! Aspiring Composer and Lyricist 2023 Ex-Husbands Eileen Link 2024 Relay Wash 2026 Lucy Schulman TBA Post-production

### Television

Year Title Role Notes 1999 Now and Again Reporter Episode: "Over Easy" 2000–2009, 2024–2026 Law & Order Various roles 6 episodes 2001–2003 Soul Food Rose / Tinctures / Eisa Davis 4 episodes 2002–2008 The Wire Bubbles' Sister 2003 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Vera Galeano Episode: "Soulless" 2009 Great Performances Mother Episode: "Passing Strange" 2009 Damages Carla Stenson Episode: "London. Of Course" 2010 Mercy Producer Episode: "There Is No Room for You on My Ass" 2011–2012 Hart of Dixie Addy Pickett 10 episodes 2012 Smash Abigail 2 episodes 2014 The Blacklist ND Agent Episode: "The Good Samaritan (No. 106)" 2014 The Good Wife Dr. Allison Sugar Episode: "Dramatics, Your Honor" 2015 Gotham Judith Barthel Episode: "The Scarecrow" 2015 American Odyssey Sheila Linderby Episode: "Bug Out" 2015 Madam Secretary Jane Smith Episode: "The Long Shot" 2015–2016 House of Cards Cynthia Driscoll 8 episodes 2016 The Family Julia Beckett Episode: "Of Puppies and Monsters" 2016 Blindspot Alexandra 4 episodes 2016 Falling Water Sarah Henry Episode: "Circular Time" 2018 The Looming Tower Condoleezza Rice 3 episodes 2018 Rise Eva Thorne 5 episodes 2018 Succession Joyce Miller 2 episodes 2018 God Friended Me Lena 2019 Bluff City Law General Virginia Howe Episode: "Need to Know" 2020–2021 Betty Jeanne 5 episodes 2021 Pose Angie Episode: "Intervention" 2021 Mare of Easttown Gayle Graham 4 episodes 2023 Ahsoka Captain Girard Episode: "Part Five: Shadow Warrior"

## Awards

Year Award Show Result 2006 Obie Award Passing Strange Won 2007 Pulitzer Prize Bulrusher Finalist 2009 Obie Award Sustained Excellence Won[27] 2011 Ruby Prize Ramp Won 2012 Herb Alpert Theatre Award N/A Won Barrymore Award The History of Light Nominated 2013 Lucille Lortel Award Luck of the Irish Nominated[28] N/A Whitfield Cook Award N/A Won N/A Helen Merrill Award N/A Won 2016 Lucille Lortel Award Preludes Nominated 2018 Drama League Kings Nominated 2019 AUDELCO Award The Secret Life Of Bees Won[29] 2020 Creative Capital Award N/A Won[30] 2020 Lucille Lortel Award The Secret Life of Bees Nominated[31] 2023 Barrymore Award Mushroom Nominated[32] 2023 USA Artists Fellow N/A Won[33]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_1-2) ["About: Eisa Davis"](https://www.eisadavis.com/about/). *eisadavis.com*. Retrieved November 21, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis on their *Warriors* musical concept album with Lauryn Hill"](https://apnews.com/article/linmanuel-miranda-eisa-davis-warriors-lauryn-hill-album-942ba5ca1e424f82ca55a91c938c6322). *[AP News](/source/AP_News)*. September 18, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Elist_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Elist_3-1) Elist, Jasmine (August 14, 2011). ["A double life as actress, playwright"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120211154648/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/aug/14/entertainment/la-ca-eisa-davis-20110814). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. Archived from [the original](http://articles.latimes.com/2011/aug/14/entertainment/la-ca-eisa-davis-20110814) on February 11, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Lee_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Lee_4-1) Lee, Felicia R. (March 8, 2008). ["Eisa Davis – Passing Strange – Theater"](https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/08/theater/08davi.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. Retrieved November 21, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["The Theater: Berkeley Native Eisa Davis Returns Home"](https://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2006-11-21/article/25692?headline=The-Theater-Berkeley-Native-Eisa-Davis-Returns-Home---By-Ken-Bullock-Special-to-the-Planet). *[Berkeley Daily Planet](/source/Berkeley_Daily_Planet)*. Retrieved October 15, 2024.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Davis: *Angela's Mixtape* + *The History of Light*"](https://53rdstatepress.org/Davis-Angela-s-Mixtape-The-History-of-Light). *53rdstatepress.org*. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_7-1) ["Revolution, Racism and Family in *Angela's Mixtape* by Fred Dodsworth. Category: Election Section from The Berkeley Daily Planet"](https://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2005-05-06/article/21342). *[Berkeley Daily Planet](/source/Berkeley_Daily_Planet)*. Retrieved July 13, 2021.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Interview with Eisha Davis: *Kings* at Public Theater"](https://www.talkinbroadway.com/page/rialto/past/2018/022718.html). *www.talkinbroadway.com*. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Alumni Playwrights | New Dramatists"](https://newdramatists.org/alumni-playwrights). *newdramatists.org*. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Julia Wallace (July 1, 2008). ["Thoroughly Eclectic"](https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2008/07/thoroughly-eclectic-html). *[Harvard Magazine](/source/Harvard_Magazine)*. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Hip-Hop Theatre: A Colloquy"](https://www.americantheatre.org/2004/04/01/hip-hop-theatre-a-colloquy/). *American Theatre*. April 1, 2004. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Hi-ARTS History"](https://www.hi-artsnyc.org/history). *Hi-ARTS*. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Cave Canem » glossary » d"](https://cavecanempoets.org/glossary/d/). Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["*Rabbit Hole*, by David Lindsay-Abaire"](https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/david-lindsay-abaire). *pulitzer.org*. Retrieved May 5, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["*Bulrusher* added to McCarter Theatre's 2022–23 Season"](https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle2.php?titlelink=bulrusher-added-to-mccarter-theatres-2022-23-season). *NewJerseyStage.com*. June 29, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Masseron, Meg (August 23, 2023). ["See Who's Starring in Eisa Davis' *Bulrusher* at McCarter Theatre Center"](https://playbill.com/article/see-whos-starring-in-eisa-davis-bulrusher-at-mccarter-theatre-center). *[Playbill](/source/Playbill)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Eisa Davis"](https://www.peopleslight.org/about/new-plays-projects/commission-residency-programs/npf-playwrights/eisa-davis/). *www.peopleslight.org*. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Eisa Davis – Artist"](https://www.macdowell.org/artists/eisa-davis). *MacDowell*. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["TV & Film Writing"](https://www.eisadavis.com/tv-film-writing/). *eisadavis.com*. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Eisa Davis Theatre Credits"](https://www.abouttheartists.com/artists/2201-eisa-davis), AboutTheArtists

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["An American Marriage - HighBridge Audio"](https://highbridgeaudio.com/anamericanmarriage.html).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["The Regional Roundup: September 19, 2022"](https://whyy.org/episodes/the-regional-roundup-september-19-2022/). [WHYY-TV](/source/WHYY-TV). Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["*Bulrusher*"](https://www.berkeleyrep.org/shows/bulrusher/). [Berkeley Repertory Theatre](/source/Berkeley_Repertory_Theatre).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis' *Warriors* will be a concept album, not a stage musical"](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2024-08-01/lin-manuel-miranda-warriors-album-eisa-davis). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. August 1, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["*Bulrusher* Is Quietly Brilliant at West Edge Opera"](https://www.sfcv.org/articles/review/bulrusher-quietly-brilliant-west-edge-opera). *www.sfcv.org*. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_26-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_26-1) ["About Eisa Davis | The Herb Alpert Award in the Arts"](https://herbalpertawards.org/artist/about-eisa-davis). *herbalpertawards.org*. April 28, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** ["13"](https://www.obieawards.com/events/2010s/year-13/). *Obie Awards*. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** ["2013 Nominees : Lucille Lortel Awards"](https://lortelaward.com/2013-nominees/). *lortelaward.com*. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** Armstrong, Linda (November 27, 2019). ["47th annual AUDELCO: Acknowledging Black theater greatness!"](https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2019/11/27/47th-annual-audelco-acknowledging-black-theater-gr/). *[New York Amsterdam News](/source/New_York_Amsterdam_News)*. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** ["Award Year 2020"](https://creative-capital.org/award/awardees/2020/). *Creative Capital*. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** ["2020 Nominees : Lucille Lortel Awards"](https://lortelaward.com/2020-nominees/). *lortelaward.com*. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** Rabinowitz, Chloe. ["Theatre Philadelphia Unveils First Full Slate Of Barrymore Nominees Since 2019"](https://www.broadwayworld.com/philadelphia/article/Theatre-Philadelphia-Unveils-First-Full-Slate-Of-Barrymore-Nominees-Since-2019-20230915). *[BroadwayWorld](/source/BroadwayWorld)*. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** ["2023 USA Fellowship"](https://www.unitedstatesartists.org/programs/usa-fellowship/2023). *United States Artists*. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

## External links

- [Eisa Davis](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0204555/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Eisa Davis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisa_Davis) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisa_Davis?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.