Ms Ebony Jo-Ann is the proud recipient of six Vivian Robinson AUDELCO Awards for Bessie Smith: Empress of the Blues, Black Nativity, Cotton Club Magic, Do Lord Remember Me, The Trial Of One Short-Sighted Black Woman vs. Mammy Louise and Safreeta Mae and Crowns.

 

In 2014, Ebony received the WOMAN OF EXCELLENCE AWARD from the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network for her continuing and outstanding dedication through her artistic talents as well as her contributions to civil and human rights.

 

Ms. Jo-Ann’s most recently reprised her role as Ma Rainey for the August Wilson American Century 2013 presented by The Greene Space at WNYC and WQXR in partnership with the August Wilson Estate.  Again for August Wilson:  The Ground On Which I Stand – a documentary film on the life and work of August Wilson – a co-production with PBS’ award winning American Masters series and WQED-TV Pittsburgh.  Another summer blockbuster, Grown Ups 2, where Ebony reprised her role as Mrs. Ronzoni, in the sequel to Adam Sandler ‘s blockbuster Grown Ups.  She also appears in When In Rome.

 

Ms. Jo-Ann has completed her Blues CD entitled PLEASE SAVE YOUR LOVE FOR ME scheduled for release in the summer of 2015.  She has also performed the title role of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at the Syracuse Stage after appearing in the August Wilson’s 20th Century at the Kennedy Center in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.  She reprised her role in The Sunshine Boys with Jack Klugman at the George Street Playhouse and appeared as Cookie in the Negro Ensemble Company’s production of Samm-Art William’s The Waiting Room.  Also, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune in the Equity tour of If This Hat Could Talk and Sanctified at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.  Ebony was in the Broadway production of August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean, after touring in Tambourines To Glory (Helene Hayes Award nominee).  Ebony also appeared in the Broadway productions of Drowning Crow, The Sunshine Boys with Tony Randall and Jack Klugman, Sheila’s Day, (co-author), the original and the 2003 revival of August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Mule Bone, as well as the Off-Broadway productions of Crowns, Inacent Black and Do Lord Remember Me.  Other regional credits include Crowns, Drowning Crow, Waiting To Be Invited, The Trial of One Short-Sighted Black Woman, Spunk, From the Mississippi Delta, Lost In The Stars, Bubblin’ Brown Sugar, Fame, The Wiz, (JEFF awards nominee), Satchmo, Apollo: It Was Just Like Magic, and Sheila’s Day.

 

More released films are Noise with Tim Robbins, Kate & Leopold, Marci X, The Orphan King, Pootie Tang with Chris Rock, Eddie with Whoppi Goldberg, The Other Brother, Fly By Night, Chain of Desires and Frederick Douglass: An American Life.

 

Also the NBC pilot, NY-70 and the WB pilot entitled The Prince.  Also, The Jury, as well as, Law & Order SVU, Law & Order, 100 Centre Street, the PBS American Authors Series and the Bing.Com campaign, as well as the popular Campbell’s Chunky Soup campaign and the currently running Asthma.com commercial.