Nikki Renée Daniels is a stage actress best known for her performances in musicals on Broadway, including as Nabulungi in The Book of Mormon.
Early life and education Daniels was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to a mother who taught preschool and a father who managed a meat packing company. She started singing at the age of 13 and attended a performing arts high school in Atlanta. She earned a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music.
Career Daniels moved to New York City and made her Broadway debut in the musical Aida in 2000. Over the next decade, her Broadway credits included Nine (2003) as Renata, The Look of Love (2003) as Pit Singer, Little Shop of Horrors (2004) as the understudy for Chiffon, Crystal and Ronnette, Lestat (2006) as Eleni. Les Misérables (2007) as Fantine. Further Broadway roles were in |Promises, Promises (2010) as Barbara, Anything Goes (2011) as the understudy for Hope, Porgy & Bess (2012) as Clara, The Book of Mormon (2014–2018) as Nabulungi, Company (2021–2022) as Jenny and understudy for Bobbie (the first Black actor to play Bobbie on Broadway) and Once Upon a Mattress (2024), as Lady Larken.
Her other theatre credits include Ragtime as Sarah (2002; North Shore Music Theatre, Massachusetts), Dorian as Celia Vane (2002, Denver Center, Colorado), Anything Goes as Hope (2006, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Massachusetts), Ray Charles Live! as Della B (2007, Pasadena Playhouse, California), Beauty and the Beast as Belle, (2008, American Musical Theatre of San Jose, California), Caroline, or Change as Emmie (2009, The Gunthrie, Minnesota), 1776 as Martha Jefferson (2016, Encores!, New York) and Hamilton as Angelica Schuyler (2019, CIBC Theatre, Chicago).
Theatre credits +YearProductionRoleLocationRef2000AidaNehebka, Ensemble, u/s AidaBroadway, Palace Theatre2002RagtimeSarahMassachusetts, North Shore Music Theatre2002DorianCelia VaneColorado, Denver Center2003NineRenataBroadway, Eugene O'Neill Theatre2003The Look of LovePit SingerBroadway, Brooks Atkinson Theatre2004Little Shop of Horrorsu/s Chiffon, Crystal, RonetteBroadway, Virginia TheatreNational tour2006LestatEleniBroadway, Palace Theatre2006Anything GoesHope HarcourtMassachusetts, Williamstown Theatre Festival2006Les MisérablesFactory Worker/Madeleine/Whore, u/s FantineBroadway, Broadhurst Theatre2007Fantine2007Ray Charles Live!Della BCalifornia, Pasadena Playhouse2008Beauty and the BeastBelleCalifornia, American Musical Theatre of San Jose2009Caroline, or ChangeEmmieMinnesota, The Gunthrie2010Promises, PromisesBarbara, Orchestra VoiceBroadway, Broadway Theatre2011Anything GoesPassenger, u/s Hope HarcourtBroadway, Stephen Sondheim Theatre2011Porgy and BessClaraBoston, American Repertory Theater2012Broadway, Richard Rodgers Theatre2014The Book of MormonNabulungiBroadway Eugene O'Neill Theatre2019HamiltonAngelica SchuylerChicago, CIBC Theatre2021CompanyJenny, u/s BobbieBroadway, Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre2024Once Upon a MattressLady LarkenBroadway, Hudson Theatre
Film +YearProjectRoleNotesRef2021The Waves in QuarantineSelf2023Black Broadway: A Proud History, A Limitless FutureSelfConcert TV special2024WickedVocal ensemble
Recordings Her debut solo album, Home, was released in 2012, to generally positive reviews. Tituss Burgess and Jeff Kready each featured on a song.
Concerts Children and Art (Stephen Sondheim 75th birthday tribute; New Amsterdam Theatre, 2005) The Secret Garden as Rose Lennox (Lincoln Center, David Geffen Hall, 2016) 1776 as Martha Jefferson (Encores!, New York City Center, 2016) I’m Still Here: Celebrating Sondheim (Carnegie Hall, 2022) Do You Hear the People Sing? (Hollywood Bowl, 2024) Children of Eden as Eve/Mama Noah (Lincoln Center, David Geffen Hall, 2024) Follies (Carnegie Hall, 2024) Broadway Backwards (Gershwin Theatre, 2025)
Honors and awards +YearAwardCategoryForStatus2012IRNE AwardLarge Theater: Best Supporting Actress (Musical)Porgy & Bess (A.R.T.)Nominated
Personal life Daniels is married to actor Jeff Kready, whom she met during the 2006 Broadway revival of Les Misérables. The couple wed in 2009 and have two children.
References