Micki Grant (born Minnie Louise Perkins, June 30, 1929 – August 22, 2021) was an American singer (soprano), actress, writer, and composer. She performed in Having Our Say (as Sadie Delaney), Tambourines to Glory and Jericho-Jim Crow both co-written by Langston Hughes, The Gingham Dog, Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, and received three Tony Award nominations for her writing."Micki Grant", The HistoryMakers.

Early life Perkins was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Gussie and Oscar Perkins on June 30, 1929. Some sources also state that she was born in 1941; Grant was said to have lowered her age early for reasons related to her career.Allen Woll, Dictionary of the Black Theatre, Greenwood Press, 1983, , p. 210. Her father was a self-taught pianist and master barber, and her mother worked for Stanley Products. She began studying music with double-bass lessons at her elementary school. Grant first took piano lessons at the age of eight, and the next year took acting lessons with Susan Porché. After high school, her cousin, film actress Jeni Le Gon took her under her wing when Grant moved to Los Angeles. Following graduation from Englewood High School in Chicago, Grant studied at the Chicago School of Music and attended the University of Illinois, which she left after three years to move to New York City. Years later she went back to school and graduated from Lehman College in 1994 with a degree in English and Theatre, summa cum laude. In 2015, Lehman College awarded her the degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa.

Career

Theater While in Los Angeles, she was cast in Fly Blackbird by James V. Hatch and C. Bernard Jackson. The show was successful and it moved to New York City. She graduated summa cum laude from Lehman College. In the early 1960s, she appeared off-Broadway in Jean Genet's The Blacks (with James Earl Jones and Cicely Tyson), and in Brecht on Brecht, in which she sang "Pirate Jenny". In 1964, Grant appeared as Ella Hammer in Howard da Silva's off-Broadway revival of Marc Blitzstein's The Cradle Will Rock, opposite Jerry Orbach and Rita Gardner.

Much of her early work was done with director Vinnette Carroll,Bernard L. Peterson, Jr, A Century of Musicals in Black and White (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1993), , p. 111. the first African-American woman to direct on Broadway. They collaborated on Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, in which Grant starred and for which she wrote the music, book and lyrics, and Your Arms Too Short to Box with God, for which Grant wrote additional lyrics and music. Both enjoyed critical acclaim and long Broadway runs. She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

Television

In the first story line written for an African-American in a daytime soap opera, Grant portrayed attorney Peggy Nolan on Another World (1966–1973). She later appeared on The Edge of Night replacing Billie Allen as Ada Chandler and was in the cast of Guiding Light (1982–1984). She also had a brief stint as host of Around the Corner, a children's show on CBS.

Radio In her early days in New York City, Grant sought to supplement her income by working as a receptionist at a radio station. A meeting with a top executive at the station diverted her attention to working on the air. Readings and Writings featured Grant performing material that she compiled from research at a public library.

Personal life and death Grant married television news film editor Ray McCutcheon in 1966. They were married for 12 years before divorcing in 1978. Grant died on August 22, 2021, at the age of 92 in Manhattan, New York City.

Stage credits YearTitleRoleVenueRef.1963Tambourines to GloryMariette JohnsonBroadway, Little Theatre1969The Gingham DogGloria (Standby)Broadway, John Golden Theatre1972Don't Bother Me, I Can't CopePerformer, Bookwriter, Composer and LyricistBroadway, Playhouse Theatre1976Your Arms Too Short to Box with GodAdditional music and lyricsBroadway, Lyceum Theatre1978WorkingComposerBroadway, 46th Street Theatre1980Your Arms Too Short to Box with GodAdditional music and lyricsBroadway revival, Ambassador TheatreIt's So Nice To Be CivilizedBookwriter, Composer, LyricistBroadway, Martin Beck Theatre1982Your Arms Too Short to Box with GodAdditional music and lyricsBroadway revival, Alvin Theatre

Awards and nominations AwardYearCategoryWorkResultRef.1972Obie AwardsOutstanding Music and LyricsDon't Bother Me, I Can't CopeDrama Desk Awards Outstanding PerformanceMost Promising Lyricist1973Tony AwardsBest Book of a MusicalBest Original Score1978 Working2013Dramatist Guild AwardsDramatists Guild Career Achievement Award

Writing credits "Pink Shoe Laces" (1959), pop song, recorded by Dodie Stevens, reached number 3 on the U.S single charts. A Spanish-language version was number 1 in Mexico for 9 weeks. Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope (1971), musical – music and lyrics, performer Croesus and the Witch (1971), musical – music and lyrics Step Lively, Boy (1973), musical – music and lyrics The Prodigal Sister (1974), musical – music and lyrics Your Arms Too Short to Box with God (1976), musical – additional music and lyrics The Ups and Downs of Theophilis Maitland (1976), musical – music and lyrics I'm Laughing but I Ain't Tickled (1976), musical – music and lyrics Alice (1978), musical – music and lyrics Working (1978), musical – music and lyrics with Stephen Schwartz, Craig Carnelia, James Taylor, Mary Rodgers and Susan Birkenhead Eubie! (1978), musical revue – additional lyrics It's So Nice to Be Civilized (1980), musical – book, music and lyrics Phillis (1986), musical – music and lyrics Step into My World (1989), revue – music and lyrics Carver (Don't Underestimate a Nut) (1996) – music, lyrics, and book"Micki Grant & Charlayne Woodard", Dramatists Guild Foundation, 2016. YouTube video.

References

External links

Micki Grant at The History Makers, 2006. Micki Grant Dies: Broadway's Trailblazing 'Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope' Creator Also Pioneered Daytime TV For Black Performers