Nikki Crawford

Nikki is an award winning actress, singer and dancer. Born and raised in Washington DC. Nikki received her B.F.A. from the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University Drama program. Upon graduation, Nikki was offered a leading role in the European tour Bubbling Brown Sugar. She enjoyed performing for live audiences, however, her dream was to pursue a career in film and television. In her desire to fulfill her dream she moved to Los Angeles once the tour ended. Nikki quickly booked roles on many TV shows such as Martin, Living Single, Malcolm in the Middle, the District and Numbers, but soon found her way back to theatre when she was asked, by director Sheldon Epps, to understudy Freda Payne in Blues in the Night. Musicals were an uncharted territory for Nikki, as most of her experience was in straight plays and TV. Always willing to face her fears, she accepted the challenge and soon after that many more opportunities opened up for her. She went on to star in the musical Play On! at both the Pasadena Playhouse, and Arena Stage in Washington DC. Play On! earned Nikki the Helen Hayes Award Best Supporting Actress nomination. She also starred in the same production for the PBS Great Performance telecast. She went on to star in The Great American Song Book with Michael Feinstein; A Class Act - Pasadena Playhouse; Slam - San Diego Repertory Theatre; My Way - La Mirada Theatre; Bernstein's Mass with the Los Angeles Philharmonic - Hollywood Bowl; Showboat - Sacramento Music Circus; Immediate Family - Mark Taper Forum directed by Phylicia Rashad and was asked to perform her one woman show, that sold out, at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. In 2008 she was handpicked by the legendary director Mike Nichols to star in the Las Vegas production of Spamalot. This opportunity expanded Nikki's audience which garnered her a starring role opposite Leslie Uggams as Young Lena Horne in the musical Stormy Weather. Her performance earned her the nomination for the LA Ovation Award for Best Supporting Actress and was then the recipient of the NAACP Theatre Award for Best Actress. Nikki went on to star in Bryan Singer's H+ Digital Series, in which she played Julie Martin and guest starred on Criminal Minds, Switched at Birth, Pretty Little Liars among others. Her most recent credits include Aldonza in Man of La Mancha opposite Davis Gaines at Valley Performing Arts Center and a recurring role on the new series Crown Lake as Valerie St. Martin. She has two films due out in 2019; the psychological thriller Desperate Waters in which she stars as District Attorney Grace and How to Deter A Robber as Officer Martin.