Renée Veronica Freeman

Renée Veronica Freeman is a Liberian-American actress known most notably for her role as Deloris Van Cartier (originated in film by Whoopi Goldberg, and on Broadway by Patina Miller), in the 2nd National & Intl. Broadway tour of Jerry Zaks' Sister Act the Musical (2014-2015). She was born in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa to Eric Freeman (a banker and financial consultant), and Grace Freeman (a chef and business owner). In April 1990, while still a toddler, her family and she fled the country for the United States because of the escalation of a very violent & devastating civil war that began on Christmas Eve, 1989. They emigrated to Northport, Long Island, NY where she spent her young life. In addition to Sister Act, Renée also appeared in the National & Intl. Broadway tour of Dreamgirls (2013), and as a principal singer with America's official traveling performance group, The USO Show Troupe - honoring the US military and their families. She received a B.F.A. in Music Theatre from Jacksonville University, and studied 4 years thereafter of the Meisner Technique at Matthew Corozine Studio in New York City. As a tenet to her dreams since childhood, Renée also serves on the Board of Directors for the nonprofit organization, Liberia Forward; a coalition of the Liberian diaspora and like-minded partners who seek to improve the livelihoods and economic success of impoverished and working-class Liberians at home and abroad. This mission is primarily realized by building affordable housing, eliminating food insecurity, and educating to develop future technology, among many additional needed social welfare programs for a nation still enduring the post-traumatic stresses of the civil wars of 1989 and 1999.