Kerisse Hutchinson

Kerisse Hutchinson (Playwright/Lisa) is a multi-talented award-winning actress, dancer, writer, and producer of Bajan and Jamaican descent raised in Queens, New York.  As a beacon of the Most High, she creates art from seed to FRUITion that invokes spirits to move; literally & figuratively. 

“[A] sprite with rubber legs and megawatt energy…. to ACT and to RAP and DANCE…It’s not easy to find people with that skill set….” is what a reviewer said  of her portrayal of the title role in Will Power’s hip-hop musical Honey Bo and the Goldmine at the prestigious La Jolla Playhouse (San Diego, CA) under the Artistic Direction of Tony Award winning Des McAnuff.  Kerisse is a graduate of Towson University, Magna Cum Laude with Double Honors and received her dance training at the Alvin Ailey School, dancing with numerous companies and music artists.  She is known for portraying a wide range of characters with an honesty, emotional rawness, and vulnerability in national and international productions.  She has also taught “Writing Your Story” and Spoken Word classes at a high school and detention center in Cape Town and Johannesburg South Africa and most recently at Big Brothers Big Sisters. 

Writing acknowledgements include: Synchronicity Theatre’s Stripped Bare: Arts Incubator Project Winner (Atlanta, GA); an A-List selection at the National Black Theatre Festival Garland Thompson, Sr. Reading Series (Winston-Salem, NC); and the BorderLight International Theatre Festival (Cleveland, OH). She is also a two-time recipient of the Fulton County Arts and Culture Individual Artist Grant.   

Additional theatrical achievements include: Drama Desk Company Award winning Trojan Women (NYC), Macbeth in Bonn and Neuss, Germany, Underground Griots at the National Black Theatre Festival (Winston-Salem, NC), and the Downtown Urban Theater Festival’s Best Audience Winner Destiny Manifested (NYC).  Film credits include: Harlem International Film Festival Best Actress award winning role in the SXSW and Gotham Award nominee feature, August the First; Rise of the Zombies; Dough Boys; The Janky Promoters; and 24 Hour Love.  Television credits include: recurring on All My Children, guest starring on The Defenders, Law & Order: SVU, The Whole Truth, and Rescue Me. 

Kerisse also founded the nonprofit company GuiDANCE Autism, Inc., Bringing the joy of dance to children with special needs www.GuiDANCEAutism.com. 

Special thanks to Ann-Carol for “staying true to your word”, the supportive and talented Aurora Team, the DOPER THAN DOPE 2TL Fam, and the many generous supporters for breathing life into this production and joining me on the #Journey2TheLeft.  Extra special thanks to Lisa’s family and friends for all of your support and for entrusting me with your stories and love for your beloved Lisa; and Ronald, thank you for answering my FB message   Most importantly, thank you Lisa for lending your spirit to this play and guiding me through its evolution as well as the evolution of my own life.  My sincerest gratitude to the other angels who have found their way into this play through Lisa’s journeys: Ronald Lopes, Sr., Uncle Kyle Young, Dr. Sebi, Tupac Shakur, Afeni Shakur, and Aaliyah and sisterly thanks to my heavenly baby sis Tiye for being my guardian angel; you are forever a part of everything I do….  And to God for that small voice followed by His “Yes and AMEN.”  While this work is based on the life and spirit of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes and portions of it is in Lisa’s own words, some dramatic licenses have been taken to create a more streamlined narrative.   During this unparalleled time, I’m excited about mounting this play to continue Lisa’s legacy and spark the inner creators and rebels in us all.  This play is dedicated 2 The Left in all of us.  Stay safe, protect your happy, and LOVE!  Pass it on….  For more information visit www.Kerisse.net and follow me on Instagram at #Kerissegram