J. NICOLE BROOKS

Ensemble Member

Since 2007

Creative Producer - Mellon Playwright in Residence

Since 2020

J. Nicole Brooks (she/her, they/them) is an actor, writer, director, and educator based in Chicago. Brooks’ artistic practice includes playwriting, screenwriting, essays, movement, and poetry. An Ensemble Member since 2007, Brooks is also a Creative Producer and the Mellon Foundation Playwright in Residence at Lookingglass Theatre Company. Original and adapted projects written by Brooks include Black Diamond: The Years the Locusts Have Eaten, Fedra Queen of Haiti, HeLa, Black Moon Lilith, 1919, and the award–winning Her Honor Jane Byrne. Directing credits include Mr. Rickey Calls A Meeting, Thaddeus & Slocum A Vaudeville Adventure, Sex With Strangers and Her Honor Jane Byrne. Awards and Honors include TCG Fox Foundation, 3Arts, Mellon Foundation, Black Playwrights Initiative, National Endowment for the Arts, Kilroy List, Black Theatre Alliance, Steinberg American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award for Her Honor Jane Byrne and the Chicago Public Library Foundation 21st Century Award. Brooks is an award-winning actor featured in theatrical productions at Goodman Theatre, Lookingglass, Court Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and Theatre at Boston Court. Film and television credits include Candyman (Monkey Paw Films), guest recurring roles on the cult fav South Side (HBO Max), Chicago Fire (NBC), The Chi (Showtime), Power: Force (STARZ), and the critically acclaimed chapter four of Fargo (FX Network) starring opposite Chris Rock. @doctaslick

Bio as of 2023

ARTIST MEDIA

LOOKINGGLASS PRODUCTIONS

EDUCATION

BFA and Minor in Dance Education, School of Theatre and Dance, Northern Illinois University

CREDITS AND AWARDS

  • THEATRE CREDITS

    Chicago:

    • Immediate Family (Goodman Theatre)
    • Mary Stuart (Court Theatre)

    Regional:

    • Immediate Family (Mark Taper Forum, Center Theatre Group)
  • FILM CREDITS

    • Watch the Sky
    • Death & Taxes
    • Infinity
    • Fly Like Mercury
    • The Weather Man
    • Barbershop 2: Back in Business
  • TELEVISION CREDITS

    • The Chi (Showtime)
    • Chicago Fire (NBC)
    • Squad 85
    • Consequences
    • The Protector
    • Eve
  • AWARDS

    • Theatre Communication Group Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowship for Extraordinary Potential
    • National Endowment for the Arts grant for development of The Incredible Adventures of Yuri Kochiyama (2013)
    • Jeff Award Nomination for Director – Play for Rickey Calls a Meeting (Lookingglass Theatre Company, 2012)
    • Black Theater Alliance Award for Best Leading Actress In A Play (Drama or Comedy) for Fedra: Queen of Haiti (Lookingglass Theatre Company, 2010)
    • LA Ovation Award for Featured Actress in a Play for As Much As You Can (Hendel Productions West, 2008)
    • Jeff Award Nomination for New Work for Black Diamond: The Years the Locusts Have Eaten (Lookingglass, 2007)