Ameenah Kaplan

Ameenah Kaplan (born June 17, 1974) is an American actress, musician, and choreographer.

Early life and education

Kaplan was born on June 17, 1974, in Denver, Colorado. She was raised in Atlanta, where she graduated from Avondale High School for the Performing Arts. She also attended Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and trained in their experimental theater wing. She is a graduate of the Academy of Art University film school.

Career

She has been a drummer since age 12 and was a member of the original American cast of STOMP. She is the west coast drum coach for Blue Man Group.[1] She has played drums and/or percussion with Ty Taylor of Vintage Trouble, Adam Lambert, Alisan Porter, Macy Gray, Rihanna, Taylor Hicks, Lisa Haley and the Zydecats, Drake, Leslie Odom Jr., Scarlett Cherry, and the Twinz. She has performed on Oprah, Conan O’Brien, The Academy Awards, the AMAs, the Grammys, and the Tonight Show.

She is the resident director of The Lion King on Broadway.[2]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Broken Silence Ashaela
2002 Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey — Documentary short
2011 Apocalypse According to Doris Serena
2018 Avengers: Infinity War Gamora's Mother
2019 Avengers: Endgame Gamora Reader

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Space Ghost Coast to Coast — Episode: "Art Show"
2000 18 Wheels of Justice Olivia Episode: "Sleeping Dragons"
2002 Strong Medicine Patsy 2 episodes
2004 Cold Case Letitia Castillo Episode: "Disco Inferno"
2005 Veronica Mars Loretta Cancun Episode: "M.A.D."
2007 Hannah Montana Mom Episode: "Smells Like Teen Sellout"
2007 Partners Neighbor Television film
2009 Medium Nurse #4 Episode: "Pain Killer"
2009 Heroes Female Airport Police Episode: "Shadowboxing"
2011 Harry's Law Forewoman Episode: "Pilot"
2011 Mr. Sunshine Angie Episode: "Hostile Workplace"
2011 Law & Order: LA SID Tech Episode: "Big Rock Mesa"
2011, 2013 Grey's Anatomy Makena 2 episodes
2011–2013 The Office Val 14 episodes
2015 Falling Flat Zoe Television film
2017 Veep Female Butler Episode: "Blurb"

Choreography

Year Show
2008 Prove It On Me
2009 Oedipus The King, Mama!
2009 Frosty the Snow Manilow
2009 Altar Boyz
2010 The Ballad of Emmett Till
2010 The Women of Brewster Place
2010 CHiPs the Musical
2010 A Wither's Tale
2011 Camino Real
2011 BASH'd! A Gay Rap Opera
2012 In the Red and Brown Water[3]
2014 Facing Our Truth: The Trayvon Martin Plays
2014 Raditatical[4]

References

  1. ^ "Ameenah Kaplan: Carving Out A Niche | Tom Tom Magazine". 28 October 2013. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  2. ^ "Smash-hit musical 'The Lion King' roars into Las Vegas". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2018-11-02. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  3. ^ Grigware, Don. "BWW Reviews: IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER Provides Culturally Intriguing Entertainment". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  4. ^ "Ameenah Kaplan :: LA Drama Critics Circle". 18 December 2014. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
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