Brooklyn-born singer-actor Capathia Jenkins premiered her new show, “She’s Got Soul,” with the Houston Symphony in October 2022. She recently starred as Medda in the hit Disney production of “Newsies” on Broadway.
She made her Broadway debut in “The Civil War,” where she created the role of Harriet Jackson. She then starred in the 2000 Off-Broadway revival of “Godspell,” where she wowed audiences with her stirring rendition of “Turn Back, O Man,” which can be heard on the original cast recording.
She returned to Broadway in “The Look of Love” and was critically acclaimed for her performances of its Bacharach/David hits. Jenkins then created the roles of the Washing Machine in “Caroline, or Change” and Frieda May in “Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me,” where she sang “Stop the Show” and brought the house down every night.
In 2007, Jenkins went back to Off-Broadway and then starred in “(Mis)Understanding Mammy: The Hattie McDaniel Story,” for which she received a Drama Desk nomination. She also was in Nora Ephron’s “Love, Loss and What I Wore.”
A concert artist, Jenkins has appeared with orchestras around the world, including the Cleveland Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony (with Marvin Hamlisch), National Symphony, Cincinnati Pops (with John Morris Russell), Philly Pops, San Francisco Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Utah Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, San Diego Symphony, the Hong Kong Philharmonic and many others.
She was also a soloist with the Festival Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic many times. She had the great honor of performing in the Broadway Ambassadors to Cuba concert as part of the Festival de Teatro de la Habana. She will be returning to Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops for “Get Happy: That Nelson Riddle Sound” and also will sing in a “Tribute to Marvin Hamlisch” at the Library of Congress.
Her television credits include “30 Rock,” “The Practice,” “Law & Order SVU,” “The Sopranos” and “Law & Order,” as well as on her critically acclaimed CD “Phenomenal Woman” with Louis Rosen and her most recent single, “I Am Strong.” She can be seen in the film “Musical Chairs,” directed by Susan Seidelman. Jenkins was also in “The Wiz” for a live performance on NBC-TV. She can be heard on the following film soundtracks: “Nine,” “Chicago” and “Legally Blonde 2.”
Please note: Biographies are based on information provided to the CSO by the artists or their representatives. More current information may be available on websites of the artists or their management.
