Raised in Chicago, Illinois

Made professional debut as a singer and actor at age 14 in local productions (date approximate)

Broadway debut in the musical version of "Merrily We Roll Along"

Had regular role of Heather Dalton on the CBS daytime serial "As the World Turns"

Film debut in "Beat Street"

Acted in the Gene Wilder-Richard Pryor vehicle "See No Evil, Hear No Evil"

Originated role of Sweet Anita in Los Angeles staging of the musical "Jelly's Last Jam"

Joined the cast of the ABC daytime drama "All My Children" in May; cast as attorney Livia Frye

Garnered praise and numerous accolades, including a Tony Award, for repeating Sweet Anita opposite Gregory Hines in the Broadway staging of "Jelly's Last Jam", directed by George C Wolfe

Had supporting role in the film "Above the Rim"

Appeared in the New York Shakespeare Festival production of "The Merry Wives of Windsor" in Central Park

Had regular role on the short-lived syndicated series "University Hospital"

Was featured in the stage musical "Chronicle of a Death Foretold"

Co-starred in "Play On!", a musical version of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" with a score by Duke Ellington; received a Tony Award nomination

Returned to Broadway as a featured player in "The Wild Party", written by Michael John LaChiusa and staged by George C Wolfe

Solo cabaret debut at Joe's Pub in NYC

Starred in Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori's "Caroline, or Change"; received a Tony nomination for her performance