Michelle A. Banks

MICHELLE A. BANKS, is an award winning actress, writer, director, and producer.  Her recent acting credits include an appearance on the National TV Commercial—YAHOO!, the ABC’s 10-8, the Showtime series SOUL FOOD, as well as the popular series GIRLFRIENDS (UPN).  Michelle was cast as a Guest Star for the role of Kimberly Singer on an episode of Lifetime's STRONG MEDICINE.  Ms. Banks also has the lead role in the independent feature film COMPENSATION, which has been showcased at the film festivals worldwide such as Sundance, Pan African Film & Arst Festival, Burkina Faso’ s FESPACO, and Toronto International Film Festival.  The film also ran on BET-Black Starz, and Sundance cable channels .   She co-directed with Jadolphus Fraser, the director, writer, and executive producer of a film, TIME.

            Coming from a strong theatre background, Michelle appeared in Deaf West Theatre's production of the critically acclaimed musical, BIG RIVER at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, CA and at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC.  This was followed by the role of Lady in Red in a dual cast production of FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF at the Los Angeles’ Globe Playhouse.  The play won for Best Ensemble at NAACP 2003 awards.  Michelle was one of the first two deaf African-American actresses to interpret for the Broadway play, HAVING OUR SAY by Emily Mann. 

 Before moving to Los Angeles in 2001, Banks was the founder and artistic director of Onyx Theatre Company in New York City, the first deaf theater company in the United States for people of color. Her work with Onyx for eleven years earned the Cultural Enrichment Award from Gallaudet University and the Distinguished Service Award from New York Deaf Theatre.

Ms. Banks received The Christopher Reeve Acting Scholarship in 2002 to produce her one-woman show, REFLECTIONS OF A BLACK DEAF WOMAN in Los Angeles, CA the following year.   In 2006, the show was produced again for a successful six week run at the Victory Theatre Center in Burbank, CA.  Her one-woman show has been performed at venues throughout the United States, including National Black Theatre Festival, the Los Angeles' Women's Theater Festival, Ohio Wesleyan University, and the John F. Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts.

 A native of Washington, D.C., Ms. Banks has worked with ASL interpreters on plays including HOUSE ARREST, and BLUE at the Arena Stage in Washington, D. C., and on Broadway for SMOKEY JOE'S CAFÉ, SEVEN GUITARS, BRING IN 'DA NOISE, BRING IN 'DA FUNK, and THE LIFE.  She holds a BA Degree in Drama Studies from the State University of New York at Purchase.  Other awards include Outstanding Achievement Recognition Resolution of 1996 from the Council of the District of Columbia, and an Individual Achievement Award from the National Council on Communicative Disorders.  Ms. Banks has also been featured in one of the magazines: the February 1998 issue of ESSENCE magazine.    Www.michellebanks.com.