Joyce, Ella 1954–

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Joyce, Ella 1954–

PERSONAL

Original name, Cherron Hoye; born June 12, 1954, in Chicago, IL; raised in Detroit, MI; daughter of Bunnie Hoye; married Dan Martin (an actor, director, and producer). Education: Graduated from Lewis Cass Technical High School (Detroit, MI; also known as Cass Tech), 1972; attended Eastern Michigan University and a business college; studied acting with Lloyd Richards at Yale Repertory Theatre; trained for the stage at Corner Loft Studio, Frank Silvera's Workshop, Al Fann's Theatrical Ensemble, and Lembeck Comedy Workshop; trained in dance with Broadway Dance Center and Los Angeles Dance Center; studied voice with Thom Bridell, Jr. Avocational Interests: Gardening.

Career:

Actress, producer, and writer. Miss Thing Productions, founder, 1992, and principal. Affiliated with the National Black Theatre Festival, Winston-Salem, NC. Participated in conferences and book tours. Also worked as a secretary for Ford Motor Company.

Member:

Women in Film.

Awards, Honors:

Audelco Award, Audience Development Committee, 1985, for Odessa; Theatre of Renewal Award, best actress in a drama, 1986, for Not a Single Blade of Grass; Audelco Award, best dramatic actress, c. 1995, Jeff Award, actress in a supporting role, Joseph Jefferson awards Committee, 2006, and Hattie McDaniel Award, best featured actress in a play (drama or comedy), Black Theatre Alliance awards, 2006, all for Crumbs from the Table of Joy; Image Award nominations, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, for Roc and Story Porch; Theatre of Renewal Award, best dramatic actress, off-Broadway category; named to the Lewis Cass Technical High School (Cass Tech) Hall of Fame.

CREDITS

Television Appearances; Series:

Eleanor Emerson, Roc (also known as Roc Live), Fox, 1991-94.

Jasmine Scott (Vanessa's mother), My Wife and Kids (also known as Wife and Kids), ABC, 2003-2004.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Common Ground, CBS, 1990.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Herself, Choices, 1992.

Betty Webb, "Selma Lord Selma," The Wonderful World of Disney, ABC, 1999.

Dr. Solomon, Her Married Lover (also known as A Clean Kill), 1999.

Doodle Alderidge, Stranger Inside, 2001.

Juanita, What about Your Friends: Weekend Getaway, UPN, 2002.

Television Appearances; Specials:

The African American Collegiate Beauty Pageant, 1993.

Waitress, "The Old Settler," PBS Hollywood Presents, PBS, 2001.

Herself, Bid Whist Party Throwdown, TV One, 2005.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

The Seventh Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards (also known as The Stellar Gospel Music Awards), syndicated, 1992.

The 12th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards (also known as The Stellar Gospel Music Awards), syndicated, 1997.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

"Officer Down," Katts and Dog (also known as Rin Tin Tin: K-9 Cop), CTV (Canada) and Family Channel, 1989.

Guest host, "Lisa Lisa/Masta Ace/Smooth Sylk," Soul Train, syndicated, 1994.

Alice Ward, "Them That Has …," John Grisham's "The Client" (also known as The Client), CBS, 1995.

Mrs. Bogzigian, "Bundt Friday," Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (also known as Sabrina and Sabrina Goes to College), ABC, 1996.

Dean Jones, "The Voice," Seinfeld (also known as The Seinfeld Chronicles and Stand-Up), NBC, 1997.

Annabeth, "Convent-ional Gifts," The Jamie Foxx Show, The WB, 1998.

Porsche Langford, "My Pest Friend's Wedding," In the House, UPN, 1998.

Mama Pearl, "Dateless in Miami," Eve (also known as The Opposite Sex), UPN, 2004.

Appeared as herself in The Dating Game (also known as The New Dating Game) and The Newlywed Game, both syndicated. Appeared in other programs, including One Life to Live (also known as Between Heaven and Hell), ABC; Search for Tomorrow (also known as Search for Happiness), CBS and NBC; Story Porch, Black Entertainment Television; and The Precinct.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Eleanor Emerson, Roc (also known as Roc Live), Fox, 1991.

Catherine Duke, NewsRadio (also known as News Radio, The Station, Dias de radio, and Dies de radio), NBC, 1995.

Judge, Dangerous Minds, ABC, 1996.

Stage Appearances:

Odessa, c. 1985.

Not a Single Blade of Grass, c. 1986.

Risa, Two Trains Running, Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, CT, beginning 1990.

Medea, Medea and the Doll, New Ivar Theatre, Hollywood, CA, 1995.

Checkmates, International Bermuda Arts Festival, c. 1995-96.

Lily Ann "Sister" Green, Crumbs from the Table of Joy, Second Stage Theatre Company, McGinn-Cazale Theatre, New York City, 1995, and Goodman Theatre, Owen Theatre, Chicago, IL, 2006.

Ruby McCollum (also known as The Ruby McCollum Story), L.A. Theatre Works, Los Angeles, c. 1996, released as an audio recording.

The Last Street Play, 1997.

Tonya, King Hedley II, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pittsburgh, PA, 1999-2000.

Valaida Snow, Hot Snow! In Search of Snow (also known as Hot Snow!), Company of Character, National Black Theatre Festival, Wake Forest University, Brendle Recital Hall, Winston-Salem, NC, 2001.

Professor Hill, Unquestioned Integrity: The Hill/Thomas Hearings, L.A. Theatre Works, c. 2001, released as an audio recording.

The Vagina Monologues, Coronet Theatre, Los Angeles, 2002.

Barefoot in the Park, National Black Theatre Festival, Winston-Salem, NC, 2003.

Jingles in a Broken Tongue, Red Program, Juneteenth Jamboree of New Plays, Juneteenth Legacy Theatre, Louisville, KY, 2003.

Willie and Esther, Red Program, Juneteenth Jamboree of New Plays, Juneteenth Legacy Theatre, 2003.

Rosa Parks, A Rose among Thorns: A Dramatic Tribute to Rosa Parks (solo show), Richard Allen Center for Culture & Art, Shooting Star Theatre, New York City, 2006, and Lucy Florence Cultural Center, Los Angeles, 2007.

The Vagina Monologues, 2008.

Appeared as Bianca, Brothers and Sisters, Husbands and Wives, Houston Music Hall, Houston, TX; as Barbara Ann and Claudette, Don't Get God Started (musical), Pantages Theater, Los Angeles, and Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA; and in Fences, National Black Theatre Festival. Also appeared in other productions, including Anna Lucasta, Chapter, The First Breeze of Summer, Home, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Milestones in Drama, Split Second, and Steppin' into Tomorrow.

Major Tours:

Risa, Two Trains Running, U.S. cities, 1989-91.

Rosa Parks, A Rose among Thorns: A Dramatic Tribute to Rosa Parks (solo show), U.S. cities, beginning 2007.

Stage Work:

Creator and researcher, A Rose among Thorns: A Dramatic Tribute to Rosa Parks (solo show), Richard Allen Center for Culture & Art, Shooting Star Theatre, New York City, 2006, Lucy Florence Cultural Center, Los Angeles, 2007, then tour of U.S. cities, beginning 2007.

Film Appearances:

McCabe, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, Universal, 1992.

(Uncredited) Libby Cumba, Reality Bites, Universal, 1994.

Detective Waller, Set It Off, New Line Cinema, 1996.

Attorney Ross, Frozen Hot, 1999.

Sonya Brignone, Clockin' Green (also known as Playing Both Sides), 2000.

Auntie Reed, Salvation (short film), Worn Path Productions, 2003.

The nurse, Bubba Ho-tep, 2002, Vitagraph Films, 2003.

Herself, My Nappy Roots: A Journey through Black Hair-itage (documentary; also known as My Nappy ROOTS), Virgin Moon Entertainment, 2005.

Minister's wife, Forbidden Fruits, Product Productions, 2006.

Mrs. Jenkins, Who Made the Potato Salad?, Twentieth Century-Fox Home Entertainment, 2006.

Mary, A Simple Promise, Marlo Productions, 2007.

Mother, City Teacher, Drummond and Smith Entertainment, 2007.

Romeo's mother, Uncle P, New Line Home Video, 2007.

Nancy Caulderbank, Lost Signal, Lionsgate, 2008.

Film Producer:

Producer, Frozen Hot, 1999.

Associate producer, Clockin' Green (also known as Playing Both Sides), 2000.

RECORDINGS

Videos:

Herself, Making of "Bubba Ho-tep" (short), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists Home Entertainment, 2004.

Music Videos:

Tupac Shakur (also known as 2Pac), "If My Homie Calls," 1991.

TLC, "Waterfalls," 1994.

Audiobooks:

Ron Milner, Steve Albrezzi, and William Bradford Huie, Ruby McCollum (also known as The Ruby McCollum Story), L.A. Theatre Works, c. 1996.

Mame Hunt, Unquestioned Integrity: The Hill/Thomas Hearings, L.A. Theatre Works, c. 2001.

WRITINGS

Writings for the Stage:

A Rose among Thorns: A Dramatic Tribute to Rosa Parks (solo show), Richard Allen Center for Culture & Art, Shooting Star Theatre, New York City, 2006, Lucy Florence Cultural Center, Los Angeles, 2007, then tour of U.S. cities, beginning 2007.