Audiences, critics, artists (and her mom and dad!) alike have hailed chandra thomas as “brilliant”, “superb” & “excellent”. chandra brings her unique combination of wit, beauty, intelligence and sensitivity to her work as an actor – writer – producer – social media consultant – arts advocate.
This busy & dynamic talent recently completed guest-star appearances on TV series Blue Bloods and Law & Order: SVU.
She recently wrapped roles in indie films Assassin Behind the Glass, An Isolated Incident and The Pact Among Us. chandra can be seen in her original comedy web short, Complete Sentences?, as well as Jason Reitman’s film Labor Day (starring Kate Winslet & Josh Brolin) now on Netflix.
Some of chandra’s favorite roles include appearances in CBS primetime hit The Good Wife, the HBO film Too Big to Fail, independent drama Sweet Lorraine (also starring Tatum O’Neal, Peter Greene and Steven Bauer; written & directed by Christopher Frieri), her Barrymore Award-nominated turn in Nilaja Sun’s No Child…, where she played eight different characters and choreographed/performed a closing dance to the incredible play, her multi-character performance in the hip-hop musical Dunkfest ’88.
The New York Times described chandra’s performance as “played with winning delicacy” in David Lindsay-Abaire‘s award-winning play, Good People.
chandra has performed at a host of Off-Broadway, New York and regional theatres including Public Theater, Classical Theatre of Harlem, Guthrie Theater, Alliance Theatre, Cherry Lane Theatre, Denver Center, Pittsburgh Public Theater, P.S. 122, Women’s Project, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Ars Nova, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Hartford Stage, Theaterworks Hartford, among others. chandra also works in voiceover, print and commercials.
Similar to her work as an actor, chandra’s work as a writer and producer primarily explores fresh and reflective storytelling. As a writer, her work includes new media projects like Complete Sentences? and plays like a rhyme for the UNDERground, Standing At… (Heideman Award Finalist—National Ten-Minute Play Contest of Actors Theatre of Louisville / Source Festival Semi-Finalist; named a top play in the Downtown Urban Theatre Festival) and Forgive to Forget. chandra also writes screenplays and performance poetry.
As a producer, chandra produces new media, film and theatre including her original web comedy Complete Sentences? and spork*Festival, a festival of original short plays, films and discussion connected to the theme of being an “in-betweener”.
chandra is also highly active in various causes, particularly arts education and youth advocacy. She co-founded viBe Theater Experience (viBe), an award-winning, non-profit, performing-arts education organization that provides free creative and collaborative space for young, urban women to share their stories and use their voices to transform themselves and their communities. As a producer/performer, chandra co-developed and co-produced the LOVE/YOUTH Project, a collaborative theatrical response of professional artists to the violence against LGBT youth. She is also the founder of For.the.Artist, a company providing innovative workshops, tools and seminars specifically designed to empowering artists to become working professionals.
chandra, who spells her name in all lowercase, puts into practice the Ghanaian proverb,
…you must act as if it is impossible to fail…
