Shanésia Davis (Shay) is excited to be a part of the gift theatre ensemble where she recently directed
Top Dog Underdog. Other gift acting credits include Hamlet and Richard III. Her most recent acting role
was as Lena Younger in A Raisin in The Sun at the Court Theatre. Additional credits include works at
Steppenwolf, Northlight, Porchlight Music Theatre, Goodman, Congo Square, Mark Taper Forum,
Cleveland Playhouse, CenterStage Baltimore, Kansas City Rep among others. She is a recipient of a Black
Theatre Alliance Award and Excellence in The Arts Awards, several Jeff nominations and an NAACP
Image Award nominee. Some film credits include The Thing about Harry, Blueprint, Consumed,
Damaged Goods, Cleveland Abduction, Morning Due, among others. Some television credits Chicago
Stories: Ida B. Wells (voice of Ida B. Wells) Lovecraft Country (HBO), The Chi (SHOW), Proven Innocent
(FOX), Empire (FOX), Chicago Fire (NBC), and series regular on Early Edition (CBS). Directing credits
include Indecent, Spunk, Mother Courage and Her Children at Roosevelt University CCPA, Lady Day at
Emerson’s Bar and Grill at Congo Square Theatre, Our Lady of 121 st Street at UIC School of Theatre &
Music. Shanésia served as Program Director of Acting and Assistant Teaching Professor of Acting at
Roosevelt University, CCPA. Shanésia’s debut editorial book Nine questions every actor of color should
consider when tokenism in not enough can be purchased through Routledge, Taylor & Francis publishing,
bookstores and online. She is a proud member of Equity and SAG/AFTRA unions.