Micki Grant

Micki Grant (born Minnie Louise Perkins, She performed in Having Our Say (as Sadie Delaney), Tambourines to Glory and Jericho-Jim Crow both co-written by Langston Hughes, The Gingham Dog, Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, and received three Tony Award nominations for her writing.

Early life Perkins was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Gussie and Oscar Perkins on June 30, 1929. Some sources also state that she was born in 1941; Grant was said to have lowered her age early for reasons related to her career. Her father was a self-taught pianist and master barber, and her mother worked for Stanley Products. Grant first took piano lessons at the age of eight, and the next year took acting lessons with Susan Porché. After high school, her cousin, film actress Jeni Le Gon took her under her wing when Grant moved to Los Angeles. In 2015, Lehman College awarded her the degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa.

Career

Theater While in Los Angeles, she was cast in Fly Blackbird by James V. Hatch and C. Bernard Jackson. The show was successful and it moved to New York City. She graduated summa cum laude from Lehman College.

Much of her early work was done with director Vinnette Carroll, the first African-American woman to direct on Broadway. They collaborated on Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, in which Grant starred and for which she wrote the music, book and lyrics, and Your Arms Too Short to Box with God, for which Grant wrote additional lyrics and music. Both enjoyed critical acclaim and long Broadway runs. She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

Television

In the first story line written for an African-American in a daytime soap opera, Grant portrayed attorney Peggy Nolan on Another World (1966–1973). and was in the cast of Guiding Light (1982–1984). She also had a brief stint as host of Around the Corner, a children's show on CBS.

Personal life and death Grant married television news film editor Ray McCutcheon in 1966. They were married for 12 years before divorcing in 1978. 1969 The Gingham Dog Gloria (Standby) Broadway, John Golden Theatre 1972 Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope Performer, Bookwriter, Composer and Lyricist Broadway, Playhouse Theatre 1976 Your Arms Too Short to Box with God Additional music and lyrics Broadway, Lyceum Theatre 1978 Working Composer Broadway, 46th Street Theatre

Your Arms Too Short to Box with God Additional music and lyrics Broadway revival, Ambassador Theatre It's So Nice To Be Civilized Bookwriter, Composer, Lyricist Broadway, Martin Beck Theatre 1982 Your Arms Too Short to Box with God Additional music and lyrics Broadway revival, Alvin Theatre

Awards and nominations

Writing credits "Pink Shoe Laces" (1959), pop song, recorded by Dodie Stevens, reached number 3 on the U.S single charts. A Spanish-language version was number 1 in Mexico for 9 weeks. Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope (1971), musical – music and lyrics, performer Croesus and the Witch (1971), musical – music and lyrics Step Lively, Boy (1973), musical – music and lyrics The Prodigal Sister (1974), musical – music and lyrics Your Arms Too Short to Box with God (1976), musical – additional music and lyrics The Ups and Downs of Theophilis Maitland (1976), musical – music and lyrics I'm Laughing but I Ain't Tickled (1976), musical – music and lyrics Alice (1978), musical – music and lyrics Working (1978), musical – music and lyrics with Stephen Schwartz, Craig Carnelia, James Taylor, Mary Rodgers and Susan Birkenhead Eubie! (1978), musical revue – additional lyrics It's So Nice to Be Civilized (1980), musical – book, music and lyrics Phillis (1986), musical – music and lyrics Step into My World (1989), revue – music and lyrics Carver (Don't Underestimate a Nut) (1996) – music, lyrics, and book