About April

APRIL ARMSTRONG is a versatile performer whose talents range from dramatic actress to evocative singer to whimsical storyteller. April has performed on professional stages throughout the USA.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, April's time in the City of Motown was brief as her parents moved to the Harlem section of New York City before she was walking. Calling NYC her true home, April pursued her talents as a singer by attending the Westchester Conservatory of Music. She graduated from both Manhattan School of Music and Columbia University's Teacher College. Soon after graduate school, she found that her heart wasn't quite ready to give up her own schooling. She pursued her acting studies with noted teachers, Michael Shurtleff and Wynn Handman, while continuing her vocal studies with Mahon Bishop.

Her first break in acting came with the role of "Irina" in the York Theater Company's production of LOST IN THE STARS, starring George Merritt, directed by Alex Dimitriev. April went on to work in several notable regional theaters such as American Repertory Theatre, THREEPENNY OPERA (Lucy), and Coconut Grove Playhouse where she co-starred with Andre de Shields in TIN PAN ALLEY RAG (Tremonisha). At the Vineyard Playhouse and Charlotte Repertory Theatre, she played Veronica in VALLEY SONG and understudied and performed one of her favorite roles, "Cunegonde" in The Guthrie Theater's production of CANDIDE, directed by Garland Wright. She has understudied and performed the role of "Sara" in the Broadway National Tour of RAGTIME. She also played "Sara" for the TheatreWorks (Palo Alto, CA) production of Ragtime for which she received a Dean Goodman Award for Best Actress (2002). She delighted audiences with her vibrant rendition of "Carrie Pipperidge" in CAROUSEL for Casa Manana and understudied and performed in the Broadway National Tour.

April has received much critical acclaim for her performance as the legendary jazz singer, Billie Holiday, in the tour-de-force one-woman show, LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL, written by Lanie Robertson (Providence Black Repertory Co. and the Vineyard Playhouse on Martha's Vineyard). April has also appeared in regional productions of SPUNK (Delia /Missey Mae) for Twin Rivers Theatre Co., and in MY FAIR LADY as "Eliza Doolittle" at the American Music Theatre of San Jose.

In New York, April has appeared Off-Broadway at the Delacort Theater in the 2009 Public Theatre's production of THE BACCHAE, starring Anthony Mackey, Jonathan Groff and Andre de Shields. She played "Lydia Languish" in THE RIVALS for the Titans Theatre Company, EXTROADINARY MEASURES, written and directed by Eve Ensler at H.E.R.E., and in TIS PITY SHE'S A WHORE and SKRIKER, both at The Public Theater (NYSF).

On film, her voice can be heard in the movie WASHINGTON SQUARE, directed by Aneskia Holland, starring Jennifer Jason Leigh and Albert Finney (film soundtrack available on Amazon.com). And most recently, she starred opposite Joe Forbrich in Paul Haber's short film, LOVE IS DEAF, which will be screened in the 6th Annual Big Apple Film Festival in NYC.

April Armstrong is also a captivating storyteller whose timing and vocal expressions charm children and adults alike. April weaves melodies and words for a refreshing and compelling style of interactive multi-cultural, as well as African-American stories which delight, inform and inspire. April has told stories for the Queens Borough Public Libraries, the Children's Museum of Manhattan, Historic Hudson Valley venues, Flushing Town Hall/Queens Council for Culture and the Arts, Scarsdale Historical Society, The Westchester Council for the Arts, the Warner Library in Tarrytown, the Van Buren Public Library in Newark, NJ, the Berkeley Library and the Mitchell Library in Palo Alto, CA., as well as dozens of public schools in the NY tri-state area.

April has written a one-woman show about the black aviatrix, Bessie Coleman, called BRAVE BESSIE and is one of "the Group of 33" contributing writers of the best selling book (Wall Street Journal), THE BIG MOO, compiled and edited by internet marketing guru, Seth Godin (Penguin Press).