Kaili Y. Turner*
Kaili Y. Turner* (Mae Jemison, Jane Hart) is a Black, Indigenous (enrolled member of Nipmuc Nation) comedian, actress, writer, producer, puppeteer and single mother to two boys. Raised between Boston and Mashpee, MA (Indian Country) and currently resides between Brooklyn, NY and Boston. After graduating from UMass Boston with a BA in theater and minor in dance Turner went on to work with New African Company and did her first professional play with Company One in Kristen Greenidges’ award winning play, 103 Within the Veil. Turner then went on to work with many youth in the Boston area using her talents in teaching drama and dance to give back and give them a voice.
In 2012 Turner went on to grad school at the Actors Studio Drama School (ASDS) in New York City and graduated with her MFA in acting. Some of her favorite acting credits include: Fires in the Mirror, ASDS thesis. The Obie winning play, The Nosebleed, Lincoln Center, Best Ensemble nominee Lucille Lortel awards (2022), ADY, HERE Arts. Broken, United Solo, Signature Theatre. Grown Ass Women, UCB Maude Team. Regional: My Story is Gluskabe, Penobscot theatre, Maine. HOOPS, The Strand, MA. Janie’s Song, NorthEastern University. Working Things Out, National Black Theater Festival, Winston-Salem, NC. Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet, Footlight Club, Boston, MA. TV/Film/New Media: The Cycle film (HBO Short Film Winner, Best film, MVAAFF), Sexy Time, Dir. Gaurav Gawankar, Best Friend Parody, Best Music(al) Parody winner, All the Laughs Fest. Maybe It’s Melanin, ABFF, Best Comedy Nominee.
Kaili is excited to be back in her hometown making her Central Square Theatre debut in this amazing new play that showcases some very important iconic women in history.