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Rolanda D. Bell, a Black woman with red curls, smiles in the spotlight, holding a bouquet of flowers.
Photo by Cheshire Isaacs

Theatre Bay Area and the RHE Charitable Foundation announce Rolanda D. Bell the 2023 RHE Foundation Artistic Fellow. Bell was introduced as the awardee on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at Theatre Bay Area’s TBAConnect: A Fall Conference for Creatives.

Bell, a stage and screen actor based on Oakland, CA, garnered acclaim recently for her powerful performance as Anaia in Aleshea Harris’ Is God Is at Oakland Theater Project. Her feature film debut was in 2018’s Blindspotting, and she has appeared on stage at Berkeley Rep, Aurora Theatre Company, African American Shakespeare Company, and Shotgun Players.

The RHE Foundation Artistic Fellowship makes a significant investment in an individual artist that will allow them to take the next step in their career. Candidates for the RHE Artistic Fellowship are female or nonbinary actors of color with exceptional promise nominated by a diverse panel of established theatre professionals. 

The $10,000 Fellowship “provides a jet pack to the careers of our awardees,” says Jennifer Sousae, Executive Director of RHE Charitable Foundation. “I follow our awardees’ careers for years afterwards. It’s deeply gratifying to see how much they’ve accomplished. Past awardees have appeared on Broadway and on LORT stages across the nation.” 

Notable past Artistic Fellows include Reggie D. White (2014), Associate Artistic Director of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis; Sarita Ocón (2016), most recently performed in the acclaimed production of American Mariachi at the Alley Theatre in Houston; and Cindy Im (2018), whose recent credits include The Chinese Lady at The Public Theater/Ma-Yi.

“As an actor, I know the incredible impact an investment like this can have on your career,” adds Theatre Bay Area’s Executive Director, Sean Fenton. “Few awards highlight women and nonbinary actors of color like this Fellowship. TBA is honored to continue our partnership with RHE Charitable Foundation for this important award.”

The five other nominees for the 2023 RHE Foundation Artistic Fellowship are rising talents worthy of recognition. Nominees include Jamella Cross, Kay Loren, Aidaa Peerzada, Sharon Shao, and Jasmine Milan Williams. The application process included mentorship and networking opportunities with leaders in the Bay Area theatre community. More information about the nominees is available in the attached document.

The RHE Charitable Foundation is dedicated to edgy arts, human resilience, and the environment. It honors the legacy of generosity of its tireless volunteer founder, Richard H. Epstein. 

Theatre Bay Area (TBA) is one of the largest regional performing arts service organizations in North America. TBA serves hundreds of theatre artists and companies across the greater San Francisco Bay Area, providing professional development resources and direct funding.

Theatre Bay Area is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to unite, strengthen, promote, and advance the theatre community in the San Francisco Bay Area, working on behalf of the conviction that the performing arts are an essential public good, critical to a healthy and truly democratic society, and invaluable as a source of personal enrichment and growth. Visit TheatreBayArea.org for more information.