A Lil’ Sumin About Me…
ONYI OKOLI (pronounced phonetically “Own-Ye” “Oh-Cool-Lee”) was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. Her full name, Onyinyechukwu, means “Gift of God”, and she plans on sharing all of her gifts and God-given talents to the world. However, Onyi did not focus on her true calling until she was a sophomore at the University of Southern California. In the spring of her sophomore year, Onyi switched her major to theater after two theater professors strongly encouraged her to go into that field of study. Committed to the change, Onyi restarted the Black Entertainment and Theatrical Association, a student-run performing arts organization. She focused the organization around the mission to provide artists, esp. minorities, an opportunity to showcase their talents. Through this organization, Onyi has produced and directed George C. Wolfe's The Colored Museum, and August Wilson’s Fences. She also produced, wrote, and directed several sketch comedy shows, and her own full-length play, The Light in the Darkness. Under her leadership, B.E.T.A. has garnered several awards on campus including: The Mahogany Award for Best New Enterprise, The Tommy's Award for Best Cultural Organization, and The Tommy's Award for Best Performance Organization. She has also developed an outreach program, in which B.E.T.A. along with the African Millennium Pen Pal Association teach high school students how to express themselves in creative writing. B.E.T.A. is still active on USC campus today.
Inspired by Danny Hoch's "Jails, Hospitals, and Hip-Hop", Onyi set out to form her own type of theater. She created her one-woman show called Charmed, I'm Sure! and premiered it on USC campus. Shortly after, Onyi has showcased it at The Actor's Repertory Theater in North Hollywood. Upon returning to the east coast in 2010, Onyi later produced and performed Charmed, I’m Sure! in Baltimore, Atlanta, and New York. The production received press coverage and rave reviews by Broadway World, the City Paper, the Baltimore Times, WJZ Channel 13, & more. She relocated to New York and has been studying & performing improv for over 12 years at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade, People’s Improv Theater, Reckless Theater, Annoyance, Yes! Improv, 10,000hrs, and the Magnet theater. She has toured across country and internationally with her indie all black improv troupe, Branded Silk. Currently, she teaches improv at the Brooklyn Comedy Collective, Columbia University International House for graduate students and other corporate workshops on demand. Onyi wrote a sketch tv pilot that was a finalist for the BCC’s Pitchfest with Sony first looks. She recently produced, directed, and starred in her own one act comedic play called, “Trynna Be A Playa”. You can catch more of it yourself by visiting www.trynnabeaplayacomedy.com! Onyi hopes to bring more fresh ideas to the stage, tv, and film.