Angelica Chéri is an NAACP Award–nominated playwright, musical theatre bookwriter and  lyricist, screenwriter, and poet. She was named by Variety as one of Broadway’s Top Ten Stars to  Watch in 2025, and by The Washington Post as part of its “Next 50,” recognizing individuals  shaping American culture and society in 2026. 

She is the book writer and lyricist of the Broadway-bound musical WANTED (formerly Gun &  Powder), which will open at the James Earl Jones Theater in Fall 2026 following acclaimed runs at  Signature Theatre and Paper Mill Playhouse, where it was named a New York Times Critic’s Pick.  With WANTED, Chéri becomes the first Black woman to write both the book and lyrics of a  wholly original Broadway musical. 

Her theatrical work includes the Prophet’s Cycle Trilogy—The Seeds of Abraham (Signature  Theatre, Billie Holiday Theatre), The Sting of White Roses (North Carolina Black Repertory  Company, National Black Theatre Festival), and Crowndation; I Will Not Lie to David (Center  Theatre Group, National Black Theatre I AM SOUL Residency)—as well as Berta,  Berta (published by TRW) and The Wiring & the Switches (Geffen Playhouse). She is also the writer  of Phenomenal Woman, a biographical play on the life of Dr. Maya Angelou, directed by Emmy  Award–winning director and cultural icon Debbie Allen and slated for Broadway in 2028 in  alignment with Dr. Angelou’s centennial. 

In television, Chéri is a writer on the award-winning series Godfather of Harlem (Seasons Three and  Four), starring Forest Whitaker. Her additional screenwriting credits include the biopic of R&B  icon Keyshia Cole and the Highway to Heaven reboot starring Jill Scott (Lifetime). 

Chéri has also written for major immersive and experiential works, including Warriors of Wakanda:  The Disciplines of the Dora Milaje for Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure and An  Evening with Gaya aboard the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser at Walt Disney World. 

She holds a BA in Theatre from UCLA, an MFA in Playwriting from Columbia University, and  an MFA in Musical Theatre Writing from NYU. 

www.angelicacheri.com

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