Meet Tiffany Phillips of Nunoon Productions in Sherman Oaks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Phillips.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Tiffany. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in Apple Valley California and at 17 years old, I received a scholarship to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. While in New York, I began performing in Off-Broadway shows and traveling the country in national theatre tours that include; Beehive-The 60’s Girl Group Musical, Sweet Charity, and More Magic, the Motown Review starring Florence Larue of The Fifth Dimension.

At 19, I became the youngest singer in the Motown Moments at New York’s Motown Café singing the hits of the Supremes, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, and much more. I had the honor of performing in front of such legends as Diana Ross, Quincy Jones, Mohammed Ali, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson.

Later, I was cast as the role of Princess Kibbibi in the Broadway musical Festival of the Lion King at Walt Disney World ‘s the Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida. While in Orlando, I guest-starred on TV shows such as “Sheena” and “Mortal Combat Conquest” and I was also the on-air announcer for Nickelodeon’s Double Dare 2000.

Upon arriving in Los Angeles, I started doing theatre and starring in plays such as “Jesus’s Kid Brother” at the Hudson Guild Theatre and “Diary Of a Catholic School Dropout” at the Laemmle Theatre. I founded the all-female sketch comedy troupe BoomChickBoom that garnered the attention of Kenny “The Jet” Smith and Robert Townsend, who later became producers on the project. I’ve recurred as BNC News Anchor “Angela Raines” on ABC’s Scandal and I was also a recurring guest star on MTV’s Teen Wolf, portraying a sinister Skinwalker named “Dark Spirit” among other roles on different notable shows. I’ve also portrayed the fictional 1950’s film star Cynthia Beckley in the award-winning dramatic film “Daughter Of Fortune”.

I had the pleasure of being lead background vocalist for Michael Bolton’s world tour and I also wrote and starred in my own one-woman play “I Never Met a Jerk I Didn’t Like” where I played ten different characters (both men and women ) which sold out theatre venues in both Los Angeles and Off-Broadway in New York. Currently, the comedy series “Ethnically Ambiguous” that I created wrote and starred in can be seen on Youtube.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Was it an easy path? Absolutely not! Lol. When I first moved to L.A. after driving all the way from Orlando FL with my then-boyfriend, my car with everything I owned in it was stolen. Talk about completely starting over! I wasn’t sure if this was an omen or just some bad luck. Either way, I stayed and got back on my feet with the help of friends and family. It takes courage to push through hard times and that most certainly tested my fortitude. I didn’t book for years when I first moved out here. It was quite discouraging. There were many years of struggling and rejection but as disheartening as it all was, quitting just was not an option. You only fail if you don’t try and I was hanging in there whether I could pay my rent or not. Eventually, things started falling into place and I was able to get a good agent and then, finally, my first guest star role which was on the show “Charmed.” From there, things started looking up but it hasn’t been easy nor have I had anything handed to me. I’ve had to really do the work and develop a thick skin to weather the storms that this career path entails. That’s just the risk you take when you decide you want to be an actor. To me, the rewards (Though few and far between at times) outweigh the risk.

Nunoon Productions – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I started a production company in 2019 in honor of my mother, who passed away from cancer in August of 2018. She was creole and her family nickname was “Nunoon,” so I named my company Nunoon Productions. The first production under Nunoon was my original comedy Wed Series, “Ethnically Ambiguous” which I partnered with Rosa Costanza of Seven Directions Productions and Kristi Anderson-Ornstein of JKO Productions. I’m looking forward to creating more content that promotes diversity and inclusion for all. I’d also like to branch out into theatre as well, focusing on works by female playwrights of color.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I would have to say, writing and performing my one-woman show, “I Never Met a Jerk I Didn’t Like.” Doing a solo show is exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time. The opening night of the show was at the Whitefire Theatre and I remember being backstage, waiting to go on, when the theatre owner comes in and frantically says, “We’re oversold! I have to put extra chairs out!” At this point, I almost threw up. I couldn’t believe all of those people were there to see me. A solo show is just that; you are out there on your own! All I could think was, “Man, I better not suck.” My manager and agent were in the audience, my mom and stepdad, friends, exes, strangers, etc.

So to say I was nervous would be an understatement. Thankfully, the show went off without a hitch and I got a 4-minute standing ovation. The theatre owner Bryan Rasmussen said that it was the highest-grossing solo show in that theatre’s 30-year history. I have never felt so proud, grateful, and elated. I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. It’s extremely gratifying to see all of your hard work pay off. The show ended up being a big hit and I performed it to sold-out theatres at the Hollywood Fringe as well as Off-Broadway in New York. It was also a special moment in my life because my mom was there to share it with me. To see her face beaming with pride is a memory I will always cherish. Its moments like these make all the ups and downs of this business worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.itstiffanyphillips.com
• Instagram: @iamtiffanyp / @eatheseries
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/actresstiffanyphillips
• Twitter: @iamtiffanyp
• Other: http://www.youtube.com/c/NunoonProductionsLLC

Image Credit:
DVG Photography, Matchstick Photo and Dahlia Veleeta DaCosta (Vees Makeup and Photos).

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