Tramaine Montell Ford

Tramaine Montell Ford is an American actor, comedian, writer, dancer, singer, recording artist, animation voice-over artist, and award-winning solo performer. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Acting from Syracuse University's College of Visual and Performing Arts, Department of Drama, and a Masters of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Acting from the American Repertory Theatre/Moscow Art Theatre School Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University. Ford's credits include; Hairspray (Feature Film) starring John Travolta and Queen Latifah, One Life To Live (ABC), The Oprah Winfrey Show, Saturday Night Live (NBC), MTV VMA's, The Today Show, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Shakespeare's Hamlet, The Ballad of Emmet Till at Black Repertory Theatre, National Tour of Dreamgirls and International Tour in Tokyo, Japan, Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida (International Tour), College Humor, Odyssey: The Epic Musical, A Christmas Carol at Princeton University McCarter Theatre, Manhattan Repertory Theatre, Young Jean Lee's The Shipment and Diane Paulus' The Donkey Show at American Repertory Theatre, and has danced for American Singer Lady Gaga during her first Live TV performance at the New Now Next Awards. Ford has toured and performed in various theaters and Television Production Studios throughout the United States, Norway, Germany, China, Japan, Russia, Taiwan, Inner Mongolia, The Bahamas, Canada, And US Virgin Islands. Born and Raised in Chicago's notorious Cabrini Green Housing Projects, Ford was featured on NBC News as an up & coming rising star and on WNG-9 News as first individual from the Chicago Housing Project to win at the Chicago Children's Alt Film Festival, taking home First Place for Best Narrative, The Potion which he wrote and starred in as a teen through the Cabrini Connections Tutor/Mentor Program. Ford won 2nd place at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's Monologue and Sonnet Contest and began working with the Duncan YMCA's Chernin Center for the Arts' Youth Theatre Workshop. In 1999, he starred in FreeStreet Theatre's CoTingle, representing the USA at the 13th Annual A.S.S.I.T.E.J. Theatre Festival in Tromso, Norway, and at the Bremen International Theatre Festival in Bremen, Germany. The Tramaine Experience: An Urban Dramedy, Ford's self-penned One Man Show premiered Off-Broadway September 22nd 2011 at The American Theatre of Actors fostered by the producers of Broadway's Wicked and Urinetown, The Araca Group, Through The Araca Project, with favorable reviews. The production began with three sold-out Developmental Workshops at Off-Broadway's Theatre Row Studio Theatre in Times Square New York City where Ford was Co-Executive Producer. Winner of the "Outstanding Performance In A Solo Show" Award at the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity Awards, after a Limited Engagement at The Gene Frankel Theatre and Robert Moss Theatre, with proceeds benefiting charity United Way NYC. The production has also seen several Limited Engagements at Chicago's Gorilla Tango Theatre and Greenhouse Theatre. The Tramaine Experience: An Urban Dramedy has been featured on NY1 News, NYTimes.com, and Broadway World. Ford's professional training also includes Chicago's FreeStreet Theatre, The New York Tepper Semester with Rebecca Guy from The Juilliard School and Columbia University's Kristen Linklater, Warner Bro Studios' Aaron Sorkin Week, JoAnna Beckson Studios, Alexander Technique Center, Joel Hall Dance Center, The Ailey School: The Official School of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre as an Oprah Winfrey Scholarship Recipient, residency at Russia's Moscow Art Theatre School, and PWST Ludwik Solski Academy for the Dramatic Arts in Poland. Ford worked as production choreographer with Ghost Robot and has choreographed music videos for artists Kid Sister, Galactic, and for New York Musical Theatre Festival. Ford appears in The Nassau, Bahamas televised live production of The Legend of Sammie Swain as part of Shakespeare In Paradise. Since 2010, Ford tours to disadvantaged youth in elementary schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods. He visits and performs for and with hundreds of youth every year in Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Los Angeles, performing My Plate: The New Food Guide Musical program through "The Nutrition & Fitness Education Initiative". The program and Ford have been featured on The Huffington Post, New York Times, ABC News Los Angeles, and ABC Staten Island. Ford has also been involved as an actor with The Adolescent Aids Program, performing in educational videos that train doctors and counselors to work with youth patients. Tramaine began working with Boston Arts Academy as an Adjunct Professor in the Dept. of Theatre teaching 12th-Grade Advanced Actor's Studio Course and 9/10th-Grade Movement for Actors. This followed a special guest faculty residency at City On A Hill Charter School teaching General Theatre Arts, as seen on CBS-Boston News, and as a panelist at the Harvard Law School's panel discussion and performance event, The Drama of Lynching, as part of The A.R.T. Of Human Rights Series. Ford began collaborating and working as a teaching artist with The Town Hall NYC Arts in Education, traveling to teach in New York Public Schools including Civic Leadership Academy, Excel Charter Schools, and many more. With Caceras Collective, Ford has taught at Bronx Academy for the Performing Arts and with Broadway's Babies at Urban Assembly School of Law & Justice. Lastly, Ford provides private lessons as one of the top coaches on Lessons.com and teaches Masterclasses many places including Mind Your Body. Ford is Creative Consultant and Media/Web Director for Blakeman Entertainment, which invests in major Broadway productions including the hit Dear Evan Hansen and Ain't Too Proud, as well as shows on the West End. Ford is a featured member of Mastermind Connect and works closely with the Young Mastermind's Initiative. Tramaine' EP single Beast (Can't Do Me) released internationally on Apple iTunes / Apple Music Jan 31, 2011. On ReverbNation, the single was available with proceeds benefiting "Keep A Child Alive" charity though Music For Good. Tramaine Montell is a Chicago born and raised songwriter/musician and dynamic musical and theatrical performer known for his unique style and killer dance moves- Tramaine Montell has danced back-up for the likes of Lady Gaga & Shakira and contributed to movies like Get On Up - The James Brown Story and Hairspray (Soundtrack To The Motion Picture). Collaborating with some of the best underground Chicago artist/producers like The David Way, a 2011 2-single self-titled EP by the dynamic musical performer is a tease to say the least. The swag heavy yet sultry mid-tempo anthem Beast (Can't Do Me) featuring Chicago rapper Dame Dilla is followed by the Mike Snugg produced techno-rap electronic dance club track that is Exclusive. You may catch some feature collaborations like the hilarious feature on 999 Grams by Dame Dilla or House Club banger Yes No by the20fours. Tramaine Montell is the father of Prince Louis who's dropping a 2020 LP. After almost 10 years of focusing on acting, teaching, coaching, and choreographing for artists like Kid Sister, fans are eager for brand new music by Tramaine Montell set for a January 2021 LP release. Proud member of (SAG-AFTRA) Screen Actor's Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, (ASCAP) American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, and (AEA) Actor's Equity Association.