Dr. Stewart grew up in Mississippi.She graduated from Jackson State University with an Arts Degree in Speech and Theatre.She went on to study at The University of California at Santa Barbara where she received a Master's Degree in Theatre Arts.She was the first African American woman to receive a Doctorate in Theatre Arts from Florida State University.She studied acting under well known coaches such as Beah Richards, Frank Silvera and Joseph Papp.In 1969 she was the first African American to direct or star in a play at the New Stage Theatre.One of Mississippi's most prestigious Equity
… More Theatres.She has toured in professional presentations such as A Member of the Wedding and A Raisen in the Sun.She was a teaching assistant at Lanier High School in Jackson, Mississippi and taught for over twenty years at Jackson State University.She has been in numerous stage productions across the United States and in Canada, Mexico and South Korea.And appeared at locations such as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.She has been in many television shows and movies, but is best known for her role as Aunt Etta Kibbe on In the Heat of the Night. She underwent three and a half hours of age makeup to transform her youthful features.Since 1990 she and her husband Dr. Allen Stewart have lived in Montgomery, Alabama.They have four children:two sons, a daughter and an adopted goddaughter.Both sons hold a degree in finance and both daughters are speech pathologists.She has been a teacher for over thirty years and is currently a tenured professor and Dean of the College of Visual & Performing Arts at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama.During her tenure the Theatre Department has become very popular and the number of graduates has soared.She is a dedicated member of the Huchinson Street Missonary Baptist Church and is the spokesperson for One Church, One Child of Alabama and Alabama Adult Foster Care.She is involved in many community programs such as TAPS:Theatre Arts and Performance School,Camp 3T: Teaching Through Theatre and summer performance and enrichment programs.Welcome to the TV.com Forums for Tonea Stewart. Here is your area to discuss, dissect and debate all things about this person.
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