Ariya Hawkins

Ariya Hawkins is an actor, multidisciplinary artist, and educator, born and raised on Chicago's West Side. Hawkins is a graduate of both ChiArts and Millikin University, where she earned her BFA in Musical Theatre. She has been nominated for a Black Excellence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatre and was recently seen in the Jeff-nominated production of The Color Purple at The Goodman Theatre. Other recent Chicago credits include RAIN for babies and their carers (Filament), Leaf (Lifeline), The Promotion (MPAACT), Imagine That! (Northwestern University), Haven (Outer Loop Theater Experience), a hit dog will holler (Artemisia Theatre), and Shut Up Kiss Me (PrideArts). Touring credits include A Raisin in the Sun and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Olney Theatre Center, National Players). Other regional credits include Cabaret (The Studio Theatre at Tierra Del Sol), The Bikinis, The Queen Bees, and Vanities: The Musical (Canterbury Summer Theatre). As a teaching artist, she has worked with over 1,600 students across Chicagoland and nationwide, working to empower people of all ages, abilities, and experiences through theatre and storytelling. Ariya feels blessed and incredibly grateful to join this team of artists, sharing Alex in Windyland with Chicago audiences. Ariya is represented by Stewart Talent.