Sheldon Mba
Sheldon Mba is an actor, dancer, choreographer, director, intimacy coordinator, and
educator. He has a passion for bringing people together through the arts and creating
meaningful connection through performance and collaboration.
A native of Durham, North Carolina, Mba holds a BA in Theatre/Dance Performance from
North Carolina Central University and an MFA in Theatre Performance from the University
of Southern Mississippi. His artistic training includes working with Baba Chuck Davis
(founder of the African American Dance Ensemble), Gaspard Louis (former Pilobolus
company member), Caitlyn Herzlinger, Robin Aronson, Monica Hayes, Dr. Stephanie Asabi,
Kristi V. Johnson, James Gray, and various faculty of the American Dance Festival.
As an actor, Mba’s credits span theatrical work and live performance. Notable stage
credits include Phaedra in La Cage aux Folles at The Carnegie; Bernie/Judge in Chicago, Padre in Man of La Mancha, and Stooie in Hairspray at The New London Barn Playhouse; Harold in The Wedding Singer, Dad in Legally Blonde, and Ensemble in All Shook Up at Great Plains Theatre; Brad in The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Crown Arts Collaborative; Sheldon Saperstein in The Prom at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma; Ensemble in Rent at Music Theatre Heritage; Peter in Jesus Christ Superstar at Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane; Laertes in Hamlet and #1st Sergeant in Macbeth with New Orleans Shakespeare Festival; Russell Tinsworthy
in 9 to 5 with Larry D. Clark Summer Repertory; and Little Moe in Five Guys Named Moe at The Forum Theatre.
As a concert dancer, he has performed with; KT Collective, NCCU Repertory Dance Company,
Koffee Dance Company, African American Dance Ensemble, Harambee Collective, Regina
Klenjoski Dance Company, and Smack Dab Dance.
His screen, print, and commercial work includes projects with Blue Cross Blue Shield
of Kansas (BCBSKS), Visit Wichita, Textron Aviation, Intrust Bank, Johanna Brooks
Films, Illumination Cinema, and numerous projects presented through the Tallgrass
Film Festival and Take 36.
Mba’s work as a director and choreographer have been presented across universities,
community stages, and regional theatres. Directing credits include Dreamgirls, Little Women, Catch Me If You Can, Rabbit Hole, Peter and the Starcatcher, and Time Stands Still. His stage choreography credits include Dreamgirls, Catch Me If You Can, The Wiz, Annie, Tarzan, The Lion King Jr., Porgy
and Bess, and Alice in Wonderland, among others. His choreography has been presented at the National Black Theatre Festival,
American Dance Festival, Wichita Art Museum, Harvester Arts, and throughout the Southwest
and Midwest region.
As an intimacy coordinator, Mba incorporates consent-based practices and embodied
approaches into the rehearsal and production process. His intimacy coordination credits
include Company, Young Frankenstein, and Cabaret.
Mba has received recognition from the American College Theatre Festival for direction,
choreography, ensemble work, and artistic achievement. His work on Dreamgirls received
a BroadwayWorld Regional Award for Best Ensemble and a nomination for Best Director/Choreographer.
He was named Best Broadway Actor by the BlackOut ICT Awards in 2024. In 2026, Mba
received the Micky and Pete Armstrong Faculty Award for Excellence in Creative/Scholarly
Activity. He currently serves as Associate Music Theatre Coordinator for the American
College Theatre Festival, Region 5.
