Actress, entrepreneur and daughter of Reverend Run, Vanessa Simmons is to star in The Actor’s Rap! a new play written, produced, and directed by Obie- Award winner J Kyle Manzay. Michael Shawn of Hot 97 fame also stars in the play. The hip-hop infused comedy, where pop culture meets satire, examines the downward spiral of an African-American actor who begins to lose roles – and a girlfriend – to a famous rapper-turned-actor. Fed up, the play’s protagonist takes matters into his own hands hatching a plan to kidnap his rival (the rapper) by calling upon his classically trained actor buddies to help him pull off the caper. What ensues next is a hilarious sequence of events sure to leave audiences in stitches.

“I think that it’s good that people are giving rappers the opportunity to be film stars, but at the same time I feel that because of a name, real hard working actors miss out on great parts where they know they can deliver,” says Vanessa Simmons, who had a recurring role on the legendary soap opera The Guiding Light.

As the eldest daughter of hip-hop pioneer, Reverend Run, Vanessa will star alongside the play’s writer, director and producer J Kyle as Lil’ Tease.

Said Vanessa in her interview on allhiphop.com, “My character in The Actor’s Rap, her name is Lil’ Tease, and she’s a rapper. So you can imagine how fun it’s going to be to play this character ‘cause it’s so different from who I am and what viewers are used to seeing on Run’s House. It’s definitely been a great experience.”

Workshop productions of The Actor’s Rap! at the Washington D.C. Hip-Hop Theater Festival, the New York City Hip-Hop Theater Festival, and New York Summer Stage in the Parks received such a tremendous response that the comedy will also be staged in Los Angeles this spring and there is talk of bringing it abroad.

Runs through March 1st in NY. Tickets are $40. Who’s seen it?