| Carla Renata | |
| Birth Place: | Cherry Point, North Carolina, United States |
| Years Active: | 1992–present |
| Occupation: | Actress, singer |
| Website: | Carla Renata |
| Awards: | NAACP Theatre Awards Nomination |
| Notable Works: | Gary Coleman in Avenue Q |
Carla Renata (sometimes credited as Carla Renata Williams) is an American actress and singer. She was born in Cherry Point, North Carolina and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. Renata has starred in several long-running Broadway musicals, national tours, and appears on television shows. She is creator and host of The Curvy Critic with Carla Renata which streams via YouTube and Facebook Live.
Carla Renata graduated from Howard University with a B.A. in Broadcast Production and was cast in the Matthew Broderick Broadway revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. She has worked in Broadway musicals. The Life, Smokey Joe's Cafe and in Vegas for the rock group Queen as "Killer Queen" in their hit musical We Will Rock You. She made history becoming the 1st African American actress to secure recurring roles on four television shows - TWICE: Shake It Up,[1] Hart of Dixie, How to Live With Your Parents, Mr. Box Office and Superstore.
She is best known for her roles in Avenue Q,[2] Smokey Joe's Cafe on Broadway.
The New York Times called her an "Energizer Bunny of a comedian with a big ponytail, giant hoop earrings and an impressive résumé"[3] and cites her vocalism and style as ranging from "quasi-operatic" to gospel and rock.[4] The NAACP Theatre Awards nominated her performance for being outstanding in the Los Angeles production of The Lion King as Shenzi.