A'rese

Agharese Emokpae (born January 13, 1988) known simply as A'rese is a Nigerian actress and singer. She first garnered attention as a stage actress starring in Bolanle Austen-Peters' Terra Kulture production Wakaa: The Musical which led her to participate in and win the first season of The Voice Nigeria.[1] In 2017 she gained popularity for her lead role as Senami Minasu in Africa Magic's hit series Jemeji. In the same year, she released her first single "Uwe No".[2]

Background

A'rese was born into the arts. Her grandfather is the well-known Nigerian painter and sculptor, Erhabor Emokpae.

Education

A'rese attended Washington and Lee University where she first discovered her love for musical theater and dance. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Visual Art, specializing in Printmaking. After starring as "Velma Kelly" in the school's sold-out production of hit Broadway musical Chicago, she decided to pursue a career in the performing arts.[3] She has been performing professionally ever since she graduated in 2010.

Career

Emokpae's professional career began in Chicago, Illinois[4] where she was a company member at the Black Ensemble Theater. Some of her most notable roles at the theater were as The Fairy Godmama in The Other Cinderella[5] and as Mya in One Name Only.[6] After working successfully there for 3 years, she decided to move back to Lagos, Nigeria to further pursue her acting career.

In 2014, she landed her first notable role in Lagos as Rume in BAP Productions' Saro: the Musical 2 which had a sold-out run both during the Christmas holiday period in December 2014 and again during Easter 2015.[7] She then continued on to star as Kike Johnson in the next hit production out of the BAP/Terra Kulture stable, Wakaa: The Musical[8].

In 2016, Emokpae auditioned for the inaugural season of The Voice Nigeria. She made it to the televised "Blind Audition" stage where she sang "Skyfall" turning three of the coaches' chairs. She chose to be part of Team Waje. In the grand final, she faced Chike from Team Patoranking. A'rese sang "Hallelujah" finishing as winner with Chike ending up as runner-up.[9]

Following her win, Emokpae was signed to Universal Music Group; with whom she released her first single Uwe No.[2]

In 2017, she landed her first non-stage leading role as Senami Minasu in Jemeji, an Africa Magic series. She then went on to another lead role in a new EbonyLife TV series called "MMM".[10]

Filmography

Television
Title Year Network Role Notes
The Voice Nigeria 2016 Africa Magic Self Reality Show
Babysitting Ejiro Kemi Television movie
Tinsel 2016-2017 Bisola Unknown # of episodes
Jemeji 2017-2018 Senami Minasu 260 episodes
M.M.M. Post-production EbonyLife TV Marion TV series

Theater
Year Show Role Notes
2012 The Marvin Gaye Story Mary Wells/Ensemble Black Ensemble Theater; Chicago, IL
One Name Only Mya
The Other Cinderella Fairy Godmamma
2013 Once Upon A People The Storyteller
She Kills Monsters Vera (u/s) Buzz22 Chicago at Steppenwolf; Chicago, IL
2014-2015 Saro: The Musical 2 Rume BAP Productions/Terra Kulture
2015 Wakaa: The Musical Kike Johnson

Discography

Singles
Year Song Title Artist Album
2017 "Uwe No" A'rese ft. LadiPoe Uwe No - single

Collaborations
Year Song Title Artist Album
2017 "Out Of My League" Dominic Neill ft. A'rese Out Of My League
"#WCW" Kalen Lumiere ft. A'rese Realistic Love
"Birds 'n' Bees"
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References
  1. "A'rese WINS Season 1 of The Voice Nigeria - BellaNaija". www.bellanaija.com. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  2. Solanke, Abiola. "A'rese - Uwe Uno feat Ladi Poe". Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  3. "A'rese Emokpae '10 Wins "The Voice Nigeria"". The Columns. 2016-07-15. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  4. "A'rese Emokpae : Chicago Theater Beat". chicagotheaterbeat.com. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  5. "Review: The Other Cinderella (Black Ensemble Theatre) : Chicago Theater Beat". chicagotheaterbeat.com. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  6. Jones, Chris. "At BET, a tuneful show with new names to know". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  7. "Again, Saro 2 To Thrill A Easter". Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  8. "PHOTOS- Bolanle Austen-Peters Thrills Again with Wakaa The Musical - ASIRI Magazine". ASIRI Magazine. 2015-12-31. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  9. Bawse, Jay (2016-08-01). "Welcome To Fashion Uncut Media: A'rese WINS Season 1 of The Voice Nigeria". Welcome To Fashion Uncut Media. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  10. "EbonyLife TV on Instagram: "That moment when the sound mixer @taiwo.akiode and @kamhair_ came up with the brilliant idea to hide the wireless Lavalier microphone…"". Instagram. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
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