Sherrie Tolliver As: "Rosa Parks"

Sherrie Tolliver joined Women In History in 1994 and has accumulated a rich cadre of characters. Currently, she characterizes Eliza Bryant, Bessie Coleman, Diana Fletcher, Jane Edna Hunter, Harriet Ann Jacobs, Rebecca Cox Jackson, Marie Laveau, Edmonia Lewis, Biddy Mason, Wilma Rudolph, Dr. Susan McKinney Steward, Susie King Taylor, Mary Church Terrell and Valaida Snow, to name a few.

Ms. Tolliver's favorite characters are the ones who have a "rags-to-riches" theme in their lives. "These women inspired me because they triumphed over incredibly difficult circumstances. At a time when being poor, Black and female usually meant most doors of opportunity were closed, they dared to dream big dreams and refused to take 'no' for an answer. They chose to persue excellence and they did it with vision, courage and compassion for others. They blazed trails for each other and all of them were dedicated to empowering, encouraging and educating women and men so that they, too, could achieve their dreams".

Ms. Tolliver earned a BFA in Acting at New York University, where she minored in African-American History. She has extensive training in dance, theater and music. Currently, she works as an Early Childhood Educator and performs as an actress and stand-up comic. She has taught drama at the Cleaveland School of the Arts, the Beck Center and the Jerry Leonard Youth Theater. She has performed at the Cleaveland Playhouse, Cain Park's Alma Theater, Karamu House, the Front Row Theater, Jewish Community Center's Variety Tale Theater and Kennedy's Cabaret at Playhouse Square.