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Kyla Stone is an actress, singer, and artist based in New York and Los Angeles. She is perhaps best known as the first African American Anya in the National Tour of ANASTASIA. During that process, she had the immense honor of working with directors Darko Tresnjak and Sarah Hartmann, and composers Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. She fulfilled a life-long dream of inspiring a new generation of young black performers (and got to do it while playing a princess, which didn’t hurt). She made further history that same year playing Elle Woods in LEGALLY BLONDE at The Muny, which marked the first time a Black woman had played the role professionally in the United States.
Kyla graduated from Chapman University’s College of Performing Arts (COPA) with a BFA in Theatre Performance in 2020. Favorite roles at Chapman include Judy Bernly in 9 TO 5 (award for “Outstanding Performance of the Year” and directed by Sarah Ripper), VINEGAR TOM (directed by Tamiko Washington), and MEASURE FOR MEASURE (co-directed by Tom Bradac & Amanda Zarr). In the summer of 2021, she made her professional debut at the Hangar Theatre, where she performed alongside Nik Walker and Donna Lynn Champlin in SWEENEY TODD. Kyla’s short films include Claire Imler’s A LIFE WITHIN, which garnered her the Paris Cinema Award for Best Actress in a Short Film, and Erica Kennedy’s THE BIGGEST LITTLE. In 2024, Kyla made her Broadway debut in Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman’s musical HARMONY where she held down the fort as the company’s only female swing, covering six ensemble tracks and the principal roles of Josephine Baker and Ruth. She made her Broadway principle debut as Josephine Baker on January 28, 2024, a week before the show took its final bow. Most recently, Kyla played Inga in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN alongside Matthew Hydzik, James Romney, and Veanne Cox. The tri-production spanned 6 months at Berkshire Theatre Group, Bay Street Theater, and Geva Theater. When Kyla is not on stage, she loves to devour a good book, binge on reality TV, spend time with her significant other, and paint. She is represented by HCKR Agency and Sweet180 Management. |
MORE ABOUT HER STORY
Kyla was born and raised in Orange County, California. From a young age, she was surrounded and enthralled by music. Her father played the drums and Kyla’s mom allowed her to spend almost every waking moment watching movies like The Sound of Music and Camelot. She danced around the living room to recordings of The King and I and Singing in the Rain.
At the age of five Kyla saw The Phantom of the Opera and vowed (in cuter words) that she was going to perform for a living. She was lucky enough to grow up seeing many productions at both the Pantages Theater and Segerstrom Center from the Arts to further her love for performing.
Kyla attended Dana Hills High School, where she studied at the South Orange County School of the Arts (SOCSA). Her mentors, Ray Woods and Britany Casey, taught her the importance of vocal care, study, and community. In high school, Kyla kept busy studying jazz, opera, choral arrangements and music theory, acting, Shakespeare, musical theatre, lighting and design, stage management, directing, and dance. She wanted to surround herself with every aspect of the arts and is grateful for the friends and perspective she gained in her four years there. That same curiosity and love for the arts followed her to college and still holds an important place in her professional career.
Kyla was born and raised in Orange County, California. From a young age, she was surrounded and enthralled by music. Her father played the drums and Kyla’s mom allowed her to spend almost every waking moment watching movies like The Sound of Music and Camelot. She danced around the living room to recordings of The King and I and Singing in the Rain.
At the age of five Kyla saw The Phantom of the Opera and vowed (in cuter words) that she was going to perform for a living. She was lucky enough to grow up seeing many productions at both the Pantages Theater and Segerstrom Center from the Arts to further her love for performing.
Kyla attended Dana Hills High School, where she studied at the South Orange County School of the Arts (SOCSA). Her mentors, Ray Woods and Britany Casey, taught her the importance of vocal care, study, and community. In high school, Kyla kept busy studying jazz, opera, choral arrangements and music theory, acting, Shakespeare, musical theatre, lighting and design, stage management, directing, and dance. She wanted to surround herself with every aspect of the arts and is grateful for the friends and perspective she gained in her four years there. That same curiosity and love for the arts followed her to college and still holds an important place in her professional career.
IMPORTANT CAUSES
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