Daheli Hall
Encyclopedia
Daheli Hall is an American
actress, stand-up comedienne, writer
, and director
. Hall is most notable for her membership in the recurring cast of comedians on sketch comedy series MADtv
during its thirteenth season.
. Grew up in Miami, FL. She is the only child of her Jamaican father and Haitian mother.
She earned both a Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts—in the Experimental Theater Wing—and a Master of Fine Arts in Producing for Film and TV from the University of Southern California.
Dahéli is pronounced: Da-hay-lee
, and as a the zaniest cast member on BET’s prank dating show Hell Date
. Dahéli has earned both a Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts
and a Master of Fine Arts in Producing for Film and TV from the University of Southern California
. Dahéli's body of work also includes, several web series created under the banner, www.Tickles.Tv; a documentary short film and two HBO award winning short films, “The Memo” and “Mandingo in a Box”.
A common theme in Dahéli's film and stand up comedy is the range of social issues that black people face. Her first work of note, a short film entitled "The Memo," explores in comedic fashion the misadventures of Ted, who doesn't "get the memo" that the black revolution has begun. "Mandingo in a Box," features a life-sized, black, male "lover doll" that supposedly represents the ideal man for black women. In "Mandingo," two ideas play off each other: (1) that good, available black men are nearly impossible to find and (2) that the quest for the perfect black man can sidetrack black women in their pursuit of love. Dahéli made a slight creative departure with "The Peace Process," a documentary which centers around a young man who tries to set a positive example in his heavily gang-influenced community. Dahéli is quick to point out, however, that "The Peace Process" is a departure in format only, not content: "Though this is my first documentary, it is not a departure from the kind of subject matters that I gravitate to; all my projects address issues that affect my black community. Gang violence is definitely one such issue."
Dahéli has also lent her talents to teaching acting as a substitute instructor at the LA County High School for the Arts, where she taught and created a curriculum for 10th through 12th grade high school students on the basic principles of improvisation. Dahéli first foray into teaching began in the Spring 2005 as a documentary film instructor at the Zeitgeist Community Learning Center. There, she taught Crenshaw area high school students how to shoot, direct and edit their own documentary short films. Dahéli continued lending her talents in the classroom serving as a guest lecturer at several colleges and universities including: Los Angeles Valley Collge as well as, Clark Atlanta and the University of Georgia both in Atlanta. Most recently, Dahéli returned to New York to give a lecture at the Fieldston School (College Prep Academy), on “Gender Politics in the Performing Arts”.
Still, though, comedy is Dahéli's primary vehicle for expressing social concerns.." Dahéli's special blend of humor and intelligence expertly manifests itself in not only her film work but also her standup comedy. Her one-woman show, "Crazy Bitch," gives a perfect example of this dichotomy. On one hand, the term “crazy bitch” explores her "unapologetic, fearless and wild side"; on another level, however, the term also shows how such slurs can demonize and trivialize women.
She refers to comedy as "the great diplomat", "…people are most open when they laugh, and that’s perfect time to get them thinking and communicating.”
Dahéli now puts on her own comedy variety show every month called “Dahéli Live!”
, Daniele Gaither
and Nicole Randall Johnson
were the first three respectively). Hall only appeared in five episodes of Season Thirteen. When Season Fourteen premiered, Hall was replaced by African American actress, Erica Ash
. Out of the five female African American cast members, Ash and Hall are the only two not to be promoted to Repretory Player status. Hall was let go before she could be promoted and Ash remained a featured member of the cast when Fox announced the cancellation of the show from its Fall 2009 line up.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress, stand-up comedienne, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. Hall is most notable for her membership in the recurring cast of comedians on sketch comedy series MADtv
MADtv
MADtv is an American sketch comedy television series. It licensed the name and logo of Mad, but otherwise had no connection with the humor magazine outside the animated Spy vs. Spy and Don Martin cartoon shorts and images of Alfred E. Neuman that the show featured during the late 1990s. Its first...
during its thirteenth season.
Biography
Hall was born in Gainesville, FloridaGainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
. Grew up in Miami, FL. She is the only child of her Jamaican father and Haitian mother.
She earned both a Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts—in the Experimental Theater Wing—and a Master of Fine Arts in Producing for Film and TV from the University of Southern California.
Dahéli is pronounced: Da-hay-lee
Career
Dahéli Hall, is a true hybrid of talent. She is a writer, director and comic actress. Dahéli is best known as a cast member on Season 13 of MADtvMADtv
MADtv is an American sketch comedy television series. It licensed the name and logo of Mad, but otherwise had no connection with the humor magazine outside the animated Spy vs. Spy and Don Martin cartoon shorts and images of Alfred E. Neuman that the show featured during the late 1990s. Its first...
, and as a the zaniest cast member on BET’s prank dating show Hell Date
Hell Date
Hell Date is a popular dating show on Black Entertainment Television with a unique twist.-Plot:The show starts with one unsuspecting dater telling the viewers who his/her ideal mate is. This individual thinks that he/she is on a standard dating show, such as "Blind Date", where both daters have...
. Dahéli has earned both a Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts is one of the 15 schools that make up New York University ....
and a Master of Fine Arts in Producing for Film and TV from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. Dahéli's body of work also includes, several web series created under the banner, www.Tickles.Tv; a documentary short film and two HBO award winning short films, “The Memo” and “Mandingo in a Box”.
A common theme in Dahéli's film and stand up comedy is the range of social issues that black people face. Her first work of note, a short film entitled "The Memo," explores in comedic fashion the misadventures of Ted, who doesn't "get the memo" that the black revolution has begun. "Mandingo in a Box," features a life-sized, black, male "lover doll" that supposedly represents the ideal man for black women. In "Mandingo," two ideas play off each other: (1) that good, available black men are nearly impossible to find and (2) that the quest for the perfect black man can sidetrack black women in their pursuit of love. Dahéli made a slight creative departure with "The Peace Process," a documentary which centers around a young man who tries to set a positive example in his heavily gang-influenced community. Dahéli is quick to point out, however, that "The Peace Process" is a departure in format only, not content: "Though this is my first documentary, it is not a departure from the kind of subject matters that I gravitate to; all my projects address issues that affect my black community. Gang violence is definitely one such issue."
Dahéli has also lent her talents to teaching acting as a substitute instructor at the LA County High School for the Arts, where she taught and created a curriculum for 10th through 12th grade high school students on the basic principles of improvisation. Dahéli first foray into teaching began in the Spring 2005 as a documentary film instructor at the Zeitgeist Community Learning Center. There, she taught Crenshaw area high school students how to shoot, direct and edit their own documentary short films. Dahéli continued lending her talents in the classroom serving as a guest lecturer at several colleges and universities including: Los Angeles Valley Collge as well as, Clark Atlanta and the University of Georgia both in Atlanta. Most recently, Dahéli returned to New York to give a lecture at the Fieldston School (College Prep Academy), on “Gender Politics in the Performing Arts”.
Still, though, comedy is Dahéli's primary vehicle for expressing social concerns.." Dahéli's special blend of humor and intelligence expertly manifests itself in not only her film work but also her standup comedy. Her one-woman show, "Crazy Bitch," gives a perfect example of this dichotomy. On one hand, the term “crazy bitch” explores her "unapologetic, fearless and wild side"; on another level, however, the term also shows how such slurs can demonize and trivialize women.
She refers to comedy as "the great diplomat", "…people are most open when they laugh, and that’s perfect time to get them thinking and communicating.”
Dahéli now puts on her own comedy variety show every month called “Dahéli Live!”
Director
She wrote, directed and starred in two short films: Mandingo in a Box and The Memo.MADtv
Hall joined the cast of MADtv in 2008 as a feature performer, for the thirteenth season. She became the fourth African American female cast member in the show's history (Debra WilsonDebra Wilson
Debra Wilson Skelton , professionally known as Debra Wilson or Debra Wilzon, is an American comedienne and actress. Wilson is likely most famous for being the second longest-serving original cast member on the sketch comedy series MADtv, having appeared for the show's first eight seasons...
, Daniele Gaither
Daniele Gaither
Daniele Gaither is an American comic actress. Gaither is most notable for her membership in the recurring cast of comedians on sketch comedy series MADtv.-Early life:...
and Nicole Randall Johnson
Nicole Randall Johnson
Nicole Randall Johnson is an American comic actress. Johnson is most notable for her membership in the recurring cast of comedians on sketch comedy series MADtv.- Biography and education :...
were the first three respectively). Hall only appeared in five episodes of Season Thirteen. When Season Fourteen premiered, Hall was replaced by African American actress, Erica Ash
Erica Ash
Erica Ash is an American actress, comedienne, singer and model. She was a cast member on the sketch comedy programs MadTV and The Big Gay Sketch Show.-Early years:...
. Out of the five female African American cast members, Ash and Hall are the only two not to be promoted to Repretory Player status. Hall was let go before she could be promoted and Ash remained a featured member of the cast when Fox announced the cancellation of the show from its Fall 2009 line up.
Characters
| Character | Sketch | Season of First Appearance | Catch Phrase | Notes |
| Sista Revolution | Sista Revolution | 13 | None | |
| Ray Ray | 13 | None | ||
Impressions
| Celebrity | Sketch | Season of First Appearance | Notes |
| Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011... |
Various | 13 | Actress, talk show host. |
| Lil' Mama | Various | 13 | rapper |
| Macy Gray Macy Gray Macy Gray is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress, famed for her distinctive raspy voice, and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Betty Davis.Gray has released five studio albums, with her fifth studio album, The Sellout,... |
Various | 13 | R&B singer |
Movie appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Box Office Performance | Director | Other notes |
| 2004 | The Memo | Lisa | N/A | Daheli Hall | This was a short film written by Hall |
| 2006 | Mandingo in a Box | Felicia Horton |
N/A | Daheli Hall | This was a short film written by Hall |
Television appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Total Episodes | Other notes |
| 2008 2008 in television The following is a list of events affecting American television in 2008. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and new channel launches.-January:-February:-March:-April:-May:-June:-July:-August:... |
MADtv MADtv MADtv is an American sketch comedy television series. It licensed the name and logo of Mad, but otherwise had no connection with the humor magazine outside the animated Spy vs. Spy and Don Martin cartoon shorts and images of Alfred E. Neuman that the show featured during the late 1990s. Its first... |
Various Characters | 5 | Sketch Comedy |