About Nicole

Nicole Newman is a visionary author, playwright, and creative producer whose storytelling blends faith, family, and personal transformation. With over 25 years in the performing arts, she has built a career rooted in authenticity, purpose, and the power of redemptive storytelling.

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Nicole’s journey began in 1992 as a church drama director, where she discovered her passion for using the arts as a ministry tool. Eventually, she founded O–Live! Theatre and premiered a wide range of original productions that captivated audiences and brought faith-centered narratives to life on stage. As one of the few African American and Latina female playwrights in Arizona, she has helped diversify the theatrical landscape while building community through the arts.

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When the world paused in 2020, so did Nicole’s live productions—but her creativity didn’t. In that stillness, she found a new direction: adapting her most powerful stage plays into novels. Her debut novel, The Franklins: A Family Saga, is the first in a planned collection of stories that expand her stage work onto the page. Alongside the book, she created a companion journal, Faith Through Fiction Stories, and an audiobook to meet audiences wherever they are in their healing journey.

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Nicole also served as the founder of Church Stars Network, a digital streaming platform showcasing faith-based entertainers in theater, comedy, and original content. Though the network has closed, her impact on Christian entertainment continues to inspire creatives nationwide.

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Today, Nicole serves as Chief of Staff at Hope Assembly in Phoenix, where she leads over 100 volunteers and produces Hope Chat: The After Show, a digital series that brings Sunday messages into real-life conversation.

Whether on stage, on screen, or on the page, Nicole Newman continues to inspire with stories that encourage healing, stir faith, and remind dreamers everywhere: even when one curtain closes, another is waiting to rise.