playbill vip

Nicole McKay-Atkinson was raised in Hyattsville, MD. She graduated from North Carolina Central University, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in History in 1995 and her Master of Library Science in 1996. For as long as Nicole can remember, she has loved writing and creating due to her parents, John and Barbara McKay, keeping her in the library and at stage plays. She has always aspired to write books, hoping to be able to connect with and help people. In 2008, Nicole wrote two children’s books, The Adventures of Bug and Roofus: Clean Your Room Roofus and Lost in Woozy Doozy World, which seek to instill discipline in children and help them to make the right decisions. Little did Nicole know that those children’s books would be the catalyst to inspire her trilogy: The Reason Why, More of the Same, and Nadia, known as The Nadia Series.

Nicole’s sons, John Green [as Ricky, left], Drew Atkinson [as Pizza Boy, middle], and niece, LaKendal Burch [as Young Nadia, right], have made their acting debuts in The Reason Why. Each of her teenage family members has a personality greater than one could imagine. In their ways, they have quite literally inspired Nicole and aided her in not giving up on her dreams. They are teachers to her as much as she is to them.

Nicole expresses her heartfelt gratitude to her devoted husband, William Atkinson, as the Bar Tender. She cherishes his unwavering support throughout their journey, both in their personal life and professional endeavors. His love and encouragement have been instrumental in her growth and success. She feels truly blessed to have her husband by her side.