Ashley Brown
Ashley Brown | |
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| Born | February 3, 1982 Gulf Breeze, Florida,U.S. |
| Education | University of Cincinnati(BFA) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2004–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Ashley Brown(born February 3, 1982) is an American singer and actress who is best known for playing the titular character in the United States national tour andBroadwayproductions ofMary Poppins.
Early life
[edit]Brown was born February 3, 1982, inGulf Breeze,Pensacola, Florida, the youngest of four children. She started singing when she was 6 years old and then started professional singing lessons when she was 14. She studied atCincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.[1]
Career
[edit]Brown initially caught the attention ofcasting directorTara Rubin not long after graduating from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. After a successful audition, she was cast in the Disney touring productionOn the Record.This in turn led to her Broadway debut on September 20, 2005, replacing Brooke Tansley as the lead character,Belle,in theDisney Theatricalproduction ofBeauty and the Beast.[2]She departed the role on May 28, 2006, after eight months and she was succeeded bySarah Litzsinger.[3]
On November 16, 2006,Mary Poppinsopened on Broadway with Brown starring as the title character.[4]Brown left the Broadway company on October 5, 2008, after playing the role for two years and was replaced byScarlett Strallenwho previously played the role in theWest End.[5]
In March 2007, Brown appeared onAll My Childrenas herself.[6]
On March 11, 2009, Brown reprised the role ofMary Poppinsin the US national tour.[7]She left the tour on February 7, 2010, and was succeeded byCaroline Sheen.[8]
On October 20, 2009, Brown performed the role ofSnow Whitein the world symphonic premiere ofSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs– A Symphonic Retelling,at theWalt Disney Concert Hallin Los Angeles, conducted byJohn Mauceri.[9]
She has recorded her first solo album of American songbook standards, which was released in January 2010.[10]
Brown played Maria inThe Munyproduction ofThe Sound of Music,which ran from July 26 to August 1, 2010.[11]For this role she won theKevin Kline Awardfor Outstanding Actress in a Musical.[12]
Brown starred as Oona in the world-premiere of the new musicalLimelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin,which ran at theLa Jolla Playhousefrom September 7 through October 17, 2010.[13]
Brown played the role of Mary Poppins again in the Broadway production from March 8 to July 17, 2011, whileLaura Michelle Kellywas away filming a movie.[14]
Brown played Magnolia Hawks alongsideNathan GunnasGaylord Ravenal,Alyson CambridgeasJulie LaVerne,andMorris Robinsonas Joe, inFrancesca Zambello's production ofShow Boatfor theLyric Opera of Chicago's, which ran from February 12 to March 17, 2012.[15]It was broadcast onNPRstations in June 2012,[16]the first time a complete performance ofShow Boathas ever been broadcast on radio.[citation needed]
In 2013, Brown made her sold-out soloCarnegie Halldebut with theNew York Pops[17]as well as having a minor role in the television broadcastThe Sound of Music Live!,in which she played Ursula, one of the servants in the Von Trapp household.
In 2015, she sang "A Kiss Goodnight" byRichard M. Sherman,the exit song fromDisneyland Forever,a production that commemoratedDisneyland's 60th anniversary.[18]
Brown played the Mother Abbess in the national tour ofThe Sound of Music,which launched September 2015.[19]She then played Mrs. Juniper and Madame Calypso in the 2017Encores!production ofThe Golden Apple,and returned to Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops in December 2018.[20][21]
Personal life
[edit]Brown became engaged to actorDaniel Wisleron April 18, 2010;[22]they married November 5, 2011.[23]Brown gave birth to a baby girl on May 9, 2016.
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Show | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Mary Poppins | Nominated |
| 2006 | Austin Critics Table Award | Distinguished Performance | Mary Poppins | Nominated |
| 2006 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Mary Poppins | Nominated |
| 2009 | PBSTelly Award | Film Video – TV Programs, Segments, or Promotional Pieces - Entertainment | Ashley Brown: Call Me Irresponsible | Won |
| 2010 | Kevin Kline Award | Best Actress in a Musical | Sound of Music | Won |
Theatre credits
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Meet Me in St. Louis | Rose | The Muny | |
| 2005–2006 | Beauty and the Beast | Belle | Lunt-Fontanne Theatre | |
| 2006–2008 | Mary Poppins | Mary Poppins | New Amsterdam Theatre | Original Broadway cast member NominatedOuter Critics Circle Awardfor Outstanding Actress in a Musical NominatedDrama League Awardfor Distinguished Performance NominatedDrama Desk Awardfor Outstanding Actress in a Musical |
| 2010 | The Sound of Music | Maria | The Muny | WinnerKevin Kline Awardfor Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical |
| 2010 | Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin | Oona | La Jolla Playhouse | Out-of-town tryout forChaplin: The Musical |
| 2011 | Mary Poppins | Mary Poppins | New Amsterdam Theatre | Return to role |
| 2012 | Show Boat | Magnolia Hawks | Lyric Opera of Chicago | |
| 2013 | Oklahoma! | Laurey Williams | Lyric Opera of Chicago | |
| 2013 | Hello Dolly! | Irene Molloy | Goodspeed Opera House | |
| 2015 | My Fair Lady | Eliza Doolittle | CapePlayhouse[24] | |
| 2017 | The Golden Apple | Mrs. Juniper/Madame Calypso | Encores![25] | |
| 2019 | Cinderella | Marie/Fairy Godmother | The Muny[26] |
Tours
[edit]| Year | Tour title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2004–2005 | On the Record | Kristen |
| 2009–2010 | Mary Poppins | Mary Poppins |
| 2015–2016 | The Sound of Music | Mother Abbess |
Discography
[edit]| Year | Title | Other notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Disney's On the Record | |
| 2009 | Speak Low | |
| 2018 | The Secret of Christmas |
References
[edit]- ^Everett, Carole J. (2009)."University of Cincinnati College—Conservatory of Music".College Guide for Performing Arts Majors: The Real-World Admission Guide for Dance, Music, and Theater Majors.Peterson's.p. 325.ISBN9780768926989.
'Faculty, Resident Artists, and Alumni'... Alumni continue to hold key positions in the performing and media arts. Numbered among them are... musical theatre stars Faith Prince, Lee Roy Reams, Michele Pawk, Jason Graae, Jim Walton, Vicki Lewis, and Ashley Brown.
- ^Broadway Welcomes a New Beauty Sept. 20Playbill, September 20, 2005
- ^Sarah Litzsinger to Return to Broadway's Beauty May 30Playbill, May 30, 2006
- ^A Jolly Holiday: Mary Poppins Opens at the New Amsterdam Nov. 16Playbill, November 16, 2006
- ^Strallen and Fiorentino to Join Cast of Broadway's Mary PoppinsPlaybill, September 16, 2008
- ^"In".Soap Opera Weekly.2007-02-27. p. 5.
- ^Gans, Andrew (2009-03-11)."Mary Poppins Tour, with Brown and Lee, Kicks Off March 11 in Chicago".Playbill.com. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-01-31.Retrieved2009-03-12.
- ^BWW News Desk."Steffanie Leigh Joins MARY POPPINS Tour as 'Mary,' 2/8".BroadwayWorld.com.Archivedfrom the original on 30 September 2011.Retrieved20 September2015.
- ^"Disney Symphonic Legacy With John Mauceri and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra Premieres at Walt Disney Concert Hall 10/20",BroadwayWorld,October 6, 2009
- ^"Ashley Brown Bio".Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.June 19, 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 26 September 2009.Retrieved2009-10-02.
- ^2010 Muny Season to Feature Gary Beach, Stephanie J. Block, et. al
- ^Actress Ely wins twice at Kevin Kline Awards
- ^Robert McClure Is Chaplin in Limelight Musical; Ashley Brown, Jenn Colella Among CastArchivedOctober 7, 2010, at theWayback Machine
- ^"Ashley Brown, Broadway's Original Mary Poppins, to Return to New York Cast in March"Archived2012-10-20 at theWayback Machine,Playbill
- ^Francesca Zambello's ChicagoShow BoatStars Ashley Brown, Nathan Gunn, Alyson Cambridge, Morris Robinson,Playbill.ArchivedJanuary 21, 2012, at theWayback Machine
- ^"Show Boat | Saturday at the Opera".23 June 2012.
- ^"PHOTO CALL: Under the Mistletoe with Ashley Brown and the New York Pops".20 December 2013.
- ^Special Ceremony Commemorates Official 60th Anniversary of the Disneyland Resort,Disney Parks Blog, Retrieved July 22, 2015
- ^Ashley Brown, Ben Davis & Newcomer Kerstin Anderson Will Hit the Road in New National Tour ofThe Sound of Music,Broadwayworld, Retrieved July 21, 2015
- ^Ashley Brown, Lindsay Mendez, Ryan Silverman and More to LeadThe Golden Appleat Encores!,BroadwayWorld,Retrieved May 2, 2017
- ^Ahsley Brown returns to Carnegie Hall
- ^"Our Proposal on April 18, 2010 - Ashley and Daniel Wisler's".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-10.Retrieved2016-03-02.
- ^"Ashley Brown Wisler and Daniel Wisler's Wedding Website".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-10.Retrieved2016-03-02.
- ^"At Cape Playhouse,Ladyis a knockout "by Sandy MacDonald,The Boston Globe,July 31, 2015
- ^[1]Playbill, April 17, 2017
- ^Mikaela Bennett, Jason Gotay, Ashley Brown, Alison Fraser Star in Muny’s CinderellaPlaybill, July 8, 2019
External links
[edit]
Media related toAshley Brownat Wikimedia Commons- Official website
- Ashley Brownat theInternet Broadway Database
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