HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY: CELEBRATING WOMEN IN MUSICAL THEATRE!

Today is International Women's Day and I thought I'd share my favourite women in musical theatre and celebrate how incredible they all are!

1. Kirstie Skivington 

Kirstie Skivington, hailing from Kent, is a professional musical theatre artist. Her love for performing developed at a young age. Back then, she was a gymnast competing nationally after which she dedicated two years to learning contemporary dance. From Freestyle to Jazz and Alto, Kirstie has excellent dance skills, and she is also able to effortlessly do Rock, Pop and R&B singing.

Kirstie is currently in & Juliet as Eleanor. But of my 4 visits to the show, I've seen her shine as Anne/April 3 times. She has one of the most beautiful voices and I can't wait to see Kirstie in her next venture, Fantastically Great Women.

You can catch Kirstie in Fantastically Great Women the Musical as Emmeline Pankhurst, Agent Fifi and Miss Johnson here.

2. Carrie Hope Fletcher

She made her West End debut in Les Miserables in 2001 when she was nine. In 2002, she starred as Jemima Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and in 2004 as Jane Banks in Mary Poppins. Fletcher is the only British actor to play the roles of both young and older Eponine in Les Miserables. She earned the WhatsOnStage “Best Takeover In A Role” award for the role in 2014.

I've always been such a huge fan of Carrie, and she's one of the reasons I fell so quickly in love with musical theatre. Growing up, she was always one of my idols. I'm yet to see her as Cinderella, but hopefully very soon!

You can catch Carrie in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella as the princess herself, here.

3. Jodie Sam Steele

Jodie's theatre credits include: Sherrie in ROCK OF AGES (UK Tour), Heather Chandler in HEATHERS (West End/ Other Palace), Elphaba in Wicked (UK and International Tour), War of the Worlds (Dominion Theatre), Legally Blonde (Kilworth House), Jesus Christ Superstar (UK Tour), FAME (UK Tour), The Theory of Relativity (Drayton Arms Theatre), RENT (The Tabard Theatre) and Follies (Yvonne Arnaud).

One of my most memorable theatre experiences was seeing Jodie as Heather Chandler. She completely blew me away, and she has one of the most powerful musical theatre voices I've ever heard. She really is the almighty.

You can catch Jodie in But, I'm a Cheerleader as Kimberly/Hilary here.

4. Carly Mercedes Dyer

Carly's theatre credits include: Jane Seymour in Six, Anita in West Side Story (Curve Theatre); Dreamgirls; Original Cast (Savoy Theatre), Memphis, Original London Cast (Shaftesbury Theatre), Dance ‘Til Dawn; Original Cast (UK Tour). Rock of Ages, Original London Cast (Shaftesbury Theatre and Garrick Theatre) and Dirty Dancing (Aldwych Theatre).

I saw Carly for the first time in West Side Story in Leicester, and her performance as Anita was absolutely mesmerising. She completely stole the show; it felt like the role was written for her. 

You can catch Carly in Anything Goes as Erma here.


5. Miriam-Teak Lee

Born in 1994, Miriam-Teak Lee is a professional British actress from Greater London. She is known as a musical powerhouse for her awe-inspiring performance in Hamilton. She is currently in & Juliet as Juliet.

There is no better word to describe Miriam than: powerhouse. For me, she has one of the most iconic voices currently in the West End. Not only that, but she's always so upbeat and positive; and really, just a ray of sunshine. 

You can catch Miriam-Teak Lee in & Juliet, as the iconic Juliet here.


6. Alicia Belgarde

Alicia trained at Bird College. Theatre includes: Bring It On (UK Tour) and Little Miss Sunshine (UK Tour). Credits while training: Anything Goes; Bye Bye Birdie (Bird College).

Alicia absolutely shone as Eva in Bring It On the Musical. And the cast of Bring It On will always have a special place in my heart. I was lucky enough to attend the rehearsals before the show opened to interview the cast - and they were all so lovely, especially Alicia. Her version of Killer Instinct will always be one of my favourite musical theatre moments ever.

She recently shared she had just been offered a new theatre role - so hopefully they'll be more information soon.


7. Lucie Jones

Theatre includes: 'Elphaba' in Wicked. ‘Jenna Hunterson’ in Waitress (Adelphi and UK tour); ‘Fantine’ in Les Misérables: The Staged Concert (Sondheim); ‘The Ghost of Christmas Past’ in A Christmas Carol (Dominion); ‘Maureen’ in Rent (The Other Palace and UK tour); ‘Elle Woods’ in Legally Blonde (Leicester Curve, UK tour and South Korea Opera House); ‘Cosette’ in Les Misérables (Queen’s); ‘Victoria’ in American Psycho (Almeida) and ‘Molly’ in Ghost (international tour).

Lucie's version of Jenna is one of my all time favourite theatre roles. Her version of She Used to be Mine will never not shatter my heart into a thousand pieces. She has a truly phenomenal voice.

You can catch Lucie in Wicked as Elphaba, here.

8. Sophie Isaacs

Born 20th September 1988, Sophie Isaacs is a professional singer, actress and dancer. She is a mezzo-soprano and is highly skilled in street dancing, pas de deux, contemporary, ballet and jazz dancing. Previous roles include Six the Musical as Katherine Howard at the Arts Theatre and Heathers the Musical as Heather McNamara at the Other Palace.

Sophie is the definition of a pocket rocket. I would absolutely adore to see her as Glinda in Wicked, or as Elsa in Frozen. She may be small, but she definitely is fierce; a bit like me!

I can't wait to see what she does next, as I've been following her career since Heathers the Musical.

9. Millie O'Connell

Millie O'Connell is a British actress, singer, dancer, and model. Her musical theatre credits include Be More Chill (The Other Palace); Soho Cinders (Charing Cross Theatre), Six (Edinburgh and Arts
Theatre), 42nd Street (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) and 42nd Street (Théâtre du Châtelet).

Millie just brings me so much joy. She's been one of my favourite musical theatre actors over the past few years, and she never fails to make me smile with her sensational voice.

You can catch Millie in The Cher Show UK tour as Babe, here.

10. Amber Davies

Amber Davies hails from North Wales and graduated with her Professional Diploma in Musical Theatre from the Urdang Academy in 2016. Amber was the winner of the hit ITV reality series Love Island in 2017. Theatre includes: Campbell in Bring It On (UK Tour), Judy Bernly in 9 to 5 The Musical (Savoy Theatre and UK Tour).

Amber is one of the loveliest people I've ever met. After discovering her from Love Island, I'll admit I was apprehensive before I saw her live. But I've never been happier to be proved wrong. She was born to play Campbell, and I can't wait to see her in Cabaret All Stars next week.

You can catch Amber in Cabaret All Stars in London here. 

Which women in theatre are you celebrating today? I would love to hear your favourites, so feel free to leave them in the comments below.








Labels:
loading..

No comments

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)