- Megan Hilty
-
Megan Hilty 
At the Henry Fonda Theater
on May 5, 2008Born Megan Kathleen Hilty
March 29, 1981 [1]
Bellevue, Washington, U.S.Education Carnegie Mellon School of Drama Occupation Actress, Singer Megan Kathleen Hilty (born March 29, 1981[1]) is an American stage and television actress.
Contents
Early years
Hilty was born in Bellevue, Washington and is the daughter of Jack and Donna Hilty. She attended Sammamish High School in Bellevue and the Washington Academy of Performing Arts Conservatory High School in Redmond, Washington. In 2004, she graduated from the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama and is a member of Actors' Equity. She is a recipient of the National Society of Arts and Letters Award for Excellence in Musical Theater. Her regional credits include productions of Café Puttanesca, Suds, and Michael John La Chiusa's The Wild Party.
Wicked
Shortly before graduating from Carnegie Mellon, Hilty auditioned for the hit musical Wicked. She moved to New York City after graduating and, in August 2004, she made her Broadway debut in the show as the standby for Glinda, before taking over the lead role from Jennifer Laura Thompson on May 31, 2005. After playing the role for a year, Hilty ended her run on May 28, 2006 and was succeeded by Kate Reinders.
She then reprised the role on the first national tour of the show from September through December 2006, replacing Kendra Kassebaum. She was succeeded by Christina DeCicco. Soon after, she originated the role in the Los Angeles sit-down production, which began previews on February 10, 2007 and opened February 21. Hilty left the production on May 18, 2008, and was replaced by Erin Mackey, only to return on October 31, 2008 to close the production, which played its final performance January 11, 2009.[2]
Other projects
Hilty starred in a musical called Vanities during its premiere engagement at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts in Mountain View, CA. In addition to her stage work, Hilty has made guest appearances on various television shows including The Closer, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Ugly Betty, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Desperate Housewives, and Shark. She can also be heard as the singing voice of Snow White in the animated feature film Shrek the Third.
In fall 2008 Hilty joined Emmy Award-winning The West Wing star Allison Janney, fellow Wicked alum Stephanie J. Block, and Broadway veteran Marc Kudisch in the new musical adaption of the 1980 film 9 to 5. The production was directed by Joe Mantello, director of Wicked, with a pre-Broadway tryout run at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, which opened on Sept. 9, 2008. Hilty had participated in workshops and readings developing and originating the character of Doralee for the musical. Her character, executive secretary Doralee Rhodes, the role played by Dolly Parton in the film. Parton is the composer and lyricist of the musical. The musical began preview performances on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre on April 7, 2009 with an official opening on April 30, 2009. The show ended its Broadway run on September 6, 2009. For this role Hilty was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, the Drama League Award for Distinguished performance, and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical.[3][4][5] In late 2008, Scott Alan's album Keys was released, featuring Hilty as one of the vocalists. She is featured on the song "The Dance", it being her first vocal recording and release.[6]
In 2009, Hilty appeared in an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation entitled "Deep Friend & Minty Fresh", where she played a fast food manager helping out with a murder at Choozy's Chicken. She also appeared in an 2 episodes of Desperate Housewives where she played the other woman to Carlos' boss. Hilty also lent her talents in Rated RSO: The Music and Lyrics of Ryan Scott Oliver at The Boston Court Performing Arts Center in December 2009, alongside Lesli Margherita, Steve Kazee, Morgan Karr, Natalie Weiss, among others. Hilty also branched off into a coffee and tea product line.[7]
Along with her former Wicked co-star Shoshana Bean, Hilty began performing a variety show together called The Meg an' Sho Show. They often perform a "Wicked swap", in which Bean sings a medley of Glinda's songs and Hilty sings Elphaba's. She also continued her television work with appearances in the hit Disney Channel shows The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Phineas and Ferb.
In 2010 Hilty confirmed that she will be voicing the character of the China Princess in the upcoming animated feature Dorothy of Oz, and she appeared as the "Heckler" in an episode of Louis CK's comedy Louie on FX. In 2011 it was confirmed that Hilty will star in the NBC musical television series Smash, which will also star Debra Messing, Katharine McPhee, Christian Borle, Anjelica Houston, and Brian d'Arcy James.[8][9][10] The show was officially picked up on May 11, 2011 and is set to air in the mid-season.[11]
Credits
Broadway
Year Title Role Venue Notes 2005—2006 Wicked Glinda the Good Witch George Gershwin Theatre Nominated—Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Female Replacement 2009 9 to 5: The Musical Doralee Rhodes Marquis Theatre Nominated—Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Nominated—Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance
Nominated—LA Ovation Award for Lead Actress in a Musical
Nominated—Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a MusicalOther Theatre
Year Title Role Venue 2006 Vanities Mary Mountain View Center Concerts
Year Title Venue Notes 2010 Don't Stop Believing Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre June 13, 2010 2011 Megan Sings the Blondes Rrazz Room January 24, 2011 Films
Year Title Role Notes 2010 What Happens Next Ruthie 2010 Bitter Feast Peg 2012 Dorothy of Oz China Princess (voice) Post-production Television
Year Title Role Notes 2007 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody Enid Episode: "The Arwin That Came to Dinner" 2007 The Closer Michelle Edwards 2 episodes 2007 Ugly Betty Glinda Episode: "Something Wicked This Way Comes" 2008 Shark Laurel Hasbrouck Episode: "One Hit Wonder" 2009 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Kiwi Long Episode: "Deep Fried and Minty Fresh" 2009 Desperate Housewives Shayla Grove 2 episodes 2009 Eli Stone Cheryl Episode: "Flight Path" 2010 Phineas and Ferb Aunt Tiana (voice) Episode: "Just Passing Through/Candace's Big Day" 2010 American Dad! Unknown (voice) Episode: "Return of the Bling" 2009—2010 Glenn Martin, DDS Unknown (voice) 2 episodes 2010 Bones Julie Coyle Episode: "The Death of the Queen Bee" 2010 Louie Heckler Episode: "Heckler/Cop Movie" 2011 Melissa & Joey Tiffany Episode: "#1.24" 2011 The Penguins of Madagascar Frances Alberta (voice) Guest star 2011 Tinker Bell and the Pixie Hollow Games Rosetta (voice), fills in for Kristin Chenoweth 2012 Smash Ivy Lynn Airing in the winter References
- ^ a b "30 Under 30 - Megan Hilty". BroadwaySpace.com. 2011. http://www.broadwayspace.com/page/30-under-30-megan-hilty. "Age: 29 (3/29/1981)"
- ^ "Espinosa and Hilty to Return to Los Angeles Cast of Wicked". Playbill.com. October 17, 2008. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/122496.html.
- ^ "Billy Elliot and Shrek Top Outer Critics Circle Awards Nominations". Playbill.com. April 20, 2009. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/128433.html.
- ^ "75th Annual Drama League Award Nominees Announced". Playbill.com. April 21, 2009. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/128469.html.
- ^ "Drama Desk Nominees Announced; 9 to 5 Garners 15 Nominations". Playbill.com. April 27, 2009. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/128654.html.
- ^ Apple - iTunes
- ^ Net Worth Coffee Brokers
- ^ "Megan Hilty to Star in NBC's Musical Pilot - SMASH!". BroadwayWorld.com. February 9, 2011. http://broadwayworld.com/article/Megan_Hilty_to_Star_in_NBCs_Musical_Pilot_SMASH_20110209.
- ^ "Katharine McPhee cast in NBC musical pilot 'Smash'". Hollywood Reporter. February 13, 2011. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/live-feed/katharine-mcphee-cast-nbc-musical-99159.
- ^ Smash (TV 2011)
- ^ "Breaking News: NBC Picks Up Broadway-themed SMASH". BroadwayWorld.com. May 11, 2011. http://broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-News-NBC-Picks-Up-Broadway-themed-SMASH-20110511.
External links
Categories:- 1981 births
- Living people
- American actors
- American female singers
- American musical theatre actors
- American sopranos
- American stage actors
- American television actors
- American voice actors
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