Lea Michele

Infobox actor


imagesize = 150px
name = Lea Michele
birthdate = birth date and age|1986|8|29
birthplace = Bronx, New York, U.S.
status = single
deathdate =
birthname = Lea Michelle
othername =
website =

Lea Michele (born on August 29, 1986 in New York City) is an American actress and singer who is best known for her roles in Broadway musicals in the 90s and 2000s, most recently her performance as Wendla Bergman in "Spring Awakening".Original Cast biographies, "Spring Awakening", Broadway Musical Playbill. December 10, 2006.]

Biography

Lea Michele was born in The Bronx, New York as Lea Michele Sarfati and grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey, [Tropia, Joe. [http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=540922 "Lea Michele"] , Broadway.com. Accessed May 30, 2008. "Hometown: Tenafly, New Jersey."] where she attended Tenafly High School. [Henderson, Kathy. [http://www.broadway.com/Gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=558741&pn=3 "Lea Michele"] , Broadway.com, January 17, 2008. Accessed July 6, 2008. "Oh, totally. I went to Tenafly High School [in New Jersey] , and I was on the debate team."] She is an only child. [http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Star_File.aspx?ci=532815 Lea Michele, Star File: Broadway.com Buzz] ]

Career

Michele debuted on Broadway in 1995 as a replacement cast member (Young Cosette) of the original production of "Les Miserables". This was followed by her creation of the role of Tateh's daughter, the Little Girl, in the 1998 original Broadway cast of "Ragtime". In 2004, Michele played "Shprintze" and "Chava" in the revival of the musical "Fiddler on the Roof". Regionally she has appeared in "The Diary of Anne Frank" as Anne.

Michele's television appearances to date include "Third Watch" and "Guiding Light".

At age 14, Michele won the role of Wendla in the workshop for Duncan Sheik's musical version of "Spring Awakening". [http://www.dramadesk.com/ Drama Desk Official website] ] She was part of two subsequent workshops for the same part, and performed in the show Off-Broadway and was eventually offered the chance to originate the Broadway role in 2006. Around the same time, she was invited to perform the role of Eponine in the Broadway revival of "Les Miserables". She chose to remain with "Spring Awakening," which debuted on Broadway December 10, 2006. (The part of Eponine went to Celia Keenan-Bolger.) In April 2007 Michele was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performance in "Spring Awakening", as Lead Actress in a Musical.D. Rooney. "Musicals pose Tony voting crunch," April 26, 2007.]

On May 18, 2008, Lea Michele left Spring Awakening with co-star Jonathan Groff and was replaced by former Wendla understudy and ensemble member Alexandra Socha.On August 8th, 9th, and 10th, Michele portrayed Eponine in the Hollywood Bowl's Les Miserables concert. She has been recently linked to Sheik and Sater's new musical "Nero", which will also feature Idina Menzel and Michael Arden. She has also been recently cast in the new tv show "Glee" where she will play the president of a high school's musical theater group. It is set to air early 2009. Fact|date=September 2008

Michele can be heard on the original Broadway cast recordings of "Ragtime" and "Spring Awakening", as well as the 2003 Revival of "Fiddler on the Roof".

Awards and nominations

Drama Desk Awards

* Nomination - 2007 Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Spring Awakening) [http://www.dramadesk.com/ Drama Desk Official website] ]

Broadway.com Audience Award

* Nomination 2007: Broadway.com Audience Award nomination for Favorite Leading Actress in a Broadway Musical, "Spring Awakening"
* Nomination 2007: Broadway.com Audience Award nomination for Favorite Breakthrough Performance (Female), "Spring Awakening" winner
* Nomination 2007: Broadway.com Audience Award nomination for Favorite Onstage Pair (with Jonathan Groff), "Spring Awakening" [http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Star_File.aspx?ci=532815/ Lea Michele, Star File: Broadway.com Buzz] ] winner

Grammy Awards

* Nomination 2008 : Best Musical Show Album Spring Awakening (musical)

References

External links

* [http://www.springawakening.com Official Site] of the Broadway production.
* [http://www.atlantictheater.org/2006/springinfo.html Atlantic Theater Company] website with information about the off-Broadway production.
* [http://www.americantheatrewing.org/downstagecenter/detail/michael_mayer Michael Mayer] (director) - "Downstage Center" interview at American Theatre Wing.org, July 2006
* [http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Video.aspx?ci=541832 Opening Night: "Spring Awakening"] at [http://www.broadway.com Broadway.com]