Ashleigh Gray

Ashleigh Gray is a British musical theatre performer who has worked on UK tours and is currently appearing as the standby for the role of Elphaba in the London production of "Wicked".

Early life

Gray was born in Fife, Scotland and educated at Newbattle Community High School in Dalkeith. [ [http://www.newbattle.org.uk/News/FormerPupils/ashleighgray.html Newbattle High School site] ] In 2003, she graduated from the Guildford School of Acting, where the received Margaret Veale Award for Singing and the principals award for Musical Theatre. In 2001, Gray returned to Newbattle High School to give a talk to pupils, during which she was surprised by a TV crew and BBC TV star Jane McDonald who were filming her for a series called "Star for a Night". [cite web
last =Thayne
first =Alison
title =Ace Day for Ashleigh Gray
publisher =Newbattle Community High School
url =http://www.newbattle.org.uk/News/FormerPupils/ashgrayaceday.html
accessdate =2007-12-25 ]

Career

In 2004, Gray made her professional début as Kim in the UK national tour of the Boy George musical "Taboo". She was also a soloist in the concert, "Notes from New York". Prior to this she played the role of Kirsty in "Only You Can Save Mankind" at the Edinburgh Festival. In 2006, she appeared in "NHS the Musical" at the Drum Theatre Plymouth and covered Rizzo and Jan in the UK national tour of "Grease"

In 2007, Gray performed the role of Emily in the European première of "Myths and Hymns" and again that year at the Finborough theatre. on 16 July 2007, she joined the ensemble of "Wicked" and played the role of Pfannee at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, where she is also understudying the role of Elphaba. Gray performed her first performance as Elphaba on the 6th February 2008 she continued the run for two further days. On June 9th 2008, Gray replaced Cassidy Janson as the standby for the role of Elphaba.

Gray has also been part of the "Notes from New York" series including shows at the Trafalgar studios. On 9 December 2007 she also appeared in the Christmas version of the show "Christmas in New York", at the Lyric Theatre, singing alongside Oliver Tompsett, Julie Atherton and Rachael Wooding. Grays songs included "Grown up Christmas List" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" with Oliver Tompsett.

References

Links

* [http://www.actuallyactors.com/ashleighgray/ Official website]