Alex Sharpe
Encyclopedia
Alex Sharpe is an Irish
singer who is mostly known for being a former member of the ensemble Celtic Woman
.
in Dublin. Her career in Musical Theatre continued, as she played Janet in The Rocky Horror Show
, Young Sally in Follies in Concert, Jenny in Aspects of Love
, and Mila in Aloha Kamano by Sean Purcell
. She was asked to play Eponine in Les Misérables
for the Cameron Mackintosh Company in England and Ireland and in the Concert Tour of Les Misérables. Alex created the role of Bernadette in the Andrew Lloyd-Webber
/Ben Elton
Musical The Beautiful Game
. On her return to Ireland she played the role of Kate Foley in The Wireman in the Gaiety Theatre Dublin.
Alex has sung with the Icelandic Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Danish National Symphony, and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. She has made many recordings, such as on the Evita
film Soundtrack with Madonna
. She has appeared at a concert for the Princes Trust in the Mayflower Theatre, England and in 2006 she travelled to Chicago to launch the musical The Pirate Queen
as principal female.
went on maternity leave, Sharpe became a temporary member of the ensemble in 2008, saying that "I'm just in for this tour," and "It's a different style than I'm used to. But I've enjoyed learning the technique. My background is musical theater, so this is something very different for me...But my philosophy is, you're always growing as a performer. There's always so much to learn." She admits that before she joined, she was not familiar with the group's music; "I'd never seen any of their shows...David (Downes, composer and music director of Celtic Woman) gave me a CD and some DVDs, and that was the first time I'd seen any of it." However, "I knew about the success of Celtic Woman and was thrilled to join," she said. "It was an opportunity I couldn't say no to."
In 2009, Sharpe became a permanent member of Celtic Woman, in effect replacing Órla Fallon
. She has said that "The other members have been really encouraging," and "They have such a history together. I've never been in anything with such a high profile; usually you're much more anonymous." She has toured with the ensemble on their 2009 'Isle of Hope' tour, and has recorded a CD and DVD with the group, both entitled Celtic Woman: Songs from the Heart
, released in January 2010. The group toured North America from February to May 2010 on their 'Songs from the Heart' tour. In May 2010, Sharpe announced she would be leaving Celtic Woman to be with her family full-time.
Sharpe is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
She has a six-year-old son (as of 2008); "When I had my son, he became my passion in life", she said. "I tried to stay home and take work that wouldn't compromise my relationship with my son."
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
singer who is mostly known for being a former member of the ensemble Celtic Woman
Celtic Woman
Celtic Woman is an all-female musical ensemble conceived and assembled by Sharon Browne and David Downes, a former musical director of the Irish stage show Riverdance...
.
Early career
She began her career portraying Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz at the Olympia TheatreOlympia Theatre, Dublin
The Olympia Theatre is a concert hall/theatre venue in Dublin, Ireland, located in Dame Street.-History:Built in 1879, it was originally called the "Star of Erin Music Hall". Two years later in 1881, it was renamed "Dan Lowrey's Music Hall" and was renamed again in 1889 to "Dan Lowrey's Palace of...
in Dublin. Her career in Musical Theatre continued, as she played Janet in The Rocky Horror Show
The Rocky Horror Show
The Rocky Horror Show is a long-running British horror comedy stage musical, which opened in London on 19 June 1973. It was written by Richard O'Brien, produced and directed by Jim Sharman. It came eighth in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of the "Nation's Number One Essential Musicals"...
, Young Sally in Follies in Concert, Jenny in Aspects of Love
Aspects of Love
Aspects of Love is a musical/chamber opera with a book and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Don Black and Charles Hart. It is famous for the song "Love Changes Everything."...
, and Mila in Aloha Kamano by Sean Purcell
Seán Purcell
Seán Purcell , nicknamed "The Master", was a famous Gaelic footballer for County Galway.Best known as a centre half forward, his versatility saw him used in virtually all outfield positions throughout an illustrious career. He was recognised by many football enthusiasts as one of the greatest...
. She was asked to play Eponine in Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
for the Cameron Mackintosh Company in England and Ireland and in the Concert Tour of Les Misérables. Alex created the role of Bernadette in the Andrew Lloyd-Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
/Ben Elton
Ben Elton
Benjamin Charles "Ben" Elton is an English comedian, author, playwright and director. He was a leading figure in the British alternative comedy movement of the 1980s, as a writer on such cult series as The Young Ones and Blackadder, as well as also a successful stand-up comedian on stage and TV....
Musical The Beautiful Game
The Beautiful Game (musical)
The Beautiful Game is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton about a group of teenagers growing up amid religious intolerance in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1969....
. On her return to Ireland she played the role of Kate Foley in The Wireman in the Gaiety Theatre Dublin.
Alex has sung with the Icelandic Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Danish National Symphony, and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. She has made many recordings, such as on the Evita
Evita (soundtrack)
Evita is the third soundtrack album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on November 12, 1996 by Warner Bros. Records. It also includes performances by Antonio Banderas, Jonathan Pryce and Jimmy Nail. It was released to promote and accompany the 1996 motion picture, Evita. The soundtrack...
film Soundtrack with Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
. She has appeared at a concert for the Princes Trust in the Mayflower Theatre, England and in 2006 she travelled to Chicago to launch the musical The Pirate Queen
The Pirate Queen
The Pirate Queen is a musical written by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, best known for their adaptation of Les Misérables. John Dempsey is the co-lyricist. The Pirate Queen marks the first time Boublil and Schönberg have created a musical with American collaborators...
as principal female.
Celtic Woman
When founding member of Celtic Woman Lisa KellyLisa Kelly
Lisa Ann Kelly is a singer of both classical and celtic music. She has taken part in many musical theatre productions and concerts, and is a member of the musical group Celtic Woman.-Early life:...
went on maternity leave, Sharpe became a temporary member of the ensemble in 2008, saying that "I'm just in for this tour," and "It's a different style than I'm used to. But I've enjoyed learning the technique. My background is musical theater, so this is something very different for me...But my philosophy is, you're always growing as a performer. There's always so much to learn." She admits that before she joined, she was not familiar with the group's music; "I'd never seen any of their shows...David (Downes, composer and music director of Celtic Woman) gave me a CD and some DVDs, and that was the first time I'd seen any of it." However, "I knew about the success of Celtic Woman and was thrilled to join," she said. "It was an opportunity I couldn't say no to."
In 2009, Sharpe became a permanent member of Celtic Woman, in effect replacing Órla Fallon
Órla Fallon
Órlagh Fallon , professionally known as Órla Fallon, is an Irish soloist, songwriter and former member of the group Celtic Woman and the chamber choir Anúna.- Life and career :...
. She has said that "The other members have been really encouraging," and "They have such a history together. I've never been in anything with such a high profile; usually you're much more anonymous." She has toured with the ensemble on their 2009 'Isle of Hope' tour, and has recorded a CD and DVD with the group, both entitled Celtic Woman: Songs from the Heart
Celtic Woman: Songs from the Heart
Celtic Woman: Songs from the Heart is the fifth studio album by the group Celtic Woman released on 26 January 2010.Performers in Songs from the Heart are vocalists Chloë Agnew, Lynn Hilary, Lisa Kelly, Alex Sharpe and fiddler Máiréad Nesbitt...
, released in January 2010. The group toured North America from February to May 2010 on their 'Songs from the Heart' tour. In May 2010, Sharpe announced she would be leaving Celtic Woman to be with her family full-time.
Personal life
When asked where she developed her musical talent, she has said that "my granddad was a great one for singing songs and banging out tunes on the piano." Also, "I love 'Abide With Me' and 'I Know That My Redeemer Lives'...I love singing hymns. Music is a very powerful thing. I've heard it said that music prepares a man's soul to receive the gospel."Sharpe is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
She has a six-year-old son (as of 2008); "When I had my son, he became my passion in life", she said. "I tried to stay home and take work that wouldn't compromise my relationship with my son."
Discography
| Album | Release |
|---|---|
| Celtic Woman: The Greatest Journey Essential Collection Celtic Woman: The Greatest Journey Celtic Woman: The Greatest Journey is the fourth studio album by the group Celtic Woman, released on 28 October 2008. It is an Essential Collection album composed of tracks from their self-titled debut and A New Journey albums with a couple reworked, plus three new tracks.Performers in The... |
2008 |
| Celtic Woman: Songs from the Heart Celtic Woman: Songs from the Heart Celtic Woman: Songs from the Heart is the fifth studio album by the group Celtic Woman released on 26 January 2010.Performers in Songs from the Heart are vocalists Chloë Agnew, Lynn Hilary, Lisa Kelly, Alex Sharpe and fiddler Máiréad Nesbitt... |
2010 |