Carmen Cusack (Actress)
Encyclopedia
Carmen Cusack is a musical theater actress and singer, best known for playing Elphaba
in the Chicago, National Tour and Melbourne productions of the hit musical Wicked
.
After completing school she accepted a job on the Queen Elizabeth II, which changed the course of her career. She eventually ended up in Manchester, United Kingdom where she had her breakthrough opportunity to star as Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera
. Soon after she made her West End
debut as Fantine in Les Misérables
. She also appeared in the original West End casts of The Secret Garden
and Personals.
as the standby for the lead role of Elphaba
. Impressed with her portrayal of the character, the producers later asked her to star in the lead role on the show's First National Tour. She accepted, and departed Chicago on October 7, 2007. Her role as standby was taken over by Jennifer DiNoia.
She began performances on tour, replacing Victoria Matlock
, on November 6, 2007. She starred alongside Katie Rose Clarke
as Glinda
. After spending one year on the road, she departed the role on November 2, 2008, and was replaced by Donna Vivino
, who served as her standby.
Cusack was next seen in the Melbourne production in Australia, as the temporary standby for Elphaba, as Amanda Harrison
had taken a break from the show, due to illness, and regular standby Jemma Rix
had been assigned the lead role. She joined the company on June 10, 2009 and departed on Friday July 10, 2009, to begin rehearsals for South Pacific
.
. Based on the 2008 Broadway revival, performances began September 18, 2009 in San Francisco. For this role Cusack was nominated for the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Non Resident Production
.
Elphaba
Elphaba Thropp is a fictional character in Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, as well as in the Broadway and West End adaptations, Wicked. In the original L. Frank Baum book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West is unnamed and little...
in the Chicago, National Tour and Melbourne productions of the hit musical Wicked
Wicked (musical)
Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West , a parallel novel of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard...
.
Early life and Career
Carmen was born in Denver, Colorado and at a young age started to sing at her church. She attended the University of North Texas and graduated with a Performing Arts degree. She trained in Opera, Ballet, Jazz, and Tap.After completing school she accepted a job on the Queen Elizabeth II, which changed the course of her career. She eventually ended up in Manchester, United Kingdom where she had her breakthrough opportunity to star as Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)
The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.The music was composed by Lloyd Webber, and most lyrics were written by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. Alan Jay Lerner was an early collaborator,...
. Soon after she made her West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
debut as Fantine 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....
. She also appeared in the original West End casts of The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden (musical)
The Secret Garden is a musical based on the 1911 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The musical's book and lyrics are by Marsha Norman, with music by Lucy Simon...
and Personals.
Wicked
Cusack later returned to America, and on December 12, 2006, joined the Chicago production of WickedWicked (musical)
Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West , a parallel novel of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard...
as the standby for the lead role of Elphaba
Elphaba
Elphaba Thropp is a fictional character in Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, as well as in the Broadway and West End adaptations, Wicked. In the original L. Frank Baum book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West is unnamed and little...
. Impressed with her portrayal of the character, the producers later asked her to star in the lead role on the show's First National Tour. She accepted, and departed Chicago on October 7, 2007. Her role as standby was taken over by Jennifer DiNoia.
She began performances on tour, replacing Victoria Matlock
Victoria Matlock
Victoria Matlock is an American musical theatre actress. She appeared in the Broadway production of Million Dollar Quartet in the role of Dyanne..She has been involved in several regional theatre productions including Godspell and The Sound of Music...
, on November 6, 2007. She starred alongside Katie Rose Clarke
Katie Rose Clarke
Katherine "Katie" Rose Clarke is an American musical theater actress. Originally from Friendswood, Texas, she first came to national attention for her portrayal of Clara Johnson in the Broadway production, the live PBS broadcast, and the national tour of The Light in the Piazza...
as Glinda
Glinda
Glinda is a fictional character in the Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. She is the most powerful sorceress of Oz, ruler of the Quadling Country south of the Emerald City, and protector of Princess Ozma.- Literature :Baum's 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
. After spending one year on the road, she departed the role on November 2, 2008, and was replaced by Donna Vivino
Donna Vivino
Donna Vivino is a theatre actress and singer, who recently starred as Elphaba on the First National Tour of Wicked, and is currently the standby for the role on Broadway....
, who served as her standby.
Cusack was next seen in the Melbourne production in Australia, as the temporary standby for Elphaba, as Amanda Harrison
Amanda Harrison
Amanda Harrison is an Australian musical theatre performer who will be originating the role of Paula in the World Premiere of An Officer and a Gentleman in Sydney 2012.-Early years:...
had taken a break from the show, due to illness, and regular standby Jemma Rix
Jemma Rix
Jemma Rix is an Australian theatre performer, currently starring as Elphaba in the Australian touring production of Wicked. Previously, she played the role during the Sydney season, served as standby in Melbourne, and performed in the 30-minute show at Universal Studios Japan...
had been assigned the lead role. She joined the company on June 10, 2009 and departed on Friday July 10, 2009, to begin rehearsals for South Pacific
South Pacific (musical)
South Pacific is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan. The story draws from James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1947 book Tales of the South Pacific, weaving together characters and elements from several of its...
.
Post-Wicked
She is currently starring as Nellie Forbush on the First National Tour of South PacificSouth Pacific (musical)
South Pacific is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan. The story draws from James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1947 book Tales of the South Pacific, weaving together characters and elements from several of its...
. Based on the 2008 Broadway revival, performances began September 18, 2009 in San Francisco. For this role Cusack was nominated for the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Non Resident Production
Helen Hayes Awards Non-Resident Acting
These Helen Hayes Awards are given for outstanding acting in non-resident or touring productions that are staged in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Touring Production:...
.