Leila Benn Harris
Encyclopedia
Leila Benn Harris is a British actress and singer. She trained at Arts Educational School
in London and graduated with a BA in Musical Theatre. Upon graduation, she was cast in the lead role of Carmen in the No.1 National Tour of Fame
. She then made her West-End debut in the same role at the Aldwych Theatre.
She understudied and played the role of The Mistress in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s West-End revival of Evita at the Adelphi Theatre
, directed by Michael Grandage
. She was also part of the original cast recording.
Leila recently starred as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera
at Her Majesty’s Theatre, for which she was nominated for a 2008 Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Takeover in a Role, performing in the awards results show at the Lyric Theatre. To follow, Leila starred in the 2008 Production Imagine This
at the New London Theatre as the role of Rebecca, the show received mostly negative critical review and closed after a run of less than 2 months.
Other theatre performances include: Diana Morales in A Chorus Line, Peep-Bo in Hot Mikado and Eponine in a charity gala performance of Les Misérables for the MCC, Malta.
She has just completed several workshops of the Cat Stevens musical Moonshadow in which she played the lead role of Anees, and appeared in Chess in Concert with Idina Menzel & Josh Groban, to be released on DVD.
Leila recently completed the run of John Doyle's revival of Oklahoma!
at The Chichester Festival Theatre on the 29th August -playing the role of Laurey.
2008 Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers Choice Nomination - Best Takeover in a Role
The Arts Educational Schools
Arts Educational Schools, London is an independent co-educational school specialising in the performing arts and based in Chiswick, London in the United Kingdom...
in London and graduated with a BA in Musical Theatre. Upon graduation, she was cast in the lead role of Carmen in the No.1 National Tour of Fame
Fame (musical)
A stage musical based on the 1980 musical film Fame has been staged under two titles. The first, 'Fame – The Musical' conceived and developed by David De Silva, is a musical with a book by Jose Fernandez, music by Steve Margoshes and lyrics by Jacques Levy. The musical premiered in 1988 in Miami,...
. She then made her West-End debut in the same role at the Aldwych Theatre.
She understudied and played the role of The Mistress in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s West-End revival of Evita at the Adelphi Theatre
Adelphi Theatre
The Adelphi Theatre is a 1500-seat West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiving house for a variety of productions, including many musicals...
, directed by Michael Grandage
Michael Grandage
Michael Grandage CBE is a British theatre director and producer, and current Artistic Director at the Donmar Warehouse, London. Grandage won the 2010 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play for Red.-Early years:...
. She was also part of the original cast recording.
Leila recently starred as Christine 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,...
at Her Majesty’s Theatre, for which she was nominated for a 2008 Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Takeover in a Role, performing in the awards results show at the Lyric Theatre. To follow, Leila starred in the 2008 Production Imagine This
Imagine This
Imagine This is a musical with music by Shuki Levy, lyrics by David Goldsmith and a book by Glenn Berenbeim. Set in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II, it focuses on a family of actors trying to stage a play about the siege at ancient Masada to inspire hope and optimism within the Jewish...
at the New London Theatre as the role of Rebecca, the show received mostly negative critical review and closed after a run of less than 2 months.
Other theatre performances include: Diana Morales in A Chorus Line, Peep-Bo in Hot Mikado and Eponine in a charity gala performance of Les Misérables for the MCC, Malta.
She has just completed several workshops of the Cat Stevens musical Moonshadow in which she played the lead role of Anees, and appeared in Chess in Concert with Idina Menzel & Josh Groban, to be released on DVD.
Leila recently completed the run of John Doyle's revival of Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance...
at The Chichester Festival Theatre on the 29th August -playing the role of Laurey.
Musicals
- Les Miserable Concert (Eponine), MCC Malta
- Fame (Carmen), Aldwych Theatre & Tour
- Evita (1st cover Mistress), Adelphi Theatre
- The Phantom of the OperaThe 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,...
" (Christine), Her Majesty's Theatre, West End.
2008 Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers Choice Nomination - Best Takeover in a Role
- Moonshadow (Anees), Workshop
- Chess in Concert (featured soloist), Royal Albert Hall, Hugh Wooldridge
- Imagine This (Rebecca), New London Theatre
- Oklahoma! (Laurey), Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester
Discography
| Year | Show | Role | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2009 | Imagine This (Original London Cast Recording) | Rebecca (Tamar) |