Reva Rice
Encyclopedia
Reva Rice is an American musical theatre
actress and singer. She originated the role of Pearl
in Starlight Express
on Broadway
, and played the character in the show's 1992 London
run. She also played the role on tour in the USA and in Las Vegas
.
Other credits include Velma in Chicago
, Smokey Joe's Cafe
and the television show, The Watcher
. She played Roz in the world premiere musical production of JAM: Just Another Man, a musical about the life of Clint Holmes
, at the Judy Bayley Theatre at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
. She most recently was the standby for The Lady of the Lake in the Las Vegas cast of Spamalot
and was a part of the Las Vegas tryout of the new musical, All in: The Poker Musical.
She has been a cast member of the national tour of the musical version of The Color Purple
as a part of the ensemble, and understudied the lead character of Shug Avery. She is currently (as of 2011) performing in David Saxe
's VEGAS! THE SHOW, playing now at the Saxe Theater inside the Miracle Mile Shops at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.
Rice led the cast in the Japanese production of Fosse
, based on the work of choreographer Bob Fosse
. She was also one of the finalists on the television show Star Search
.
to Flute and Pearl Esterine Shields Rice. She began training in dance, theatre, and piano when she was five. She graduated from the Boston Conservatory of Music.
' was first sung by her on Broadway. She appears on the "New Starlight Express" London cast recording (see above).
She also was the first Pearl to sing 'He'll Whistle at Me', 'Crazy' and 'Next Time You Fall in Love' in the London show.
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
actress and singer. She originated the role of Pearl
Pearl the Observation Car
Pearl is the "new girl" character and female lead in the West End musical Starlight Express. She is a railway observation carriage, although in Germany she is referred to as the "first class car"...
in Starlight Express
Starlight Express
Starlight Express is a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber , Richard Stilgoe and Arlene Phillips , with later revisions by Don Black and David Yazbek . The story follows a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life; famously the actors perform wearing roller skates...
on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
, and played the character in the show's 1992 London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
run. She also played the role on tour in the USA and in Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
.
Other credits include Velma in Chicago
Chicago (musical)
Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal"...
, Smokey Joe's Cafe
Smokey Joe's Cafe
Smokey Joe's Cafe is a musical revue showcasing 39 pop standards, including rock and roll, rhythm and blues songs written by songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller...
and the television show, The Watcher
The Watcher (TV series)
The Watcher is an American anthology drama series that premiered on UPN in January 1995, during the network's inaugural season.-Synopsis:Set in Las Vegas, the series stars rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot as "The Watcher", an omniscient narrator who watches the activities of others via surveillance monitors in...
. She played Roz in the world premiere musical production of JAM: Just Another Man, a musical about the life of Clint Holmes
Clint Holmes
Clint Holmes , is a singer-songwriter and Las Vegas entertainer. He was born in Bournemouth, Hampshire , England, the son of an African-American jazz musician and a white English opera singer...
, at the Judy Bayley Theatre at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...
. She most recently was the standby for The Lady of the Lake in the Las Vegas cast of Spamalot
Spamalot
Monty Python's Spamalot is a musical comedy "lovingly ripped off from" the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Like the film, it is a highly irreverent parody of the Arthurian Legend, but it differs from the film in many ways, especially in its parodies of Broadway theatre...
and was a part of the Las Vegas tryout of the new musical, All in: The Poker Musical.
She has been a cast member of the national tour of the musical version of The Color Purple
The Color Purple
The Color Purple is an acclaimed 1982 epistolary novel by American author Alice Walker. It received the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction...
as a part of the ensemble, and understudied the lead character of Shug Avery. She is currently (as of 2011) performing in David Saxe
David Saxe
David Saxe is a Las Vegas show producer and theater owner. He produces 12 Las Vegas shows, ten of which play at his V Theater inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. Saxe has two shows currently performing at the Sahara Hotel and Casino...
's VEGAS! THE SHOW, playing now at the Saxe Theater inside the Miracle Mile Shops at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.
Rice led the cast in the Japanese production of Fosse
Fosse
Fosse is a three-act musical revue showcasing the choreography of Bob Fosse. After 21 previews, the original Broadway production, conceived and directed by Richard Maltby, Jr...
, based on the work of choreographer Bob Fosse
Bob Fosse
Robert Louis “Bob” Fosse was an American actor, dancer, musical theater choreographer, director, screenwriter, film editor and film director. He won an unprecedented eight Tony Awards for choreography, as well as one for direction...
. She was also one of the finalists on the television show Star Search
Star Search
Star Search is a television show that was produced from 1983-95, hosted by Ed McMahon, and created by Alfred Masini. A relaunch was produced in 2003-04. The show was originally filmed at the old Earl Carroll Theatre at 6230 Sunset Blvd...
.
Background
Reva was born in Toledo, OhioToledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
to Flute and Pearl Esterine Shields Rice. She began training in dance, theatre, and piano when she was five. She graduated from the Boston Conservatory of Music.
Notable Theatrical Roles
- Pearl the Observation CarPearl the Observation CarPearl is the "new girl" character and female lead in the West End musical Starlight Express. She is a railway observation carriage, although in Germany she is referred to as the "first class car"...
in Starlight ExpressStarlight ExpressStarlight Express is a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber , Richard Stilgoe and Arlene Phillips , with later revisions by Don Black and David Yazbek . The story follows a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life; famously the actors perform wearing roller skates... - Pearl the Observation CarPearl the Observation CarPearl is the "new girl" character and female lead in the West End musical Starlight Express. She is a railway observation carriage, although in Germany she is referred to as the "first class car"...
in The New Starlight ExpressStarlight ExpressStarlight Express is a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber , Richard Stilgoe and Arlene Phillips , with later revisions by Don Black and David Yazbek . The story follows a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life; famously the actors perform wearing roller skates... - Velma KellyVelma KellyVelma Kelly is one of the main characters in the successful Broadway musical Chicago. The Velma Kelly in Chicago: The Movie is a nightclub singer/vaudevillian who was accused of murder of her husband and sister. She is sent to the Cook County Jail where she hires the best soliciting lawyer, Billy...
in ChicagoChicago (musical)Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal"... - Roz in JAM: Just Another Man
- The Lady of the Lake (Standby) in Monty Python's Spamalot
- Lead Singer in VEGAS! THE SHOW
Singles
Reva released a single called Next time You fall in Love. She can also be heard as Pearl on the New Starlight Express London Cast recording, where she sings two solos: Make Up My Heart, and He'll Whistle at Me, and sings duets such as Crazy and Next time you fall in Love.Starlight Express
Reva is one of Starlight Express's biggest names. Already a skater before joining the show, she has played the role of Pearl in four different productions - Broadway, the 1st US tour, London, and Las Vegas. The song 'Make Up My Heart' and the simplified love-song 'Only YouOnly You (Pearl and Rusty)
"Only You" is the love duet from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. It is performed by the protagonist, Rusty, a young steam locomotive and his true love, the observation car, Pearl.- Overview :...
' was first sung by her on Broadway. She appears on the "New Starlight Express" London cast recording (see above).
She also was the first Pearl to sing 'He'll Whistle at Me', 'Crazy' and 'Next Time You Fall in Love' in the London show.