Christina Bennington

Christina Bennington (born January 30) is a Northern Irish actress and singer, best known for originating the lead role of Raven in Bat Out of Hell: The Musical, in various productions of the show from 2017 to 2019 in both the UK and North America.

Christina Bennington
OriginBelfast, Northern Ireland
GenresMusical theatre
Occupation(s)
  • singer
  • actress
  • theatre performer
Years active2013–present
Associated actsJim Steinman
Websitewww.christinabennington.com

Career

Theatre
Show Location Role Year
A Christmas Carol Birmingham, UK Marilyn 2013[1]
Finian's Rainbow London, UK Sharon 2014
The Smallest Show on Earth Mercury Theatre, Colchester, UK Marlene Hardcastle 2015
Oklahoma! UK Tour Ensemble / cover Laurey 2015[2]
Show Boat New London Theatre, London, UK Kim / Ensemble / understudy Magnolia 2016[3]
Sweeney Todd Derby Theatre / Mercury Theatre, Colchester, UK

(co-production between two theatres)

 Johanna Barker 2016[4]
Bat Out of Hell: The Musical Manchester Opera House, Manchester, UK Raven 2017[5]
London Coliseum, London, UK 2017[6]
Ed Mirvish Theatre, Toronto, Canada 2017 - 2018[7]
Dominion Theatre, London, UK 2018 - 2019[8]
New York City Center, New York, USA 2019[9]

Bennington has starred as Raven in all English-language productions of Bat Out Of Hell The Musical since the show's launch in Manchester 2017, with the exception of the ill-fated 2018 North American tour (where Raven was played by Emily Schultheis), as this ran concurrently with the show's West End run at the Dominion Theatre, London.

The show's author / composer Jim Steinman is quoted to have said of her: "Christina is so petite but she's got an incredibly big voice and stage presence. She plays Raven with the perfect amount of youthful enthusiasm and coming of age curiosity. She's beautiful and strong."[10]

According to one of the musical's producers David Sonenberg, the show itself has been "unbelievably profitable" and by August 2018 had played to over 500,000 people.[11] It also broke box office records at the Dominion Theatre, taking £350,000 in its first day of ticket sales.[12]

Discography

Bennington features heavily on the cast recording for Bat Out Of Hell The Musical in her role as Raven, singing the song Heaven Can Wait as a solo, duetting on the songs Making Love Out Of Nothing At All and For Crying Out Loud, and featuring as a lead in the songs It's All Coming Back To Me Now and I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That).[13]

In late 2018, Bennington joined two groups in recording charity singles - as one of "The Celebs" in a charity record Rock With Rudolph, a Christmas song which aimed to raise funds for the Great Ormond Street Hospital,[14] and as part of the "West End Friends" recording the Carole King song You Got A Friend to raise money for Barnardo's.[15]

Televised theatre performances

She also appeared as Raven in several televised performances of songs from Bat Out Of Hell. On UK television, this includes appearances on Tonight at the London Palladium,[16] This Morning,[17] Britain's Got Talent,[18] and as one of the contributing acts in the 2018 Proms In The Park, accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra.[19] And on US television, as part of the cast performing on The Today Show.[20]

Concerts

Bennington performed two sold out solo shows at The Crazy Coqs in London on January 7, 2019.[21]

Awards and nominations

Bennington was nominated for "Understudy of the Year" in the BroadwayWorld UK awards for Magnolia in Showboat at the New London Theatre in 2016.[22]

For her role as Raven in Bat Out Of Hell The Musical, Bennington received nominations for "Best Actress in a Musical" in two award ceremonies: the 2017 BroadwayWorld UK Awards,[23] and the 2018 WhatsOnStage Awards.[24] The show Bat Out Of Hell The Musical won The Evening Standard's "Best Musical" award in 2017, and Bennington accepted the award alongside co-star Andrew Polec.[25]

Personal life

Christina was born in Lisburn, just outside Belfast.[26] She attended Methodist College Belfast, then left Northern Ireland in 2010 to study at Guildford School of Acting in Surrey.[27] She attributes her energy levels needed to perform 8 shows a week to a Pilates regime and vegan diet.[28]

References
  1. "A Christmas Carol (Closed January 04, 2014) | Birmingham | reviews, cast and info | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  2. "Rehearsal Pics: Cast of Oklahoma! prepare for UK Tour | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  3. Aguinaldo. "SHOW BOAT, London, To Jan 7 2017". Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  4. "News | Derby Theatre". www.derbytheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  5. Bourne, Dianne (2017-03-15). "Review: Bat Out of Hell The Musical at Manchester Opera House". men. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  6. "Andrew Polec & Christina Bennington Will Star in Jim Steinman's Bat Out of Hell—The Musical Next Year in London". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  7. Média, Bell. "Bat Out Of Hell Interview". www.iheartradio.ca. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  8. Clement, Olivia (2017-12-04). "Jim Steinman's Bat Out Of Hell Musical to Return to London's West End". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  9. Desk, BWW News. "Andrew Polec, Christina Bennington, and More Set For BAT OUT OF HELL at City Center". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  10. Média, Bell. "Jim Steinman On How 'Bat Out Of Hell The Musical' Got Its Wings". www.iheartradio.ca. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  11. Beech, Mark. "Business Lessons From 'Jim Steinman's Bat Out Of Hell' -- Meat Loaf Show That Almost Never Happened". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  12. Desk, BWW News. "BAT OUT OF HELL Breaks Dominion Box Office Record". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  13. "Various - Jim Steinman's Bat Out Of Hell: The Musical (Original Cast Recording)". Discogs. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  14. "TV stars sing for Great Ormond Street Christmas charity single". ITV News. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  15. Desk, BWW News. "West End Stars Unite For Charity Single In Aid Of Barnardo's". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  16. "Tonight at the Palladium - S4 - Episode 7". Radio Times. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  17. Tube, Stage. "VIDEO: The Cast of BAT OUT OF HELL Finds Love on This Morning". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  18. Desk, BWW News. "VIDEO: BAT OUT OF HELL Does it All for Love on Britain's Got Talent". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  19. "BBC Radio 3 - BBC Proms, 2018, Musicals at Proms in Hyde Park". BBC. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  20. Meyer, Dan (2019-08-12). "Bat Out of Hell Performs 'I'd Do Anything for Love' on The Today Show". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  21. Downes, Charlotte. "BWW Review: CHRISTINA BENNINGTON, The Crazy Coqs". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  22. ""All the world's a stage" - a host of young talent from Northern Ireland nominated in UK Theatre Awards". TheatreNI. 2016-11-14. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  23. Desk, BWW News. "Shortlist Announced For The 2017 BroadwayWorld UK Awards; Voting Now Open!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  24. "Nominees announced for the 18th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  25. "Bat Out of Hell stars discuss dramatic on-stage mishap". Evening Standard. 2017-12-04. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
  26. "Ulster actress steps into the lead role in London West End musical | Belfast News Letter". 2020-02-19. Archived from the original on 2020-02-19. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
  27. Noble, Daniel (2017-06-19). "Meet the Belfast actress playing a star role in the West End". belfastlive. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  28. "West End Bat Out of Hell Star Christina Bennington on Finding Her 'Full-Throttle Rock Belt' for the Jim Steinman Musical". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
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