Gretha Boston

Gretha Denise Boston (born April 18, 1959, Crossett, Arkansas) is an American singer and actress.

Gretha Boston
Born
Gretha Denise Boston[1]

(1959-04-18) April 18, 1959
Crossett, Arkansas, U.S.
OccupationActress, singer
AwardsBest Featured Actress in a Musical
1995 Show Boat

Biography

Boston' s early musical training and experience was in the choir at Crossett High School and in the Gates Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church. She graduated from North Texas State University (Denton, Texas), with a BA in music and performance, and then attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.[2]

Boston sang in the Manhattan Philharmonic concert performance of Mozart's "Coronation Mass" (K. 317) at Carnegie Hall in November 1990; she is described as a "mezzo-soprano."[3]

Boston made her Broadway debut as "Queenie" in the revival of Show Boat, directed by Hal Prince, which opened at the Gershwin Theatre in October 1994.[4] She won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance.[5]

She was nominated for the 1999 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance in the original musical revue It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues, as well as the Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical.[6][7]

She performed in the musical revue Let Me Sing -- A Musical Evolution at the George Street Playhouse, New Brunswick, New Jersey, in December 2002.[8]

She appeared in the staged concert "Broadway By the Year, 1935" at Town Hall (New York City) in March 2004.[9]

In January 2005 she appeared as "Velma" in Crowns by Regina Taylor at the Studio Theatre, Buffalo, New York.[10] This production played at the Arena Stage, Washington, D.C. in July 2005.[11]

She appeared in the revue 3 Mo' Divas! at the Arena Stage (Washington, D.C.) in July 2006.[12]

According to The Washington Post "It was 'Show Boat' that Boston says caused her to "jump ship" and leave her classical roots for musical theater."[13]

References
  1. "Gretha Denise Boston (1959–)". Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  2. "Gretha Denise Boston" encyclopediaofarkansas.net, accessed December 23, 2015
  3. Oestreich, James R. "Reviews/Music; Manhattan Philharmonic in a Choral Near-Marathon" New York Times, November 28, 1990
  4. Richards, David. "Theater Review. 'Show Boat'" New York Times, October 3, 1994
  5. " Show Boat Broadway" playbillvault.com, accessed December 23, 2015
  6. "It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues Broadway" Archived 2015-12-03 at the Wayback Machine playbillvault.com, accessed December 23, 2015
  7. McGrath, Sean. "1999 Tony Nominee: Gretha Boston (Featured Actress, Musical, 'It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues')" playbill.com, June 3, 1999
  8. Siegel, Naomi. "Theater Review. A History Class Taught With Music" New York Times, December 22, 2002.
  9. Gans, Andrew. "Broadway By the Year Welcomes Never Gonna Dance Stars", playbill.com, March 6, 2004.
  10. Comerford, Ellen. S. "Hat's the Thing in Musical 'Crowns'" niagarafallsreporter.com, January 25, 2005
  11. Marks, Peter. "Energy Bubbles To the Top in Arena's 'Crowns'" Washington Post, July 13, 2005
  12. Gans, Andrew. "'3 Mo' Divas! '— with Tony Winner Boston — Begins Performances at Arena Stage July 12", playbill.com, July 12, 2006.
  13. Hurwitz, Jane. "Just Call Them Divas Deluxe Broadway Stars Gretha Boston and Vivian Reed Spice Up '3 Mo' Divas'", Washington Post, August 1, 2006.
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