Sierra Boggess

Sierra Marjory Boggess[2] (/ˈbɒɡɪs/; born May 20, 1982) is an American theater actress and singer. She is best known for originating the role of Ariel in The Little Mermaid on Broadway and for her multiple appearances as Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera. She is known to many Phantom fans for playing the role of Christine during The Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary Performance at the Royal Albert Hall, which was shown live in movie theaters around the world in October 2011, appearing opposite Ramin Karimloo and Hadley Fraser as the The Phantom of the Opera and Raoul de Chagny, respectively. Sierra has been involved in several productions of Phantom, beginning with the Las Vegas production in 2006. In 2010, she originated the role of Christine Daaé in the original London version of Phantom's sequel Love Never Dies, opposite Karimloo and Joseph Millson as the Phantom and Raoul, respectively.[3]

Sierra Boggess
Boggess in New York, 2017
Born
Sierra Marjory Boggess

(1982-05-20) May 20, 1982[1]
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Alma materMillikin University (BFA, 2004)
OccupationActress, singer
Years active2006–present
Websitesierraboggess.com

Early life and education

Sierra Boggess was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, with her older sister Summer and her younger sister Allegra. All three sisters are professional musicians.[4] The three of them were members of the Colorado Children's Chorale. Her parents are Kellun Turner Boggess and Michael Boggess. She attended George Washington High School.[5] In an interview with The Interval, Boggess discussed the early influence of drama studies during high school on her early development.[6] She graduated from Millikin University in 2004[7][8] with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

Career

Boggess began her career in the Ensemble and as an understudy for Cosette on the U.S. national tour of Les Misérables.[7] She also played the roles of Binky and Ram Dass in the musical Princesses at Goodspeed Opera House and the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle.[7][9] Her previous work includes West Side Story (Maria), The Pirates of Penzance (Mabel),[10] The Boy Friend[9] and Sweet Charity (Charity).[11]

Years from 2006 to 2013

Around the time she was performing in Les Misérables, Boggess was cast in a Las Vegas production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera at The Venetian Las Vegas. The production opened on June 24, 2006. Boggess starred in the female leading role of Christine Daaé, which co-starred Anthony Crivello and Brent Barrett alternating in the title role. She stayed with the Las Vegas production for a year.

Boggess was then cast in her Broadway debut, originating the leading role of Ariel in The Little Mermaid.[12] She performed with the show in its pre-Broadway tryout at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts' Ellie Caulkins Opera House which ran from July 26, 2007 through September 9, 2007. The Broadway production began previews at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 3, 2007. It was temporarily closed on November 10, 2007 until November 28, 2007, as a result of the 2007 Broadway stagehand strike. Performances resumed the next day following the strike and the official opening night was pushed from December 6, 2007 to January 10, 2008. Boggess received positive reviews for her performance. She stayed with the show for a year and a half, before playing her final performance as Ariel on May 31, 2009. Boggess was replaced by understudy Chelsea Morgan Stock.[13]

While she was performing in The Little Mermaid, Boggess starred opposite Kristin Chenoweth in the Encores! staged concert of Music in the Air in February 2009.[14]

From February 2010 to March 2011, Boggess starred as Christine Daaé in the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies.[15] She also took part in the Rodgers and Hammerstein Prom at the Royal Albert Hall on August 22, 2010, which was screened on August 28.[16] After leaving Love Never Dies being replaced by Celia Graham, Boggess played Sharon, alongside Tyne Daly, in the Broadway revival of Master Class, beginning on June 14, 2011.[17] The show concluded its limited engagement on September 4, 2011.[18]

Boggess once again played the role of Christine Daaé in the 25th anniversary concert of The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall in London with Love Never Dies co-star Ramin Karimloo as the Phantom at the Royal Albert Hall on October 1 and 2, 2011.[19]

Boggess starred in the Off-Broadway show Love, Loss, and What I Wore from February 29, 2012 till the show's closure on March 25, 2012.[20][21]

In April 2012, Boggess announced that she dropped out of Rebecca and instead joined the cast of the upcoming musical revue Prince of Broadway which pays tribute to director Harold Prince.[22] However, the project was postponed until 2013.[23] On July 2, 2012, Boggess returned to Les Misérables until January 10, 2013. This time she joined the West End company at the Queen's Theatre and took over the role of Fantine.[24]

On January 21, 2013, Boggess returned to the role of Christine in The Phantom of the Opera for the Broadway production's 25th anniversary and co-starred opposite Hugh Panaro as The Phantom. She performed the role for a limited six-week engagement till March 2, 2013. She was replaced by Christine alternate Samantha Hill.[25]

Following The Phantom of the Opera Boggess began teaching various musical theater master classes and began to workshop an upcoming musical adaptation of the 1998 film Ever After. However, Boggess was not part of the new musical's world premiere at Papermill Playhouse in 2015. She also made her cabaret debut with a solo show entitled Awakening at New York's 54 Below. The 54 Below shows were recorded for a live debut solo album Awakening: Live at 54 Below, which was released on December 10, 2013 from Broadway Records.[26]

Years from 2014 to present

In January 2014 Boggess played the role of a lesbian in the short film Russian Broadway Shut Down (protesting the Russian government's response to homosexuality in theater).[27] For several years since 2014, Boggess has identified herself with the often repeated motivational moniker; "You are enough... You are so enough... Its unbelievable how enough you are."[28]

On March 24, 2014, it was announced that Boggess would once again rejoin the Broadway company of The Phantom of the Opera as Christine and reunite with her former Little Mermaid co-star Norm Lewis as the Phantom (who made history as the first African-American actor to play the title role in the Broadway cast).[29] They began their runs on May 12, 2014.[30] Boggess concluded her run as Christine on September 6, 2014 and was replaced by Christine alternate Mary Michael Patterson.[31]

After completing her role in Phantom of the Opera with Norm Lewis, Boggess returned to her alma mater Millikin University to perform a benefit concert featuring the Class of 2015 BFA Musical Theatre majors. It was based on her Awakening concert at 54 Below, and was held to help raise money for the school's new Theatre & Dance building.

Boggess originated the role of Rebecca Steinberg in the 2015 Broadway production of It Shoulda Been You at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. The musical—which also starred Boggess' former Master Class co-star Tyne Daly—featured direction by David Hyde Pierce. The show began preview performances on March 17, opened on April 14, and closed on August 9, 2015.[32]

Boggess performed the role of school principal Rosalie Mullins in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical adaptation of School of Rock at the Winter Garden Theatre. The production began previews on November 9, 2015, and opened on December 6.[33]

In February 2016, she reunited with Ramin Karimloo in the Manhattan Concert Productions' staging of The Secret Garden in which she sang the role of Lily.[34]

On August 8, 2016, Boggess ended her role as Rosalie Mullins in School Of Rock and was replaced by Jennifer Gambatese. After leaving School of Rock, she was set to portray her role as Christine Daaé in Le Fantôme de l'Opéra, the French production of The Phantom of the Opera.[35] However the production has been postponed to further notice due to a fire in the Théâtre Mogador, where the show was supposed to be performed. The Théâtre Mogador was only a few blocks away from the Opéra Garnier, where the actual story of The Phantom of the Opera takes place.[36]

On November 10, 2016, Boggess reunited with her Music in the Air co-star Kristin Chenoweth during her solo show My Love Letter To Broadway.[37]

On December 5, 2016, it was announced that Boggess will embark on her first Australian concert tour in June 2017 making stops in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. She has recently begun her tour before (January 28, 2017). She is traveling with her cellist sister Summer Boggess.

Boggess starred in The Age of Innocence, as Countess Ellen Olenska at Hartford Stage located in Hartford, Connecticut. The show ran from April 5 – May 6, 2018 before the production moved to Princeton, New Jersey's McCarter Theatre Center for a run from September 7 – October 7, 2018.[38] In her latest appearance, Boggess starred as Danielle de Barbarac in the Alliance Theatre production of Ever After The Musical.[39] Boggess is expected to reprise her role in Ever After for the show's third regional production at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in December 2019[40]

From July 26–28, 2019, Boggess reunited with her Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular co-star Anthony Crivello in the Hollywood Bowl's production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods. Boggess starred as "Cinderella" alongside the star studded cast of Sutton Foster (The Baker's Wife), Skylar Astin (The Baker), Patina Miller (The Witch), Gaten Matarazzo (Jack), Shanice Williams (Little Red Riding Hood), Cheyenne Jackson (Cinderella's Prince/The Wolf), and Whoopi Goldberg (The Giant).[41]

Video blog productions

Boggess has been involved in a number of extended blog series on the web often in association with Broadway.com. These have included the ten-part series titled Daae Days which includes two episodes where Boggess interviews between 15–20 fellow Broadway actresses who have also portrayed the role of Christine Daae in Phantom of the Opera over the many years of its production.[42] Her second vlog Going Bridal went behind the scenes from rehearsals to opening It Shoulda Been You as Rebecca Steinberg. Boggess has also created a video series with her voice coach Mary Setrakian titled Tea and Spinklers also released in 2014.[43]

Personal life

Boggess' personal website describes her as an "avid yogi, vegetarian, and animal rights activist."[44] She has frequently participated in Broadway Barks, a cat and dog adoption event founded by Bernadette Peters.[45]

Boggess was previously engaged to fellow Broadway actor Tam Mutu.[46]

Theatre credits
Year(s) Production Role Location Category
2005–2006 Les Misérables Ensemble/Understudy Cosette US Tour US Tour
2006–2007 The Phantom of the Opera Christine Daaé Venetian Resort and Casino Las Vegas
2007 The Little Mermaid Ariel Denver Center for the Performing Arts Denver
2007–2009 The Little Mermaid Ariel Lunt-Fontanne Theatre Broadway
2009 Music in the Air Sieglinde Lessing Encores! New York Concert
2010–11 Love Never Dies Christine Daaé Adelphi Theatre West End
2011 The Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary Performance at the Royal Albert Hall Royal Albert Hall London Concert
2011 Master Class Sharon Graham Samuel J. Friedman Theatre Broadway
2012–13 Les Misérables Fantine Queens Theatre West End
2012 Love, Loss and What I Wore Various Characters Westside Theatre Off-Broadway
2013 The Phantom of the Opera Christine Daaé Majestic Theatre Broadway
2014
2015 It Shoulda Been You Rebecca Steinberg Brooks Atkinson Theatre Broadway
2015–16 School of Rock Principal Rosalie Mullins Winter Garden Theatre Broadway
2016 The Secret Garden Lily Craven Lincoln Center New York Concert
2018 The Age of Innocence Ellen Olenska Hartford Stage Connecticut
2019 Ever After The Musical Danielle de Barbarac Alliance Theatre Atlanta
2019 Into the Woods Cinderella Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated Work Result
2008 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical The Little Mermaid Nominated
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated
Broadway.com Audience Award Favorite Leading Actress in a Broadway Musical Nominated
Favorite Female Breakthrough Performance Won
2010 BroadwayWorld UK Award Best Leading Actress in a Musical Love Never Dies Nominated
2011 WhatsOnStage.com Theatregoers' Choice Award Best Actress in a Musical Nominated
Laurence Olivier Award Best Actress in a Musical Nominated
2013 Broadway.com Audience Award Favorite Replacement The Phantom of the Opera Won
2015 Broadway.com Audience Award Favorite Featured Actress It Shoulda Been You Won
2016 Broadway.com Audience Award Favorite Featured Actress School of Rock Nominated
Favorite Onstage Pair (shared with Alex Brightman) Nominated

Recordings
  • Princess Disneymania – 2008 "Part of Your World"
  • The Little Mermaid – 2008 Original Broadway Cast Recording
  • New York City Christmas – A Benefit album for ASTEP – 2009 "Have yourself a merry little Christmas", "Still, Still, Still/ The first Noel" (feat. Lindsay Mendez)
  • Love Never Dies – 2010 Original West End Cast Recording
  • The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall – 2011 Live Cast Recording
  • A Little Princess – 2011 Recording
  • Scott Alan Live – 2012 Live Concert Recording "Always/Goodnight" (feat. Jane Monheit)
  • Rodgers & Hammerstein at the Movies – 2012 Soundtrack Album
  • Awakening: Live at 54 Below – 2013 Debut Album
  • Love on 42nd Street – 2014 "You Caught Me Off Guard" featured on Songs of Daniel and Laura Curtis
  • Where The Sky Ends – 2014 "The Devil" – The Songs of Michael Mott
  • BroadwayWorld Visits Oz – 2014 "Over the Rainbow"
  • It Shoulda Been You – 2015 Original Broadway Cast Recording
  • School of Rock: The Musical – 2015 Original Broadway Cast Recording

References
  1. "Sierra Boggess Theatre Credits". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  2. "PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: Love Never Dies Star Sierra Boggess". Playbill. August 31, 2010. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  3. Vine, Hannah. "From Mermaid to Phantom: Celebrating the Stage Roles of Sierra Boggess | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  4. "Sister act onstage and off". New York Post. February 11, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  5. "Star of 'Little Mermaid' musical visits her alma mater" The Denver Post, August 29, 2007
  6. "An Interview with Sierra Boggess". Theintervalny.com. December 21, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  7. Riegel, Katie. "Fresh Face: The Little Mermaid Star Sierra Boggess" broadway.com, January 10, 2008
  8. "Sierra Boggess to Return to Alma Mater, Millikin University, 10/11" broadwayworld.com, September 19, 2014
  9. Gans, Andrew. "Sierra Boggess Will Be Disney's 'The Little Mermaid'" Playbill, February 22, 2007
  10. "Sierra Boggess Confirmed as 'The Little Mermaid ' 's Ariel" broadwayworld.com, February 22, 2007
  11. Robin Leach, Las Vegas Sun. "Former Las Vegas." Oct. 20, 2009
  12. "Fish Got to Swim: 'Little Mermaid' Opens on Broadway Jan. 10 Playbill, January 10, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2016
  13. Gans, Andrew. "Stock and Seeley to Join Broadway's Little Mermaid Cast" Archived May 10, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Playbill, May 7, 2009
  14. Gans, Andrew. "Chenoweth Replaces Mazzie in Encores! 'Music in the Ai'r; Schramm and Sella Join Cast" Playbill, January 12, 2009
  15. Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies Opens in London March 9 Archived March 24, 2014, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com. Retrieved March 24, 2014
  16. Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies to Premiere in London in March 2010; New York, Australia to Follow Archived October 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  17. "Sierra Boggess, Olivier Nominee for Love Never Dies, Will Take Broadway's Master Class". Playbill. Archived from the original on February 16, 2011.
  18. "Class Dismissed! Master Class, Starring Tyne Daly, Ends Broadway Run Sept. 4". Playbill. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013.
  19. BWW (October 1, 2011). "PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 25th Anniversary Concert Plays at Royal Albert Hall; Karimloo & Boggess Star". BroadwayWorld.com.
  20. BWW News Desk (January 30, 2012). "Sierra Boggess, Alexandra Silber, et al. to Join Cast of LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE in March". BroadwayWorld.com.
  21. "Love, Loss and What I Wore Sets Off-Broadway Closing Date". Broadway.com.
  22. Ferri, Josh (April 9, 2012). "Sierra Boggess on Her 'Difficult Decision' to Leave Rebecca for Prince of Broadway". Broadway.com. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  23. "Hal Prince Musical Prince of Broadway Shifts Start Date to 2013". Broadway.com.
  24. "Sierra Boggess on How Two Postponed Broadway Shows Led to a Star Turn in London's Les Miserables". Broadway.com.
  25. BWW News Desk (October 19, 2012). "Sierra Boggess to Join PHANTOM on Broadway for 25th Anniversary Engagement". BroadwayWorld.com.
  26. Gans, Edward. "Track Listing Announced for Sierra Boggess' Solo Recording, "Awakening: Live at 54 Below"". Playbill. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  27. "Russian Broadway Shut Down (2014)". IMDb.
  28. Sierra Boggess. "The relentless positivity", by Tim Cain. Herald and Review. March 25, 2013.
  29. Breaking News: Broadway Stars Norm Lewis and Sierra Boggess to Take Over in PHANTOM This May! broadwayworld.com. Retrieved March 24, 2014
  30. Norm Lewis and Sierra Boggess Join Broadway Cast of The Phantom of the Opera May 12 Archived May 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com. Retrieved May 12, 2014
  31. Sierra Boggess Announces Phantom Departure; Norm Lewis Extends Broadway Run Playbill. Retrieved September 4, 2014
  32. Hetrick, Adam. "Tyne Daly, Harriet Harris, Sierra Boggess, David Burtka to Star in It Shoulda Been You on Broadway" Playbill, October 29, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2016
  33. "Sierra Boggess Graduates to Broadway's School of Rock". Playbill. June 12, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  34. "Breaking News: Sierra Boggess, Ramin Karimloo, Cheyenne Jackson, Daisy Eagan & More Join MCP's The Secret Garden Concert!" BroadwayWorld. Retrieved December 23, 2015
  35. Viagas, Robert. " Sierra Boggess Is Leaving Broadway 'School of Rock' to Do 'Phantom' in Paris" Playbill, June 20, 2016
  36. Hetrick, Adam. "Fire Delays Paris Premiere of 'The Phantom of the Opera' ", Playbill. Retrieved September 26, 2016
  37. Chenoweth, Kristin "Sierra Boggess ... [is] joining me tonight!", Facebook, November 10, 2016; and "Breaking News: The special guest for Tony and Emmy winner Kristin Chenoweth's My Love", NewYorkBroadwayTours.com, November 10, 2016
  38. Gans, Andrew. "Sierra Boggess and Boyd Gaines Star in Age of Innocence World Premiere at Hartford Stage" Playbill, April 8, 2018
  39. "Photo Flash: Sierra Boggess, Rachel York, And More In Rehearsal For EVER AFTER At Alliance Stage". Broadway World. December 20, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  40. "Sierra Boggess on Instagram: "Your Christmas plans are officially handled. 😊 December 3–29th @the_ordway #everaftermusical"". Instagram. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  41. "Into the Woods – Annual Fully Staged Musical | Hollywood Bowl". Hollywood Bowl. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  42. Sierra Boggess. Daae Days. July 30, 2014
  43. Sierra Boggess. Tea and Spinklers. September 17, 2014
  44. "About". Sierra Boggess. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  45. "Broadway Barks for a Good Cause Today in Shubert Alley | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  46. "Rebecca Co-Stars Sierra Boggess and Tam Mutu Are Engaged | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
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