Kimilee Bryant

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Kimilee Bryant
Born June 22
Berea, South Carolina

Kimilee Karyn Bryant (born June 22, 1969) is an American actress, singer and former Miss South Carolina.[1] Bryant is best known for playing the role of Christine Daae in the Broadway and other productions of The Phantom of the Opera, and later the role of Carlotta in the same musical. She has played many roles in U. S. regional theatres and opera.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early years

Bryant grew up in Berea near Greenville, South Carolina. She attended Travelers Rest High School and Converse College, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree, and then the Manhattan School of Music, where she earned a Master's Degree in vocal performance in 1992 and studied with Mignon Dunn.[2] Bryant also studied voice at Greenville's Fine Arts Center and the South Carolina Governor's School of the Arts. She studied dance at Broadway Dance Center and acting with Terry Schreiber at the T. Schreiber Studio in New York City. Bryant was a regional Metropolitan Opera Auditions winner (1998).[3]

[edit] Concerts, Broadway and Off-Broadway

Bryant debuted as soloist with The National Chorale at Avery Fisher Hall. She was also a soloist in a staged production of Handel's Messiah at Lincoln Center and at The Utrecht Early Music Festival in Holland (2000), among other concert engagements.

Bryant played Christine Daae in the Broadway (1994-95; 1998), Toronto (1999), Swiss (in German) and U.S. National Tour (1996-98) productions of The Phantom of the Opera. The Sacramento, California Stage and Theatre News wrote of her performance as Christine, "Bryant has that young, innocent look about her that makes her perfect for this role, as well as having one of the most lovely voices to ever grace a Sacramento stage."[4] She played Carlotta in the third national tour of Phantom (2005-06; part of 2008). In 2006-07, Bryant covered the roles Majella and Queen Elizabeth I and performed as swing in The Pirate Queen on Broadway.[5]

With the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players in New York City, she has played roles since 1993,[6] including Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore (2001), Aline in The Sorcerer (2001), Phyllis in Iolanthe, Josephine in Pinafore (2002-03)[7] and Elsie in The Yeomen of the Guard (2003) at Symphony Space, and Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance (2003), Casilda in The Gondoliers (2003) and the title role in Princess Ida (2008) at City Center.[8]

She also appeared in the Encores! presentation of Bye, Bye Birdie (2004). She played Stage Manager in Our Town (2000) and played Betty in John Guare's Landscape of the Body, both at Gloria Maddox Theatre, directed by Terry Schreiber (2004).[9]

[edit] Regional theatre and opera

With Portland Opera, Bryant performed as Frasquita in Carmen, singing Micaela for the previews. There she also sang Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Antonia in Man of La Mancha, Pamina and Second Lady in An American Magic Flute, Adele in Die Fledermaus and Alice in Through the Opera Glass. She also sang Zerlina in Don Giovanni with The Boheme Opera of New Jersey (2005)[9] and has appeared with Opera Longview (Texas, 2003) as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, The National Opera Association as Polly in The Beggar's Opera, John Brownlee Opera Association as Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew,[10] the Brevard Music Center Opera, Aspen Opera, Greenville Symphony, Spartanburg Symphony, Piedmont Opera, Opera East Texas, and Opera Ontario.[11] She sang the role of Mabel in Pirates for The Sacramento Music Circus (2004)[12] and with a number of other companies.

Bryant's regional theatre roles have included Sally in Talley's Folly (1999; Warehouse Theatre), Sharon in Master Class (2000; Warehouse Theatre), Marian in The Music Man (2000; Muhlenberg Summer Theatre), Maria in West Side Story (Rockwell Productions), Eliza in My Fair Lady (The Farmhouse), Laurey in Oklahoma! (Town N’ Country Theatre),[13] Maisie in The Boy Friend, Julie in Carousel (Greenville Little Theatre), and Hope in Anything Goes (Yorktown Regional Theatre). She also starred in Riverside Theatre's (Florida) production of Showtune (2004).[9]

[edit] Cabaret, film and television

Bryant performs in her own one-woman show, My Life's Journey Through Song,[14] and often performs with the concert group "Broadway Sings!"[15] Her film and TV credits include The Manchurian Candidate (Teacher, 2003), 7th Heaven (Julia's Mom 2002), and Law & Order (Reporter, season one).

[edit] References

  1. ^ Article about Bryant's competition in the "Miss America" pageant and her interest in opera
  2. ^ Information from Fineartscenter.net
  3. ^ Profile of Bryant at operaet.com
  4. ^ Review of Bryant's performance in Phantom in national tour
  5. ^ Information about Bryant's broadway performances
  6. ^ Profile at NYGASP.org
  7. ^ New York Magazine review of Pinafore
  8. ^ Review of Bryant as Princess Ida
  9. ^ a b c Reviews of Bryant's roles
  10. ^ New York Times review of Taming of the Shrew
  11. ^ Profile of Bryant at the PhantomonBroadway bio site
  12. ^ Review of Sacramento Pirates
  13. ^ Review of Oklahoma!
  14. ^ Review of Bryant's one-woman show
  15. ^ Broadway Sings! website

[edit] External links