Bethany Joy Galeotti

Bethany Joy Galeotti (born Bethany Joy Lenz April 2, 1981) is an American actress, musician, director, writer, and producer.

Galeotti is best known for her on screen portrayals of Michelle Bauer Santos on Guiding Light (from 1998 to 2000) and Haley James Scott on One Tree Hill (since 2003). Furthermore, Galeotti is recognized for her music as a solo artist and as member of the band Everly.

Early life

Bethany Joy Lenz was born on April 2, 1981 in Hollywood, Florida. Galeotti is an only child to Robert Lenz, a history teacher and therapist, and Cathie, a personnel manager and entrepreneur. Her grandfather George Lenz, was a regular on the Broadway stage in the 1950s starring in musicals Wish You Were Here, South Pacific, and many others.^[1] Following in her grandfather's footsteps, Galeotti began singing at the early age of three at The Carpenter's Church in Lakeland, Florida. At the age of seven, Joy and her family moved to Arlington, Texas where she attended Pope Elementary. She was also enrolled in The Creative Arts Theater and School where she took dance, tap, jazz, acting and theater classes. At seven years old, Galeotti landed her first stage role playing a Munchkin in a local production of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Three years later, Galeotti played Scout in the production of To Kill a Mockingbird at the Irving Community Theater in Texas.

Career

Acting

Galeotti has been working steadily as an actress since the age of twelve. She landed her first professional job in a commercial for an American syndicated teen drama series entitled Swans Crossing during a trip to Los Angeles with her drama school. Galeotti continued to garner experience at a young age by landing lead roles in various staged productions like Annie, Cinderella and Gypsy: A Musical Fable. At the age of thirteen Galeotti moved with her family to New Jersey where she attended the Hawthorne Christian Academy for a year and began auditioning aggressively for television roles. She became a commercial veteran appearing in commercials for Eggo Waffles, Dr Pepper among many others. By her sophomore year in high school Galeotti appeared in Stephen King's Thinner and was well received by critics.

On March 1998 at the age of seventeen, Galeotti earned a nine episode gig as the teenage clone of Reva Shayne Lewis on CBS's soap opera Guiding Light. Galeotti made a positive impression on viewers, critics and Guiding Light executives alike that she was later recast as Michelle Bauer Santos upon Rebecca Budig's exit. This was an unusual move and "unheard of" in the industry according to CBS producer, Mickey Dwyer-Dobbin. While working on the demanding daytime serial Guiding Light, she graduated from Eastern Christian High School in New Jersey in 1999 and landed the role of Rose Cronin in Mary and Rhoda; a made-for-television movie that reunited Mary Tyler Moore and Valerie Harper as Mary Richards and Rhoda Morgenstern. At the time Galeotti was juggling a heavy storyline, a television movie portraying Mary Tyler Moore's daughter, a one-year run of a New York cabaret called Foxy Ladies Love/Boogie 70's Explosion, and the lead role in an independent film. Galeotti also filmed two pilots; one playing the daughter of Paul Sorvino, and the other as the lead in the WB's 1972.

In October 2000 at the end of her two year contract with The Guiding Light, Galeotti decided to leave her role as Michelle Bauer Santos. After leaving Guiding Light, she moved from New York City to Los Angeles where she performed in a theater production of The Outsiders and began to guest star on television shows such as Off-Centre, Charmed, Felicity, Maybe It's Me and The Guardian. In 2002, Galeotti joined the cast of Bring It On Again as Marni Potts. During this time, Galeotti was also featured in Interview Magazine's "Stars On The Rise" in January.^[2]

In 2003, at the age twenty two Galeotti was cast in the WB's television series One Tree Hill. Galeotti originally auditioned for the roles of Brooke Davis and Haley James but ultimately landed the role Haley James, the quintessential girl-next-door who is best friends with Lucas Scott, portrayed by Chad Michael Murray and wife of Nathan Scott, portrayed by James Lafferty.^[3] During her time on One Tree Hill, Galeotti was also offered the role of Belle in Beauty and the Beast when it was still in production on Broadway, but turned it down due to scheduling conflicts with the show. Furthermore, Galeotti appeared in an episode of Life Unexpected alongside Kate Voegele as part of a crossover-event between One Tree Hill and Life Unexpected.

Well into sixth season of One Tree Hill, Galeotti made her directorial debut in an episode entitled Screenwriter's Blues. Galeotti stepped behind the camera to call all the shots, as Lucas finally got the opportunity to cast his movie.^[4] Galeotti initially approached producer Greg Prange in 2007 with the idea of directing but was not given the opportunity to direct until two years after her request. Over the course of season six Galeotti shadowed several directors, watched them prep and went on [location] scouts.^[1] Since her directorial debut, Galeotti has directed two more episodes of One Tree Hill.

On November 17, 2011, Galeotti filmed her last scenes as the character Haley James Scott on One Tree Hill.

Music

Since Galeotti's exit from Guilding Light she has completed a demo of original music. Trained by the director of The Brooklyn College of Opera, Galeotti plays the guitar and piano, and writes her own music. Her first album, entitled Preincarnate was released in October 2002 .^[2] Galeotti continues to release new music oftentimes through her character Haley James Scott on One Tree Hill. In 2005, after recording "When the Stars Go Blue" with costar Tyler Hilton, the duo joined The Wreckers (Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp), and Gavin DeGraw for a 25-city North American One Tree Hill Tour that started in Vancouver. Galeotti and Hilton scored the #89 spot on February 2005's Billboard Pop 100 chart with the duet "When the Stars Go Blue."^[5] While on tour, Galeotti debuted her second independent record entitled, Come On Home. Despite her hectic schedule during the tour, Galeotti also filmed her first music video for "Songs in My Pockets" at Coney Island Beach and Astroland in Brooklyn, New York.

In 2006 alongside ex-American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, Galeotti co-wrote and recorded "Halo" which was released in the second volume of the One Tree Hill Soundtrack. During this time, Galeotti inked a deal with Sony Epic Records and worked with her producer, Ron Aniello (Lifehouse, Guster, Barenaked Ladies) to record original material. However, in 2006 after changes within the company, Galeotti split from the label. Despite the musical setback, that same year Galeotti traveled to Los Angeles to write and record several songs for the soundtrack for Ten Inch Hero.^[6] Galeotti's split with Epic allowed her to open new doors in her music career and since then she has decided to sign under the independent record label Hillasterion.

In 2009, Galeotti premiered the song "Feel This" which premiered in the sixth season finale of One Tree Hill. The airing led to an excited response which made "Feel This" the number one Top Seller on CD Baby; one of the largest independent music outlets in the world. In another episode entitled Messin' With The Kid Galeotti's character Haley James Scott encounters a street performer portrayed by Grace Potter. Ambitious to reestablish her music career, Galeotti and Potter's characters sing the hit single "I Want Something That I Want".^[7]

In 2008, Galeotti took her music to new grounds and formed the band Everly with her life-long friend, Amber Sweeney. Immediately after the duo was formed, Everly, musical acts Angels & Airwaves, and occasional One Tree Hill guest star Kate Voegele teamed up with the USO for a live concert event for military personnel. The USO concert was filmed and formed the basis for a One Tree Hill episode, titled Even Fairy Tale Characters Would Be Jealous.^[8] Everly continues to release various singles for One Tree Hill and is expected to release their full-length album in 2011.^[9]

The Notebook Musical

After six months of writing a libretto of The Notebook Musical based on the New York Times best selling novel, The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, Galeotti brought the idea to her producer Ron Aniello. Shortly after they formed Galeotti & Aniello Productions. and presented their first-ever Live Theatrical Workshop in October 2009. This preliminary step toward an eventual opening in New York consisted of basic sets, costumes and choreography. All actors were expected to be off-book for performance. The workshop was intended to assist the creative team in visualizing, editing and critiquing the play as well as to garner Producer interest and investors.^[1] Galeotti has until now kept facts about the musical underwraps; however, on November 2010 in response to Twitter followers who successfully raised more than $2000 in one day for the charity Love146, Galeotti released the song "Troublesome Tongue". "Troublesome Tongue" features Noah's father, and his friends explaining Noah's childhood stutter to new love Allie.^[1]

Personal life

When she is not filming One Tree Hill in Wilmington, North Carolina, Galeotti lives in Battle Ground, Washington. Galeotti married musician Michael Galeotti in December 2005. In February 2011 the couple announced the arrival of their daughter, Maria Rose Galeotti.^[10]

Galeotti's Restaurant

In the summer of 2009, Galeotti teamed with her husband Michael Galeotti and in-laws to open Galeotti’s Restaurant. Bethany Joy Galeotti is the head owner of the new restaurant which occupies the space in downtown Battle Ground that formerly housed Irby's Fine Dining at 801 E. Main st. The restaurant focuses on healthful, organic, locally sourced foods, and uses eco-friendly materials and supplies whenever possible.^[11]

Philanthropy

Introduced to Love146 by bandmate, Amber Sweeney, Galeotti has been actively supporting the international human rights organization largely through social media outlets.^[12] On June 12, 2011 through her official Twitter account, Galeotti revealed details of her newest project; an online boutique called "Lark". The boutique sells apparel with original designs by Galeotti and all proceeds benefit Love146, To Write Love On Her Arms, as well as Reading is Fundamental.^[13]

Filmography

Theater

Awards

Discography

The following is a list of albums and songs that have been performed and recorded by Bethany Joy Galeotti.

Studio albums

Singles

Soundtracks

See also

• Everly
• One Tree Hill
• Guiding Light
• The Notebook

References

External links

• Bethany Joy Galeotti at the Internet Movie Database
• Bethany Joy Galeotti's Biography On the CW's Page
• Official Bethany Joy Galeotti Twitter
• Official Bethany Joy Galeotti Blog