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Caissie Levy

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Caissie Levy
Levy at Opening Night of Leopoldstadt, 2022
Born
Caissie Shira Levy

(1981-04-15) 15 April 1981 (age 43)
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Occupation(s)Singer, actress
Years active2002–present
Spouse
David Reiser
​
(m. 2011)​
Children2
Websitewww.caissielevy.com

Caissie Levy (born April 15, 1981) is a Canadian-American actress and singer, mainly known for her work in musical theatre on Broadway and in the West End. Her early Broadway credits included Penny Pingleton in Hairspray and Sheila in Hair, a role she also played in the West End. She originated the role of Molly Jensen in the West End and Broadway productions of Ghost: the Musical, and played Fantine in the 2014 Broadway revival of Les Misérables. Levy also originated the role of Elsa in Frozen on Broadway. For her performance on the cast recording of Caroline, or Change, she was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2023. Levy originated the role of Diana Goodman in the London production of Next to Normal and received a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

Early life

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Levy was born in Ontario to Mark Levy, a general practitioner, and Lisa Levy, an administrator at her husband's medical practice.[1] Both her parents are Jewish. Her two elder brothers, Robi and Josh (known as "The Levy Brothers"), are film directors, writers, and producers. Levy attended Camp Ramah in Canada.[2] She graduated from Westdale Secondary School in 1999,[3] then attended New York's American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).[3]

Career

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A week after graduating from AMDA in 2002, Levy was cast in the role of Maureen Johnson in the U.S. national tour of Rent. Levy then played Penny Pingleton in both the Broadway (2006) and national touring companies of Hairspray, after understudying the role in the Toronto company.[4] She also covered the role of Amber Von Tussle.

In 2008 Levy starred as Elphaba in the Los Angeles sit-down production of Wicked, alongside Megan Hilty as Glinda. She had previously understudied the role on Broadway and briefly served as standby in Los Angeles.[5] She next starred as Sheila in the Broadway revival of Hair in 2009 and 2010 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre,[6] after which she transferred to its West End revival at the Gielgud Theatre.[7]

In 2011 Levy originated the role of Molly Jensen in Ghost: the Musical, first at Manchester Opera House and then in London's West End at the Piccadilly Theatre.[8] In 2012 she transferred to the Broadway production at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.[9] She is featured on the cast recordings for Hair and Ghost. She also sings "Please Don't Let Me Go" on the re-release of composer Scott Alan's album Keys, as well as "Dear Daddy" on composer Bobby Cronin's album Reach the Sky: Bobby Cronin Live at the Beechman and "I Am Yours" on composer Jonathan Reid Gealt's album Thirteen Stories Down.[citation needed]

In 2013 Levy released the EP With You, [10][11] performed two concerts at the London Hippodrome Casino,[12][13] and starred as Sara in the Trip Cullman musical Murder Ballad at the off-Broadway Union Square Theatre.[14][15] She played Fantine in the Broadway revival of Les Miserables at the Imperial Theatre in 2014 and 2015.[16][17]

Levy originated the role of Elsa in the stage adaptation of Frozen, which opened in Denver in 2017[18] and moved to Broadway in February 2018.[19] She left the production after two years on February 16, 2020.[20] Levy went on to star in the Broadway transfer of Caroline, Or Change as Rose Stopnick Gellman[21] from October 2021 to January 2022[22] and then, in the Summer of 2022,[23] she starred in Sarah Silverman's Off-Broadway musical The Bedwetter as Beth Ann.[24] She next appeared as Eva Merz Jakobovicz in the Broadway production of Leopoldstat.[25] Levy starred as Diana Goodman in Next to Normal at London's Donmar Warehouse, which ran from August through October 2023.[26] For her performance, Levy received a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.[27] She reprised the role when the production transferred to Wyndham's Theatre in the West End for the summer of 2024.[28][29] In November 2024, Levy portrayed the Mother in Ragtime at New York City Center. She starred opposite Colin Donnell, Brandon Uranowitz, and Joshua Henry.[30]

Personal life

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On October 30, 2011, after five years of dating, Levy and actor David Reiser married in an evening ceremony at the Soho Beach House in Miami.[31] Levy gave birth to a son, Izaiah,[32] in February 2016, and a daughter, Talulah Ruby,[33] in March 2021.

Levy officially became a US citizen on January 21, 2021.[34]

Work

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Theatre

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Year Production Role Venue
2002–03 Rent Maureen National Tour
2004 Hairspray Swing Toronto / Regional
Penny (understudy)
2005–06 Penny National Tour
2006 Neil Simon Theatre
2006–07 Wicked Ensemble Gershwin Theatre
Elphaba (understudy)
2007–08 Elphaba (standby) Pantages Theatre
2008 Elphaba
2009–10 Hair Sheila Al Hirschfeld Theatre
2010 Gielgud Theatre
2011 Ghost The Musical Molly Manchester Opera House
2011–12 Piccadilly Theatre
2012 Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
2013 Murder Ballad Sara Union Square Theatre
2014–15 Les Misérables Fantine Imperial Theatre
2015 First Daughter Suite Patti Davis/Julie Nixon The Public Theatre
2017 Frozen Elsa Buell Theatre
Hair Sheila Lincoln Center
2018–20 Frozen Elsa St. James Theatre
2021–22 Caroline, or Change Rose Stopnick Gellman Studio 54
2022 The Bedwetter Beth Ann Linda Gross Theatre
Leopoldstadt Eva Merz Jakobovicz Longacre Theatre
2023 Next to Normal Diana Goodman Donmar Warehouse
2024 Wyndham's Theatre
Ragtime Mother New York City Center

Television

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Film

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Year Show Role Notes
2016 Ms. Bula Banerjee Lydia Chaney Short
2018 Options Avery Ross Short

Discography

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Studio albums

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Singles

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  • "Monster (From "Frozen: The Broadway Musical" / First Listen)" (2018)
  • "Dangerous to Dream (From "Frozen: The Broadway Musical" / First Listen)" (2018)
  • "Aquarius" (2019)

Cast recording appearances

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  • Hair (The New Broadway Cast Recording) – Ghostlight Records (2009)
  • Ghost The Musical (Original Cast Recording) – Ghost Rights Worldwide LLP (2011)
  • With You: Ghost The Musical Stand Up to Cancer EP – Ghost Rights Worldwide LLP (2011)
  • First Daughter Suite (Original Cast Recording) – Ghostlight Records (2016)
  • Frozen: The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) – Walt Disney Records (2018)
  • The Other Josh Cohen: A Musical with Songs (Studio Cast Recording) – Yellow Sound Label (2018)
  • Caroline, or Change (The New Broadway Cast Recording) – Broadway Records, Roundabout (2021)

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Nominated work Result
2023 Grammy Awards Best Musical Theater Album Caroline, or Change Nominated
2024 Olivier Awards Best Actress in a Musical Next to Normal Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Caissie Levy & David Reiser to Marry Tonight". BroadwayWorld. October 30, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-11-01.
  2. ^ "Caissie Levy's Reflection". Reshet Ramah. 2010-09-01. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
  3. ^ a b Corrigan, Kerry (September 2002). "Caissie Levy, Kevin Spencer - Maureen and Roger in Rent at Hamilton Place". VIEW Magazine. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2008-05-03. Caissie Levy, 21, graduated from Westdale in 1999
  4. ^ "New Penny To Shine In Hairspray: Caissie Levy". BroadwayWorld. April 20, 2006. Archived from the original on 2015-03-20.
  5. ^ Gans, Andrew (December 18, 2007). "Worley to Join L.A. Wicked Cast; Levy to Succeed Espinosa". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2020-08-04. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  6. ^ Hetrick, Adam (January 29, 2009). "Swenson, Lawrence, Ryness, Levy and Allen Complete Cast of Broadway's Hair". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2020-10-27. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  7. ^ "Kyle Riabko, Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo Are Hair's New Headliners; Complete Cast Announced". Broadway.com. February 16, 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-02-19.
  8. ^ Paddock, Terri (August 27, 2010). "Ghost Musical Premieres in Manchester, Mar 2011". WhatsOnStage. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
  9. ^ "I'm Outta Here! Ghost Sets Broadway Closing Date". Broadway.com. July 24, 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-07-27.
  10. ^ Gans, Andrew (November 26, 2012). "Caissie Levy and David Are Will Celebrate New Recordings With Starry Concert". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2020-09-24. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  11. ^ Ferri, Josh (February 6, 2013). "Caissie Levy to Play Tunes from Her New EP at 54 Below". Broadway.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-08. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  12. ^ "Caissie Levy - The Hippodrome Casino". The Hippodrome Casino. November 26, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  13. ^ Cheesman, Neil (January 21, 2013). "Interview with Caissie Levy". LondonTheatre1. Archived from the original on 2013-10-22.
  14. ^ Champion, Lindsay (April 9, 2013). "Murder Ballad, Starring Caissie Levy, Will Swenson & More, to Play Off-Broadway's Union Square Theatre". Broadway.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-12.
  15. ^ Gans, Andrew (July 21, 2013). "Off-Broadway Rock Musical Murder Ballad Closes July 21". Playbill. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  16. ^ "Breaking: LES MISERABLES Announces First Wave of 2014 Broadway Cast - Ramin Karimloo, Will Swenson, Nikki M. James & Caissie Levy". BroadwayWorld. October 22, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-10-25.
  17. ^ "Farewell Fantine! Les Miserables star Caissie Levy looks back on the dream role that became a reality". Broadway.com. February 26, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-02-27.
  18. ^ Lefkowitz, Andy (April 17, 2017). "Frozen Musical Announces Full Broadway Lead Casting". Broadway.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-18.
  19. ^ "Breaking: Mark Your Calendar! FROZEN Announces Opening Night on Broadway". BroadwayWorld. August 23, 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-09-25.
  20. ^ "Original FROZEN Stars Caissie Levy and Patti Murin Bid Farewell to Arendelle Today". BroadwayWorld. February 16, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-02-17.
  21. ^ Clement, Olivia (December 12, 2019). "Caissie Levy, John Cariani, Tamika Lawrence, and More Join Broadway's Caroline, or Change". Playbill. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  22. ^ Harms, Talaura (January 9, 2022). "Broadway Revival of Caroline, or Change Completes Limited Run January 9". Playbill. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  23. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (June 14, 2022). "Sarah Silverman Musical The Bedwetter Gets 2nd Off-Broadway Extension". Playbill. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  24. ^ Wiltbank, Michael (March 24, 2022). "Meet the Cast and Creatives of the New Musical The Bedwetter". Playbill. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  25. ^ Logan Culweell-Block (April 17, 2022). "Caissie Levy, Brandon Uranowitz, David Krumholtz, More on Broadway's Upcoming Leopoldstadt". Playbill.com. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  26. ^ Aliya Al-Hassan (June 16, 2023). "Full Casting Announced for NEXT TO NORMAL at the Donmar Warehouse". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  27. ^ Huston, Caitlin (March 12, 2024). "Olivier Awards: Sarah Snook, Sarah Jessica Parker, Andrew Scott Receive Noms". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  28. ^ Andrew Gans (January 18, 2024). "Entire Cast of Caissie Levy-Led Next to Normal Will Transfer to London's West End". Playbill.com. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  29. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Next to Normal, Starring Caissie Levy, Opens in London's West End June 26". Playbill.com. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  30. ^ Critics Sound Off on City Center Ragtime; Get a 1st Look at the Gala Staging
  31. ^ Mallozzi, Vincent M. (October 30, 2011). "Caissie Levy, David Reiser". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2011-10-30.
  32. ^ Spaner, Whitney (September 11, 2016). "How New Parents Caissie Levy and David Reiser Combine Talents to Conquer Stage and Stroller". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2016-09-12. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  33. ^ "Caissie Levy Has Given Birth to a Baby Girl!". BroadwayWorld. March 19, 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-03-19. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  34. ^ Levy, Caissie [@CaissieLevy] (January 21, 2021). "Joyful day, especially in light of the timing! So deeply thrilled to have finally become a citizen of the United States this morning under the Biden/Harris administration!!!" (Tweet). Retrieved March 28, 2021 – via Twitter.
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