Ashley Brown
Encyclopedia
Ashley Brown is an actress who is best known for playing the title character in the United States
national tour and Broadway
productions of Mary Poppins
.
. This in turn led to her Broadway debut on September 20, 2005 replacing Brooke Tansley as the lead character, Belle, in the Walt Disney Theatrical
production of Beauty and the Beast. She departed the role on May 28, 2006, after eight months and she was succeeded by Sarah Litzsinger
.
On November 16, 2006, Mary Poppins opened on Broadway with Brown starring as the title character. Brown left the Broadway Company on October 5, 2008 after playing the role for two years and was replaced by Scarlett Strallen
who previously played the role in the West End
.
In March 2007, Brown appeared on All My Children
as herself.
On March 11, 2009, Brown reprised the role of Mary Poppins in the US National Tour. She left the tour on February 7, 2010, and was succeeded by Caroline Sheen
.
On October 20, 2009, Brown performed the role of Snow White in the world symphonic premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - A Symphonic Retelling, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
She has recorded her first solo album of American songbook standards, which was released in January 2010.
Brown played Maria in The Muny
production of The Sound of Music
, which ran from July 26 - August 1, 2010. For this role she won the Kevin Kline Award
for Outstanding Actress in a Musical.
Brown recently starred as Oona in the world-premiere of the new musical Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin
, which ran at the La Jolla Playhouse
from September 7 through October 17, 2010.
Brown most recently played the role of Mary Poppins again in the Broadway production from March 8 - July 17, 2011 while Laura Michelle Kelly
was away filming a movie.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
national tour and Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
productions of Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins (musical)
Mary Poppins is a Walt Disney Theatrical musical based on the similarly titled series of children's books by P. L. Travers and the Disney 1964 film. The West End production opened in December 2004 and received two Olivier Awards, one for Best Actress in a Musical and the other for Best Theatre...
.
Career
Brown initially caught the attention of casting director Tara Rubin not long after graduating from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. After a successful audition, she was cast in the Disney touring production On the RecordOn the Record (musical revue)
On the Record is a jukebox musical revue featuring many classic songs from a variety of live action and animated films and television series produced by Walt Disney Pictures, Broadway musical plays produced by Walt Disney Theatrical, and even Disneyland attractions...
. This in turn led to her Broadway debut on September 20, 2005 replacing Brooke Tansley as the lead character, Belle, in the Walt Disney Theatrical
Walt Disney Theatrical
Disney Theatrical Group, also known as Disney Theatrical Productions, is the stageplay and musical production arm of The Walt Disney Company...
production of Beauty and the Beast. She departed the role on May 28, 2006, after eight months and she was succeeded by Sarah Litzsinger
Sarah Litzsinger
Sarah Elizabeth Litzsinger is an American actress and singer, best known for her career in musical theatre.Litzsinger's family is from Carmel, Indiana. She made her Broadway debut in 1983 at age eleven, as the understudy for Young Norma Jean in the short-lived Marilyn: An American Fable...
.
On November 16, 2006, Mary Poppins opened on Broadway with Brown starring as the title character. Brown left the Broadway Company on October 5, 2008 after playing the role for two years and was replaced by Scarlett Strallen
Scarlett Strallen
Scarlett Strallen is a British stage actress who made her Broadway debut on 9 October 2008 at the New Amsterdam Theatre playing the title role of Mary Poppins...
who previously played the role in the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
.
In March 2007, Brown appeared on All My Children
All My Children
All My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...
as herself.
On March 11, 2009, Brown reprised the role of Mary Poppins in the US National Tour. She left the tour on February 7, 2010, and was succeeded by Caroline Sheen
Caroline Sheen
Caroline Sheen is a Welsh actress who has played various roles on stage in the West End and at other venues across London and the UK. She recently played the role of Mary Poppins on the First National Tour of America...
.
On October 20, 2009, Brown performed the role of Snow White in the world symphonic premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - A Symphonic Retelling, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
She has recorded her first solo album of American songbook standards, which was released in January 2010.
Brown played Maria in The Muny
The Muny
The Muny, short for The Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis, is an outdoor musical theatre, located in Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri...
production of The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
, which ran from July 26 - August 1, 2010. For this role she won the Kevin Kline Award
Kevin Kline Awards
The Kevin Kline Awards were started in 2006, to recognize outstanding achievement in professional theatre in the Greater St. Louis area. The awards are sponsored by PTAC, the Professional Theatre Awards Council, and were named in honor of Kevin Kline, a St...
for Outstanding Actress in a Musical.
Brown recently starred as Oona in the world-premiere of the new musical Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin
Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin
Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin is a musical with music and lyrics by Christopher Curtis and a book by Curtis and Thomas Meehan. The show is based on the life of Charlie Chaplin.-Productions:...
, which ran at the La Jolla Playhouse
La Jolla Playhouse
La Jolla Playhouse is a not-for-profit, professional theatre-in-residence on the campus of the University of California, San Diego. -Background:...
from September 7 through October 17, 2010.
Brown most recently played the role of Mary Poppins again in the Broadway production from March 8 - July 17, 2011 while Laura Michelle Kelly
Laura Michelle Kelly
Laura Michelle Kelly is an English actress and singer who achieved critical acclaim in the role of Mary Poppins in the musical of the same name.-Musical theatre:...
was away filming a movie.
Theatre credits
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Meet Me in St. Louis Meet Me in St. Louis (musical) Meet Me in St. Louis is a musical based on the 1944 film of the same title, about a family living in St. Louis, Missouri on the eve of the 1904 World's Fair.... |
Rose | The Muny The Muny The Muny, short for The Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis, is an outdoor musical theatre, located in Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri... |
|
| 2005–2006 | Beauty and the Beast Beauty and the Beast (musical) Beauty and the Beast is a musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice and a book by Linda Woolverton, based on the 1991 Disney film of the same name. Seven new songs were written for the stage musical... |
Belle | Lunt-Fontanne Theatre Lunt-Fontanne Theatre The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 205 West 46th Street in midtown-Manhattan.Designed by the architectural firm of Carrere and Hastings, it was built by producer Charles Dillingham and opened as the Globe Theatre, in honor of London's Shakespearean playhouse, on... |
|
| 2006–2008 | Mary Poppins Mary Poppins (musical) Mary Poppins is a Walt Disney Theatrical musical based on the similarly titled series of children's books by P. L. Travers and the Disney 1964 film. The West End production opened in December 2004 and received two Olivier Awards, one for Best Actress in a Musical and the other for Best Theatre... |
Mary Poppins Mary Poppins (character) Mary Poppins is a fictional character and the protagonist of P. L. Travers' Mary Poppins books and all of its adaptations. She is a magical nanny of unknown origins who arrives at the Banks home in Cherry Tree Lane where she is given charge of the Banks children and teaches them valuable lessons... |
New Amsterdam Theatre New Amsterdam Theatre The New Amsterdam Theatre is a Broadway theater located at 214 West 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Theatre District of Manhattan, New York City, off of Times Square... |
Original Broadway cast member Nominated-Outer Critics Circle Award Outer Critics Circle Award The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on and Off-Broadway and were begun during the 1949-1950 theater season. The awards are decided upon by theater critics who review for out-of-town newspapers, national publications, and other media outlets... for Outstanding Actress in a Musical Nominated-Drama League Award Drama League Award The Drama League Awards, created in 1935, honor distinguished productions and performances both on Broadway and Off-Broadway, in addition to recognizing exemplary career achievements in theatre, musical theatre, and directing... for Distinguished Performance Nominated-Drama Desk Award Drama Desk Award The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category... for Outstanding Actress in a Musical |
| 2010 | The Sound of Music The Sound of Music The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers... |
Maria | The Muny The Muny The Muny, short for The Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis, is an outdoor musical theatre, located in Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri... |
Winner-Kevin Kline Award Kevin Kline Awards The Kevin Kline Awards were started in 2006, to recognize outstanding achievement in professional theatre in the Greater St. Louis area. The awards are sponsored by PTAC, the Professional Theatre Awards Council, and were named in honor of Kevin Kline, a St... for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical |
| 2010 | Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin | Oona | La Jolla Playhouse La Jolla Playhouse La Jolla Playhouse is a not-for-profit, professional theatre-in-residence on the campus of the University of California, San Diego. -Background:... |
|
| 2011 | Mary Poppins Mary Poppins (musical) Mary Poppins is a Walt Disney Theatrical musical based on the similarly titled series of children's books by P. L. Travers and the Disney 1964 film. The West End production opened in December 2004 and received two Olivier Awards, one for Best Actress in a Musical and the other for Best Theatre... |
Mary Poppins Mary Poppins (character) Mary Poppins is a fictional character and the protagonist of P. L. Travers' Mary Poppins books and all of its adaptations. She is a magical nanny of unknown origins who arrives at the Banks home in Cherry Tree Lane where she is given charge of the Banks children and teaches them valuable lessons... |
New Amsterdam Theatre New Amsterdam Theatre The New Amsterdam Theatre is a Broadway theater located at 214 West 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Theatre District of Manhattan, New York City, off of Times Square... |
Return to role |
Tours
| Year | Tour title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–2005 | On the Record | Kristen | |
| 2009–2010 | Mary Poppins Mary Poppins (musical) Mary Poppins is a Walt Disney Theatrical musical based on the similarly titled series of children's books by P. L. Travers and the Disney 1964 film. The West End production opened in December 2004 and received two Olivier Awards, one for Best Actress in a Musical and the other for Best Theatre... |
Mary Poppins Mary Poppins (character) Mary Poppins is a fictional character and the protagonist of P. L. Travers' Mary Poppins books and all of its adaptations. She is a magical nanny of unknown origins who arrives at the Banks home in Cherry Tree Lane where she is given charge of the Banks children and teaches them valuable lessons... |
|