Scarlett Strallen
Encyclopedia
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
. She took over the role from Ashley Brown
, who left the Broadway company to rehearse for the United States national tour production.
Strallen, who was born in London, England, had previously played that role twice in the West End
production: she first joined the show at the end of 2005 to replace original cast member Laura Michelle Kelly
, but left in November 2006 to join the The Royal Shakespeare Company's musical production of The Merry Wives of Windsor
in Stratford
. She returned to Mary Poppins
on 21 May 2007, replacing Lisa O'Hare
and stayed with the production until it closed at the Prince Edward Theatre
on January 12, 2008. For this role, she was nominated in the category of 'Best Takeover Role' at the Theatregoer's Choice Awards 2006. On 6 July 2008, Strallen and two other actresses who had portrayed Mary Poppins on stage (Lisa O'Hare
and Caroline Sheen
) performed the song "Practically Perfect" for a special concert of George Stiles
and Anthony Drewe
's songs, "A Spoonful of Stiles and Drewe", at Her Majesty's Theatre
. This version was released on CD in December 2008. Strallen played her final performance in the Broadway production of Mary Poppins
on October 11, 2009 and was replaced by Laura Michelle Kelly
.
Strallen has also appeared on a number of audio books down the years. One of her first, as a child, was as Matilda Wormwood
in an audio dramatisation of Roald Dahl
's Matilda
in 1990, released on audio cassette as part of the Roald Dahl Theatre Collection, dramatising a selection of the author's most popular children's books. She also appears in plays for BBC Radio 4
.
Strallen had voiced interest in the West End
production of Wicked
, but could not audition because of her involvement in Mary Poppins
.http://www.theatre.com/story/id/3001575
She is the sister of Summer Strallen
, who is also an actress. Her aunt is Broadway, stage and TV actress Bonnie Langford
. Her godfather is Christopher Biggins
.
Scarlett is also an ISTD Dance Examiner who trained with Jacqui Tapsell at The Performers Dance College in London.
Scarlett Strallen trained at Arts Educational and the London Studio Centre. She made her Broadway in 2008 playing the title role of Mary Poppins. She had previously played the role twice in the West End and first joined the show at the end of 2005 to replace Laura Michelle Kelly. She left in 2006 to join the RSC’s musical production of The Merry Wives of Windsor in Stratford and returned to Mary Poppins in 2007 staying with the production until it closed at the Prince Edward Theatre in 2008.
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...
debut on 9 October 2008 at the 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...
playing the title role 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...
. She took over the role from Ashley Brown
Ashley Brown
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.-Career:...
, who left the Broadway company to rehearse for the United States national tour production.
Strallen, who was born in London, England, had previously played that role twice 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...
production: she first joined the show at the end of 2005 to replace original cast member 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:...
, but left in November 2006 to join the The Royal Shakespeare Company's musical production of The Merry Wives of Windsor
The Merry Wives of Windsor
The Merry Wives of Windsor is a comedy by William Shakespeare, first published in 1602, though believed to have been written prior to 1597. It features the fat knight Sir John Falstaff, and is Shakespeare's only play to deal exclusively with contemporary Elizabethan era English middle class life...
in Stratford
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
. She returned to 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...
on 21 May 2007, replacing Lisa O'Hare
Lisa O'Hare
Lisa O'Hare began her career as an English stage actress who has played Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady and the title character of Mary Poppins on the West End and UK stage...
and stayed with the production until it closed at the Prince Edward Theatre
Prince Edward Theatre
The Prince Edward Theatre is a West End theatre situated on Old Compton Street, just north of Leicester Square, in the City of Westminster.The theatre was designed in 1930 by Edward A. Stone, with an interior designed by Marc-Henri Levy and Gaston Laverdet...
on January 12, 2008. For this role, she was nominated in the category of 'Best Takeover Role' at the Theatregoer's Choice Awards 2006. On 6 July 2008, Strallen and two other actresses who had portrayed Mary Poppins on stage (Lisa O'Hare
Lisa O'Hare
Lisa O'Hare began her career as an English stage actress who has played Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady and the title character of Mary Poppins on the West End and UK stage...
and 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...
) performed the song "Practically Perfect" for a special concert of George Stiles
George Stiles
George William Stiles is an English composer of musicals for stage and screen.-Education:From 1974 to 1979, he was educated at Gresham's School, in Norfolk.George Stiles also went to Exeter University.-Collaboration with Anthony Drewe:...
and Anthony Drewe
Anthony Drewe
Anthony Drewe is a British lyricist and book writer for Broadway and West End musicals. He is best known for his collaborations with George Stiles.-Work with George Stiles:*additional songs for the musical Mary Poppins*Tutankhamun*Honk!...
's songs, "A Spoonful of Stiles and Drewe", at Her Majesty's Theatre
Her Majesty's Theatre
Her Majesty's Theatre is a West End theatre, in Haymarket, City of Westminster, London. The present building was designed by Charles J. Phipps and was constructed in 1897 for actor-manager Herbert Beerbohm Tree, who established the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art at the theatre...
. This version was released on CD in December 2008. Strallen played her final performance in the Broadway production 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...
on October 11, 2009 and was replaced by 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:...
.
Strallen has also appeared on a number of audio books down the years. One of her first, as a child, was as Matilda Wormwood
Matilda Wormwood
Matilda Wormwood is a fictional character in the children's novel Matilda by Roald Dahl. She is a highly precocious six-year old girl who has a passion for reading books. Matilda's parents do not recognise their daughter's great intelligence and show little interest in her, particularly her father,...
in an audio dramatisation of Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer, fighter pilot and screenwriter.Born in Wales to Norwegian parents, he served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he became a flying ace and intelligence agent, rising to the rank of Wing Commander...
's Matilda
Matilda (novel)
Matilda is a children's novel by British author Roald Dahl. It was published in 1988 by Jonathan Cape in London, with illustrations by Quentin Blake. The story is about Matilda Wormwood, an extraordinary child with ordinary and rather unpleasant parents, who are contemptuous of their daughter's...
in 1990, released on audio cassette as part of the Roald Dahl Theatre Collection, dramatising a selection of the author's most popular children's books. She also appears in plays for BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
.
Strallen had voiced interest 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...
production of Wicked
Wicked (musical)
Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West , a parallel novel of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard...
, but could not audition because of her involvement in 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...
.http://www.theatre.com/story/id/3001575
She is the sister of Summer Strallen
Summer Strallen
Summer Peta Vaigncourt-Strallen is an English actress who has performed various roles on stage and screen. Her most notable theatre credits include Meg Giry in the West End production of Love Never Dies and Maria Von Trapp in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of The Sound of Music at the London...
, who is also an actress. Her aunt is Broadway, stage and TV actress Bonnie Langford
Bonnie Langford
Bonita Melody Lysette "Bonnie" Langford is an English actress, dancer and entertainer. She came to prominence as a child star in the early 1970s then she subsequently became a companion of Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy's Doctor Who and has appeared on stage in various musicals such as Peter Pan:...
. Her godfather is Christopher Biggins
Christopher Biggins
Christopher Kenneth Biggins is an English actor and media personality.-Career:Biggins was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England and brought up in Salisbury, Wiltshire, where he took elocution lessons and participated in local drama groups...
.
Theatre appearances
- The Music ManThe Music ManThe Music Man is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk before skipping town with...
- Marian Paroo at Chichester Festival Theatre 2008 Season - The Merry Wives of WindsorThe Merry Wives of WindsorThe Merry Wives of Windsor is a comedy by William Shakespeare, first published in 1602, though believed to have been written prior to 1597. It features the fat knight Sir John Falstaff, and is Shakespeare's only play to deal exclusively with contemporary Elizabethan era English middle class life...
- Anne Page - Mary PoppinsMary 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 PoppinsMary 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...
(BroadwayBroadway theatreBroadway 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...
West EndWest End theatreWest 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...
and SydneySydney TheatreSydney Theatre is a theatre in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Sydney Theatre seats up to 896 people and is part of the Sydney Theatre Company....
) - Chitty Chitty Bang BangChitty Chitty Bang Bang (musical)Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, also known as Chitty the Musical, is a stage musical based on the 1968 film produced by Cubby Broccoli. The music and lyrics were written by Richard and Robert Sherman with book by Jeremy Sams.-Productions:...
- Truly Scrumptious - Mamma Mia!Mamma Mia!Mamma Mia! is a stage musical written by British playwright Catherine Johnson, based on the songs of ABBA, composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, former members of the band. Although the title of the musical is taken from the group's 1975 chart-topper "Mamma Mia", the plot is fictional, not...
- The Witches of EastwickThe Witches of EastwickThe Witches of Eastwick is a 1984 novel by John Updike.-Plot summary:The story, set in the fictional Rhode Island town of Eastwick in the late 1960s, follows the witches Alexandra Spofford, Jane Smart, and Sukie Rougemont, who acquired their powers after leaving or being left by their husbands....
(original cast) - Singing In The Rain Kathy Seldon at Chichester Festival Theatre 2011 Season
Scarlett is also an ISTD Dance Examiner who trained with Jacqui Tapsell at The Performers Dance College in London.
Scarlett Strallen trained at Arts Educational and the London Studio Centre. She made her Broadway in 2008 playing the title role of Mary Poppins. She had previously played the role twice in the West End and first joined the show at the end of 2005 to replace Laura Michelle Kelly. She left in 2006 to join the RSC’s musical production of The Merry Wives of Windsor in Stratford and returned to Mary Poppins in 2007 staying with the production until it closed at the Prince Edward Theatre in 2008.