Program will be announced from the stage.
biography
Alysha Umphress is an award winning vocalist, Broadway and TV actor who most notably made a splash as the man hungry cab driver, “Hildy” in the critically acclaimed, Tony nominated hit Broadway revival of On The Town. She opened the Macy’s thanksgiving day parade, appeared on the 69th annual Tony awards and performed her standout number “I Can Cook Too” on The Today Show during Broadway week. Alysha made her Broadway debut in the original cast of Green Day’s American Idiot. During American Idiot she made musical appearances on the 52nd annual Grammy awards, the 64th annual Tony awards and Monday night football halftime show alongside Green Day. Also performing with the cast on The late show with David Letterman, Late night with Jimmy Fallon, Good Morning America, America’s Got Talent, and The Today Show. Other Broadway credits include On a Clear Day You Can See Forever starring Harry Connick jr., Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Bring it On!
Off-Broadway, Alysha made her debut in “Make Me A Song” the music of William Finn, received critical acclaim for her performance of “Jessie” in the world premiere musical, Scotland, PA at Roundabout Theatre Company. She was also nominated for a Lucuille Lortel award and won the Chita Rivera award for her work in the NYC revival of “Smokey Joe’s Cafe”.
Regional Theatre credits include Gloria Thorpe in the hit pre-Broadway run of Damn Yankees at Arena Stage last fall, also at Arena Stage Sarah Silverman’s The Bedwetter. Alysha starred as the iconic role of Cee Cee Bloom (made famous by Better Midler in the film) at The Signature Theatre in the world premiere of the musical Beaches which earned her a Helen Hayes nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role. “Meg” in the world premiere of Hood (a new musical written and directed by Douglas Carter Beane) at Dallas Theatre Center and Rhetta Cupp in Pump Boys and Dinettes at Papermill Playhouse.
Alysha is a graduate of the San Francisco School of the Arts, ACT’s Young Conservatory and holds a BFA from the Boston Conservatory.
@alyshaumphress
This artist is presented in part by the support of the Racine Community Foundation. For more information, please visit www.racinecommunityfoundation.org.