Laura Osnes
| Laura Osnes | |
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 Laura Osnes, February 2007 in Los Angeles. Photography by Nathan Johnson |
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| Born | November 19, 1985 [1] Burnsville, Minnesota |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Spouse | Nathan Johnson (May 11, 2007-present) |
Laura Ann Osnes (born November 19, 1985[1]) is an American stage actress, and the winner of the role of "Sandy" on the televised Grease: You're the One that I Want! competition. As the winner of the competition, she played Sandy in the 2007 Broadway run of Grease, and would go on to star in several more Broadway productions post-Grease. She most recently starred in the Broadway production of Bonnie & Clyde as Bonnie Parker, which ended its run on December 30, 2011.
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[edit] Biography
Osnes was born in Burnsville, Minnesota, and raised in Eagan, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, a very hot theater city. She is the daughter of Russell Osnes and Jane Raduechel Osnes Clark. Laura's stepfather is Donald Clark. Her first acting performance was in the second grade, where she played a munchkin in The Wizard of Oz. She attended Eagan High School, and then the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point for one year where she majored in Musical Theatre and appeared in Fiddler on the Roof and Seussical the Musical.
Laura also participated in productions at the acclaimed Children's Theatre Company the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and the world-renowned Guthrie Theatre before she graduated from Eagan High School
In 2005–2006 she returned to Minneapolis to be a performing apprentice at the Children's Theatre Company, performing in Working, Aladdin Jr., Prom, and Pippi Longstocking. In 2006, she choreographed and starred in Peter Pan in Eagan community theatre. She also played the lead of Sandy in Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' production of Grease, but her run was cut short when she was chosen to compete in the nationally televised Broadway talent competition Grease: You're the One that I Want!.
Osnes was engaged to Nathan Johnson (as shown in the March 18, 2007 episode of Grease: You're the One that I Want!), whom she met when both were understudies on Aladdin. They were originally planning to marry on March 24 and honeymoon in Aruba, but postponed the wedding so that she could participate in the competition. Because the schedule conflicted with March 25, 2007 episode, they rescheduled the wedding to May 11, 2007, and are now married and reside in New York City.
[edit] Grease: You're the One that I Want!
Laura Osnes was nicknamed "Small Town Sandy" in the show, even though Eagan is a large suburb of Minneapolis, and a major city. She was a favorite to win during the entire course of the show, never showing up in the "sing-off" bottom two during the show's run. She was named the winner on March 25, 2007, which meant she would perform the lead character of Sandy opposite Max Crumm, the show's male competitor who won the role of "Danny." In April 2008, Osnes announced via her Myspace blog that she did not plan to continue with Grease when it was to begin its national tour in late 2008. Osnes and Crumm played their final performances as Sandy and Danny on July 20, 2008 and they were succeeded by Ashley Spencer and Derek Keeling, two of the runners-up of Grease You're the One that I Want.[2]
[edit] Post-Grease
Osnes starred in the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' Broadway: Three Generations, a three-act evening featuring condensed versions of Girl Crazy, Bye Bye Birdie, and Side Show. The show was presented at the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater October 2–5, 2008.[3] She then played Elizabeth (Lizzy) Bennet for the concert version of the new Broadway-aimed musical Pride & Prejudice that was presented October 21, 2008 at the Eastman Theatre in Rochester, New York.[4] In early December Osnes returned home to Minnesota and performed in a local Christmas pageant. On January 11, 2009 she took part in the Rock Tenor Showcase, a showcase of a new concert experience that melds classical and Broadway music with rock-n-roll songs, at the Florence Gould Hall in Manhattan,[5] and then sang at Dreamlight Theatre Company's "Bright Lights" concert series on the evening of January 26 entitled A Night with The Ladies.[6]
[edit] Broadway career
On March 10, 2009 Osnes took over the role of Ensign Nellie Forbush from Tony Award nominee Kelli O'Hara, who went on maternity leave, in the Lincoln Center Theater Broadway revival of South Pacific. She stayed with the show through October 4, 2009.[7]
She then starred as Bonnie Parker in the world premiere of Bonnie & Clyde: A New Musical; the musical played at the La Jolla Playhouse from Nov. 10 to Dec. 20, 2009.[8][9]
On December 20, 2009 Osnes performed in a Christmas special with the band at Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park, MN.
Osnes returned to the role of Nellie Forbush in the Broadway production of South Pacific on January 5, 2010. She played her final performance on August 8, 2010. O'Hara once again returned to the production two days later to film the "Live from Lincoln Center" broadcast of the show.[10][11]
Osnes reprised the role of Bonnie Parker in Bonnie & Clyde at the Asolo Repertory Theatre, Sarasota, Florida in November and December 2010.
She then starred as Hope Harcourt, alongside Sutton Foster and Joel Grey, in the Broadway revival of Anything Goes, which began previews on March 10, 2011 and officially opened on April 7, 2011.[12] For this role Osnes received nominations for the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical[13] as well as the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical.[14] She was also nominated for an Astaire Award for excellence in dance. Osnes departed the production on September 11, 2011 and was succeeded by Erin Mackey on September 13.[15]
Osnes performed at the 2011 Kennedy Center Honors in a tribute to Barbara Cook alongside Sutton Foster, Kelli O'Hara, Patti LuPone, Glenn Close, and Audra McDonald.[16]
Beginning previews on November 4, 2011 with a December 1 opening night, Osnes once again played Bonnie Parker, this time on Broadway as Bonnie & Clyde made its Broadway debut at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. She was joined by her Asolo Rep castmate Jeremy Jordan as Clyde Barrow.[17] Other cast members included Melissa van der Schyff (2003's Big River) as Blanche Barrow, Claybourne Elder (Road Show) as Buck Barrow, and Louis Hobson (Next to Normal) as Ted Hinton.[18] Despite a generally positive audience reception, due to negative critics' reviews and lackluster ticket sales the show closed on December 30, 2011. A cast recording of the show took place January 2, 2012 and is tentatively slated for a spring 2012 release.[19]
In January 2012, Osnes played the title character in an industry-only reading of the reworked adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, Cinderella, which is aiming for a run on Broadway in the 2012-2013 theater season.[20]
She is also set to lead the Encores! production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Pipe Dream, based on John Steinbeck's novel Sweet Thursday. Under the direction of Marc Bruni, the production runs from March 28 to April 1, 2012. [21]
[edit] Broadway credits
| Preceded by N/A (Original Revival Cast) |
Sandy Dumbrowski, Grease August 19, 2007 - July 21, 2008 |
Succeeded by Ashley Spencer |
| Preceded by Kelli O'Hara |
Nellie Forbush, South Pacific March 10, 2009 - October 4, 2009 |
Succeeded by Kelli O'Hara |
| Preceded by Kelli O'Hara |
Nellie Forbush, South Pacific January 5, 2010-August 8, 2010 |
Succeeded by Kelli O'Hara |
| Preceded by N/A (Original Revival Cast) |
Hope Harcourt, Anything Goes April 7, 2011 - September 11, 2011 |
Succeeded by Erin Mackey |
| Preceded by N/A (Originated Role) |
Bonnie Parker, Bonnie & Clyde December 1, 2011 - December 30, 2011 |
Succeeded by N/A (Show Closed) |
[edit] Discography
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[edit] Awards
- "Outstanding Youth Performer of the Year", 2003, Minneapolis Star Tribune. For the role of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, with the Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis.
- Grease: You're the One that I Want!, 2007, winner of the role of Sandy
- "2009 Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Replacement (Female)" in South Pacific.[22]
- "2009 San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award for Lead Performance in a Musical, Female in Bonnie & Clyde.[23]
- 2011 Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress Anything Goes
- 2011 Outer Critics Circle Nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in Anything Goes
- 2011 Astaire Award Nomination for Excellence in Dance for Anything Goes
[edit] References
- ^ a b "30 Under 30 - Laura Osnes". BroadwaySpace.com. 2011. http://www.broadwayspace.com/page/30-under-30-laura-osnes. "Age: 25 (11/19/1985)"
- ^ Gans, Andrew; Kenneth Jones (25 Jun 2008). "Keeling and Spencer Will Be Danny and Sandy in Grease in July". Playbill.com. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/119000.html.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (19 Aug 2008). "Grease Star Osnes Cast in Kennedy Center's Birdie". Playbill.com. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/120538.html.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (26 Sep 2008). "Osnes, Blum, Stanek and More Join Cast of Oct. 21 Pride & Prejudice Concert". Playbill.com. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/121783.html.
- ^ Evan, Russo, Zolli, Osnes and Wilson Set for Rock Tenor Showcase Jan. 11
- ^ Kudisch, Zien, Osnes, Larsen and More Will Be Part of A Night with the Ladies Jan. 26
- ^ Hetrick, Adam."Grease's Osnes to Succeed O'Hara in South Pacific," playbill.com, February 12, 2009
- ^ Jones, Kenneth.Osnes and Sands Are La Jolla's Bonnie & Clyde; Winningham and Van der Schyff Also Cast "Osnes and Sands Are La Jolla's Bonnie and Clyde," playbill.com, July 13, 2009
- ^ Jones, Kenneth."Stark Sands and Laura Osnes Are Bonnie and Clyde in NYC Reading of Wildhorn Musical," playbill.com, February 4, 2009
- ^ Laura Osnes Re-Joins SOUTH PACIFIC; Kelli O'Hara Takes Final Bow Jan. 3
- ^ O'Hara Will Return to South Pacific in Time for "Live from Lincoln Center" PBS Broadcast
- ^ "Bon Voyage! Anything Goes, With Sutton Foster and Joel Grey, Opens on Broadway" playbill.com
- ^ Outer Critics Circle Nominees Include Sister Act, Anything Goes, Book of Mormon
- ^ 56th Annual Drama Desk Nominations Announced; Book of Mormon Scores 12 Nominations
- ^ Hope Springs Eternal: Erin Mackey Will Be New Ingenue of Anything Goes
- ^ STAGE TUBE: Sutton Foster, Glenn Close, Patti LuPone & More Honor Barbara Cook at Kennedy Center Honors - The Musical Tribute!
- ^ Inside Bonnie & Clyde's Photoshoot
- ^ Cast for BONNIE & CLYDE on Broadway
- ^ [1]
- ^ Laura Osnes Leads Broadway-Bound CINDERELLA Reading this Month
- ^ Laura Osnes to Lead PIPE DREAMS for City Center Encores!
- ^ Headlines: The Fans Have Spoken! 2009 Broadway.com Audience Award Winners Announced
- ^ San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Announces 2009 Awards
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Laura Osnes |
- Laura Osnes at the Internet Movie Database
- Interview about her role in SOUTH PACIFIC
- NBC profile
- Chanhassen Dinner Theatres
- "Could the next Sandy be from Burnsville? NBC will find out", January 19, 2007, Minneapolis Star-Tribune
- Mpls.-St. Paul Magazine Article
- Laura singing the National Anthem at the Minnesota Twins Game
