Summer Strallen
| Summer Strallen | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 21, 1985 London, England |
| Occupation | Actress, Dancer |
| Years active | 2001 - Present |
Summer Peta Vaigncourt-Strallen (born December 21, 1985) 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 Palladium.
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[edit] Personal life
Strallen was born in London in 1984 and has been dancing since she was 18 months old. She has three sisters who are also actresses: Saskia (Sasi), Zizi and Scarlett.[1] Her parents, performers Sandy Strallen and Cherida Langford, both performed in the original London production of "Cats", but had met prior to this show. Summer is the niece of Bonnie Langford,[2] her mother's sister. Her sister Scarlett's godfather is actor Christopher Biggins.
[edit] Theatre career
Summer trained at The Arts Educational schools London with her three sisters and for one year at Laine Theatre Arts.[3] She has been involved in the West End productions of Cats, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Guys and Dolls and The Boyfriend (for which she was nominated for the 2007 ‘Olivier’ Award for ‘Best Supporting Role in a Musical’).[4] During the Christmas season of 2006 she played the title role in the pantomime Dick Whittington and His Cat. More recently, she starred in The Drowsy Chaperone (for which she was nominated for the 2008 ‘Olivier’ Award for ‘Best Actress in a Musical’), alongside Elaine Paige.[5] Strallen voiced the part of "Princess Lucy" in The Big Knights, a British animated children's television series.
It was announced on 4 January 2008 that Strallen would take over the role of "Maria" from Connie Fisher in Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End revival of The Sound of Music, starting from 26 February 2008.[6] As part of a publicity campaign, some months earlier on 2 October 2007, Strallen had been "planted" in the soap opera Hollyoaks as character Summer Shaw.[7] The character's storyline eventually involved her auditioning for, and being awarded, the role of Maria in The Sound of Music. Her character left Hollyoaks as Strallen debuted in the actual stage production of The Sound of Music at the London Palladium on 26 February 2008. For this role she was nominated for the 'Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Takeover in a Role'.[8] Strallen remained with the production till its closure on 21 February 2009.[9]
Strallen competed on a special West End edition of The Weakest Link and finished in 2nd place.[10]
Strallen starred as Meg Giry in the sequel to Phantom of the Opera called Love Never Dies, from February 2010 to March 2011 in the West End at the Adelphi Theatre.[11] For this role Strallen won the Broadwayworld.com UK Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical[12] and was also nominated for the 'Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical'.[13] She also received another nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical for this role.[14]
She created the Ginger Rogers role of Dale Tremont in the new musical adaptation of Top Hat, which began a U.K. tour in August 2011.[15] The production is also scheduled to begin performances at the West End's Aldwych Theatre on April 19, 2012 with an opening on May 9, 2012.[16]
[edit] Television
Summer played the role of Nancy Morrell in BBC One's World War Two drama Land Girls broadcast in September 2009. She also played the role of Summer Shaw in Channel 4's soap Hollyoaks.
[edit] Recordings
In 2008 Strallen recorded a song for the CD Act One - Songs From The Musicals Of Alexander S. Bermange, an album of 20 brand new recordings by 26 West End stars, released in November 2008 on Dress Circle Records. She can also be heard on the Love Never Dies cast recording as Meg Giry.
[edit] References
- ^ "Scarlett and Summer Strallen". Times Online (London). 2006-10-01. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/article1085807.ece. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
- ^ Bonnie Langford to return to Broadway - Daily Telegraph
- ^ "Laine Graduates". Laine Theatre Arts. http://www.betty-laine-management.co.uk/grad_theatre_west_end.html. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
- ^ "The Big Interview: Summer Strallen". Official London Theatre. 2006-07-05. http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/news/interviews/view/item71620/. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
- ^ Nathan, John (2008-02-06). "London Hairspray Breaks Record With 11 Olivier Award Nominations". Playbill.com. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/114886.html. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
- ^ Nathan, John (2008-01-04). "Lloyd Webber Solves Maria Problem – Again". Playbill.com. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/113974.html. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ^ "Webber plants Hollyoaks actress". BBC News Online. 2008-02-01. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7220626.stm. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
- ^ WOS Theatregoers' Choice Nominees Announced
- ^ Sound of Music to Close in February 2009
- ^ West End Musical Stars Line Up for Weakest Link
- ^ Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies to Premiere in London in March 2010; New York, Australia to Follow
- ^ LOVE NEVER DIES The Big Winner In First BWW:UK Awards!
- ^ Whatsonstage.com Awards Nominees Announced
- ^ 2011 Olivier Award Nominations Announced; LOVE NEVER DIES and AFTER THE DANCE Lead
- ^ Tom Chambers, Summer Strallen to Star in Irving Berlin's Top Hat in the U.K.
- ^ Tom Chambers, Summer Strallen to Star in West End Transfer of Top Hat
