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Brandi Burkhardt

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Brandi Burkhardt

Brandi Lynn Burkhardt (born June 26, 1982) is an American vocalist, actress and beauty queen. She grew up in Pasadena, Maryland but currently lives in New York City.

Biography

Education

She went to the prestigious New York University Tisch School of the Arts[1] - Lee Strasberg Studio

Pageant contestant

Burkhardt first hit the small screen in 1997, when she competed in the Miss Teen USA pageant as Miss Maryland Teen USA. She went unplaced at the national pageant, which was won by Shelly Moore of Tennessee. She later moved to New York to attend New York University, where she won the Miss Manhattan pageant, the Miss New York pageant and competed at Miss America in 1999. Burkhardt performed vocal talent at that pageant, singing "Take Me As I Am", which she would later record as Emma on the concept album for the film and national tour concert version of Jekyll & Hyde (musical), Jekyll & Hyde - Resurrection. In 2005, Burkhardt competed in the Miss New York USA pageant, attempting to win the Triple Crown. She placed 3rd runner-up to Meaghan Jarensky, who would later make the finals at Miss USA 2005.

Theatre

Burkhardt's first major credit was the Jekyll and Hyde-Resurrection Tour, after she replaced Lauren Kennedy in the starring role of Emma Carew. This version of Jekyll and HYDE was told in concert form. A new song, "If You Only Knew", was written for her. Her Broadway debut came when she was cast as Lucie Manette in the Broadway musical adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities, which opened for previews on August 19, 2008 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in New York[2] and had an official opening of September 18, 2008. She was persuaded to audition for the show by star James Barbour, who was at a dinner meeting with her and then-fiance Frank Wildhorn). The production announced on November 4 that it would be closing on November 16, but the producers announced on November 7 that due to poor ticket sales the following week, the production would close on November 9, 2008. She then played Sophie Sheridan in the Broadway production of Mamma Mia. She began her run on January 27, 2009 replacing Allison Case.[3] Burkhardt played her final performance on September 20, 2009 and was succeeded by Alyse Alan Louis.[4]

Burkhardt has been attached to several other projects. Most prominently, she was connected to Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure by Frank Wildhorn. Singing the role on several demo recordings, she also premiered the song "Once More I Can See" at the Graz Theatre Festival as part of the "Frank Wildhorn & Friends" series. The show made its world premiere on December 5 in Tampa, Florida. She was also apart of the workshops and demos for Rudolf - the Last Kiss as Mary Vetsera, and performed the role of Mercedes in The Count of Monte Cristo recordings and workshops (opposite James Stacy Barbour, her co-star in Tale). Both of these shows have seen large success in Europe and are composed by Frank Wildhorn.

Film & television

After touring the country in the musical Jekyll and Hyde, with the Resurrection Cast in concert form, Burkhardt joined the cast of the NBC daytime drama Passions as the[5] mysterious Siren, a mermaid now living on land. She is also seen in the film Confessions of a Shopaholic, as a "Sample Sales Woman." In the summer of 2009, the musical A Tale of Two Cities filmed a concert version of the show which was seen in the winter months of '09 and '10 on select PBS stations. It is expected to be released on DVD. She reprised her role of Lucie Mannette.

Personal life

She was formerly engaged to composer/lyricist/producer Frank Wildhorn.[6] The couple split however, in late 2008.

Trivia

  • In her Broadway debut, Burkhardt played the daughter of Gregg Edelman, in which we are never introduced/know anything of Lucie's mother. In her second Broadway outing, she was the daughter of Carolee Carmello, in which nothing is known of her character's (Sophie) father. Ironically, Ms. Carmello and Mr. Edelman are married in real life.
  • Burkhardt, self-proclaimed as a shy performer, was persuaded by then roommate Kate Shindle to audition for the vacant spot of Emma Carew for the national tour of Jekyll & HYDE: Resurrection.
  • Burkhardt auditioned for the Broadway run of A Tale of Two Cities after the persuasion of star James Stacy Barbour (who made a personal call to the casting agent in order to squeeze her into the already booked auditions), while she was out to dinner with then fiance Frank Wildhorn and Barbour's wife.

Recordings

  • 2006: Jekyll & Hyde - Resurrection Studio Cast Recording
  • 2009: Count of Monte Cristo - The Musical Highlights Concept Album Recording
  • 2010: "A Tale of Two Cities...the new musical" International Studio Cast Recording
  • 2010: "A Tale of Two Cities...the new musical" PBS Concert DVD

References

  1. ^ http://www.broadway.com/Brandi-Burkhardt/broadway_news/571286
  2. ^ [1], Broadway.com, July 23, 2008
  3. ^ Headlines: Brandi Burkhardt Headed for Broadway's Mamma Mia!
  4. ^ MAMMA MIA! To Welcome New Leads; Louis, Morris, Boll & Macdonald Join The Party 9/22
  5. ^ [2] tv.com
  6. ^ http://www.broadway.com/Brandi-Burkhardt/broadway_news/571286
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