Eden Erica Espinosa (born February 2, 1978) is an American actress and singer who is best known for her performances as Elphaba for the Broadway, Los Angeles, and San Francisco productions of the musical Wicked.[1] In 2022, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role as the Queen of Hearts in Alice's Wonderland Bakery. In 2024, Espinosa received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in Lempicka.
Eden Espinosa | |
|---|---|
 Espinosa in May 2008 | |
| Born | Eden Erica Espinosa February 2, 1978 Anaheim, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Spouse |
Joseph Abate
(m. 2010; div. 2019) |
| Website | edenespinosa |
Education and early career
editEspinosa was born in Anaheim, California, of Mexican descent.[2] She began singing at the age of three, performing at age five, and recording at the age of ten. At Canyon High School, she played the role of Maria in West Side Story.[3] After graduating, Espinosa worked at local theme parks such as Disneyland and Universal Studios.[4] She was also part of the successful performing group The Young Americans, which is based in Southern California and performs in front of audiences worldwide.
Career
editWicked
editThis section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (July 2010) |
Espinosa made her Broadway debut as a member of the original Broadway cast of Stephen Schwartz's musical Wicked, which opened on October 30, 2003.[5] She started the production as standby for Idina Menzel in the role of Elphaba.[5] She was also an understudy for the role of Nessarose. Espinosa performed the role of Elphaba for a month continuously during the summer of 2004, while Menzel was filming Ask the Dust. Espinosa left Wicked on September 5, 2004, to originate the lead for the Broadway debut of Brooklyn.
Following the closing of Brooklyn the Musical, Espinosa performed the lead role of Elphaba for the Wicked First National tour during the entire San Francisco run, from August 5 to September 11, 2005. She replaced Stephanie J. Block while Block recovered from an injury.[6]
On January 10, 2006, Espinosa returned to perform in the lead role of Elphaba for the Broadway production of Wicked, taking over the role from Shoshana Bean.[7] Espinosa performed for the Wicked celebration of its 1,000th performance on Broadway, on March 21, 2006. She left the Broadway production on October 8, 2006, and was replaced by Ana Gasteyer.[8]
Espinosa received the 2006 Broadway.com Audience Award for "Favorite Female Replacement", in recognition of her performances as Elphaba during her Broadway run as lead.[9]
Espinosa originated the role of Elphaba for the third U.S. production of Wicked in Los Angeles, which opened on February 21, 2007, playing the role until December 30, 2007.[10] She received broad critical acclaim for the role.[11] She returned on October 31, 2008 and stayed with the production until its closing night on January 11, 2009.[12] On March 2, 2010 until June 26, 2010, Espinosa played Elphaba in the San Francisco production of Wicked.[13] This was the last time Espinosa ever played Elphaba.[14]
Brooklyn the Musical
editEspinosa originated and workshopped the title role in Brooklyn the Musical over the course of two years. Its world premiere was on April 30, 2003 (previews),[15] and it ran until June 15, 2003, at the Denver Civic Center.[16]
Espinosa opened in Brooklyn on Broadway at the Plymouth Theatre on October 21, 2004, and stayed with the musical until it closed on June 26, 2005.[17] It played 27 previews and 284 regular performances.
Espinosa was nominated for a 2005 Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance for her performance.[18] She was featured on the original Broadway cast recording of Brooklyn the Musical.[citation needed]
Rent
editOn May 30, 2008, joined the Broadway cast of Rent at the Nederlander Theatre[19] and stayed with the production until it closed on September 7, 2008. Espinosa made appearances on Good Morning America and at the 2008 Tony Awards (which featured the original and closing Broadway casts). She also featured in the filmed final Broadway performance.[20]
Additional theatre
editEspinosa starred in a production of Flora the Red Menace which ran at UCLA's Freud Playhouse from May 6–18, 2008.[21] After its closing, on September 21, 2008, Espinosa made her West End debut in "Never Neverland", a benefit concert that raised money for British charities Ovarian Cancer Action and NCH. The concert took place at the Duchess Theatre in London.
Espinosa performed as Miranda in the one-night staging of Howard Ashman's previously unproduced musical Dreamstuff on June 23, 2008, at the Hayworth Theatre in Los Angeles, directed by Michael Urie.[22]
Espinosa played the Fairy Godmother in the 2011 Nashville Symphony Orchestra concert version of Cinderella on April 15, 2011, alongside Wicked alum Alli Mauzey, who played the title character.[23]
She headlined the world premiere of the new musical Rain by Michael John LaChiusa as Sadie, at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego from March 24 to May 1, 2016.[24] In 2017, she played Mary in Merrily We Roll Along at Huntington Theatre Company.
Espinosa played the lead role in Studio Tenn's production of Evita in Nashville, Tennessee, from September 9 to 18, 2016.[25]
In 2018, Espinosa played the role of Daniella in the concert version of Lin-Manuel Miranda's In the Heights.
For an entire year, Espinosa starred as Trina in the 2019 National tour of Falsettos.
On February 17, 2020, Espinosa appeared as one of The Narrators in the 50th Anniversary concert of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Lincoln Center.
Espinosa starred in The Gardens of Anuncia, a musical by Michael John LaChiusa about the life of Graciela Daniele, portraying her mother.[26]
Espinosa starred as the titular character in Lempicka at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in 2018 and later the La Jolla Playhouse from 2019 to 2020.[27] The musical transferred to Broadway's Longacre Theatre in 2024.[28] For her performance, Espinosa received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.[29]
Solo shows/performances
editOn October 22, 2005, Espinosa made her solo concert debut with a co-headlining show with Tony Award nominee Euan Morton at Town Hall in New York City part of the venue's Cabaret Festival.[30]
In March 2009, Espinosa performed her solo show entitled "Me" at Joe's Pub in New York City, directed by Billy Porter.[31] She returned to Southern California with her show on Friday, July 24, 2009, at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre.
In December 2009, she performed a 2nd solo show entitled "From Eden With Love" at the Razz Room at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco, CA.
In September 2012, Espinosa became one of the first few major lineup acts opening Feinstein's/54 Below with a themed show paying tribute to the acclaimed singer-songwriter Eva Cassidy.[32]
She was featured as a soloist for Disneyland's new firework spectacular "Magical" premiering in the summer of 2009, where she sang Magical's theme song as well as Disney songs such as "Baby Mine".[33]
In February 2020, Espinosa launched a new acoustic solo show at The Green Room 42 entitled Unplugged & Unplanned.[34] Every concert, the show's setlist would be all new. The February shows were sold out; it included an extension that led into March 2020. However, the final two shows were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When live performances started to resume during the spring of 2021, Espinosa returned and completed the last two shows of the residency.
Today, many of the Espinosa's concerts are done in the style inspired by her Unplugged & Unplanned show rotating the setlist of tunes from her Broadway career, both her solo albums, pop/rock covers, and a Musical Theater fan request section. On August 8, 2021, she headlined her first solo concert on the Las Vegas Strip at The Space Las Vegas. For fans who weren't able to make it, the concert was also livestreamed. On November 13, 2021, Espinosa performed a one night only concert in Holmdel, NJ at the Holmdel Theatre Company (part of the Broadway at the Barn series).
Espinosa brought her concert overseas to London at Cadogan Hall on April 8, 2022.
Solo albums
editIn August 2012, Espinosa announced she was in the process of recording her debut solo album, featuring modern Broadway hits with a pop sensibility, entitled Look Around.[35] The album was released on December 18, 2012, debuting at #41 on the iTunes Pop Charts.[36] The album also went on to win multiple awards for independent artists including the Independent Music Awards for Pop Album of the Year, Female Pop Vocalist of the Year, and Producer of the Year (which went to Espinosa's producer, Joseph Abate).[37]
On July 25, 2015, Espinosa announced she was in the early development process of her sophomore studio album. Just like with Look Around, she started a Kickstarter fundraiser to raise money for the album.[38] The album recordings and release were delayed due to Espinosa's schedule with various theater projects, voiceover work, concerts, and personal situations that ended up inspiring the album of original songs.[citation needed] The sophomore album, entitled "Revelation", was officially released on January 23, 2019.[39] It debuted at #15 on the Pop iTunes charts.
Television
editEspinosa has appeared on various television shows, including Law & Order, Robot Chicken, and Dog Whisperer. She had a recurring role in 2009 as the voice of Sasha Caylo on the super robot animated series Titan Maximum, an original show developed for Adult Swim.[40]
In 2007, the ABC series Ugly Betty included performances of "I'm Not That Girl" and "Defying Gravity" in the episode "Something Wicked This Way Comes", featuring Espinosa and other members of Los Angeles Wicked cast.[41]
She has also appeared on the Today Show in 2004, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade TV broadcast in 2004, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2007, and as a performer on the 2008 Tony Awards.[42]
In 2011, she appeared on the animated sketch comedy series Mad episode "Force Code / Flammable" as Katy Putty, a Katy Perry parody made out of Play-Doh who sings about flammability, and performed "Flammable", a spoof on Perry's song "Firework".
In 2016, she voiced Orizaba the moth fairy in the tenth episode of Elena of Avalor, "The Sceptre of Light",[43] and again in 2018 for season two episode 18, "Finding Zuzo".[44]
She voiced Rapunzel’s handmaiden and confidant Cassandra in the 2017 film Tangled: Before Ever After[45] and in Tangled: The Series/Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure.[46] For the show, she sang the lead vocals for the song "Waiting in the Wings", composed by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater, which won the 2020 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song in a Children's, Young Adult or Animated Program.[47]
In 2022, she voiced The Queen Of Hearts in Disney Junior's Alice's Wonderland Bakery.
She sang vocals in the musical number titled "TRUCKS" in the episode of the same name of Cars on the Road.
Game Night
editDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, Espinosa along with real life best friend vocalist and Rent alumna Kamilah Marshall collaborated with California based Regional house Musical Theatre West creating a weekly web series on Instagram Live entitled Game Night with Eden & Kamilah. The series featured the duo in a friendly competition playing a series of Musical Theatre themed trivia games. The series would go Live every Thursday night on Instagram. However, the plug got pulled from them doing the lives due to the change of restrictions of use of music on the lives on social media. They later moved it to being an interactive show on Zoom featuring fans playing along. Most recently, Game Night was then changed to a real live studio game show featuring both Espinosa and Marshall hosting with special Broadway guests. It was released on Broadstream on November 3, 2021.
Personal life
editEden married managing producer Joseph Abate on October 16, 2010. They divorced in 2019.
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Law & Order | Mia Alvarez | TV series; Episode: "Deadlock" |
| 2007 | Ugly Betty | Elphaba | TV series; Episode: "Something Wicked This Way Comes" |
| 2007–2022 | Robot Chicken | Various roles (voice) | TV series; 18 episodes |
| 2008 | Dog Whisperer | Herself | TV series; Episode: "Owen, Jerry and Rocky" |
| Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway | Maureen Johnson | TV film | |
| 2009 | Titan Maximum | Lt. Sasha Caylo / Female Fightercraft Pilot (voice) | TV series; recurring role |
| 2010 | Chico's Angels | Moca | TV series; Episode: "Gang of Chicas" |
| Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III | Princess Leia / Mon Mothma (voice) | TV film | |
| 2011–2013 | Mad | Various roles (voice) | TV series; 2 episodes |
| 2016–2020 | Elena of Avalor | Orizaba (voice) | TV series; 3 episodes |
| 2017 | Tangled: Before Ever After | Cassandra (voice) | TV film |
| 2017–2020 | Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure | TV series; main role | |
| 2018 | Tangled Short Cuts | TV miniseries: Episode: "Hiccup Fever" | |
| Elementary | Doctor | TV series; Episode: "Fit to Be Tired" | |
| The Storyteller | Carol | Film | |
| 2022–2024 | Alice's Wonderland Bakery | Queen of Hearts (voice) | TV series; 32 episodes |
Recordings
edit- Top 25 Praise Songs – Updated (2000)
- Top 25 Acoustic Worship Songs (2002)
- The Maury Yeston Songbook (2003)
- Hair – The Actors' Fund of America Benefit Recording (2005)
- Bright Lights, Big City (2005 concept album)
- Brooklyn the Musical (2005 Original Broadway Cast Recording)
- Dreaming Wide Awake: The Music of Scott Alan (2007)
- David Burnham – featured duet: "As Long as You're Mine" (2007)
- Magical: Disney's New Nighttime Spectacular of Magical Celebrations (Disneyland, 2009) – Featured Vocals
- Celebrate! Tokyo Disneyland (Tokyo Disneyland, 2018) – Featured Vocals
- Lempicka: Original Broadway Cast Recording (2024)
Solo albums
edit- Look Around (2012)
- Revelation (2019)
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Brooklyn | Nominated |
| 2006 | Broadway.com Audience Choice Award | Favorite Female Replacement | Wicked | Won |
| 2022 | Children's and Family Emmy Awards | Outstanding Voice Performance in a Preschool Animated Program | Alice's Wonderland Bakery | Nominated |
| 2024 | Tony Awards | Best Actress in a Musical | Lempicka | Nominated |
| Broadway.com Audience Awards | Favorite Leading Actress in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Favorite Diva Performance | Nominated | |||
| Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance | The Gardens of Anuncia and Lempicka | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ Pogrebin, Robin (September 29, 2004). "From Disneyland to Brooklyn, via Broadway". The New York Times.
- ^ Espinosa, Eden [@EdenEspinosa] (May 27, 2010). "@mikedasalla no I'm Mexican" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 15, 2016 – via Twitter.
- ^ Marchese, Eric (March 29, 2018). "'Wicked' star Eden Espinosa alights in Long Beach". The Orange County Register. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
- ^ "'Wicked' star Eden Espinosa cut her teeth at Disneyland". East Bay Times. January 1, 2008.
- ^ a b "Eden Espinosa". Playbill. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
- ^ Hernandez, Ernio; Gans, Andrew (July 14, 2005). "Former Elphaba Eden Espinosa Returns to Wicked in San Francisco as Tour Star Block Rests". Playbill.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (January 10, 2006). "Quadruple Play: Wicked Welcomes Espinosa, Kane, Williams and Candler Jan. 10". Playbill.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (October 8, 2006). "Espinosa Bids Broadway's Wicked Farewell Oct. 8". Playbill.
- ^ Eden Espinosa, Star File: Broadway.com Buzz
- ^ Gallo, Phil (December 18, 2007). "JoAnne Worley joins 'Wicked'". Variety. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019.
- ^ McNulty, Charles (February 23, 2007). "'Wicked' is almost sure to be evergreen". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (October 17, 2008). "Espinosa and Hilty to Return to Los Angeles Cast of Wicked". Playbill.
- ^ "New 'Wicked' witch flying into San Francisco". SFGATE. February 11, 2010.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (June 17, 2010). "Marcie Dodd and Alli Mauzey to Join Cast of San Francisco's Wicked". Playbill.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (18 February 2003). "New Brooklyn Musical to World Premiere in Denver in Spring 2003". Playbill. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (May 7, 2003). "Broadway-Bound Musical, Brooklyn, Opens May 7 in Denver". Playbill.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (May 24, 2005). "Brooklyn to Close on Broadway June 26". Playbill.
- ^ "Nominees Announced for the 71st Annual Drama League Awards". Broadway.com. April 19, 2005.
- ^ Gans, Andrew; Jones, Kenneth (May 1, 2008). "Chase and Espinosa Will Join Broadway's Rent Cast". Playbill.
- ^ "Will Chase and Eden Espinosa To Join Final 'Rent' Cast". BroadwayWorld. April 29, 2008.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (February 27, 2008). "Espinosa and Felciano to Star in Reprise! Flora, the Red Menace". Playbill. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
- ^ "Dreamstuff Program", linguistics.ucla.edu; accessed December 15, 2017.
- ^ Ellis, Jeffrey (April 5, 2011). "Eden Espinosa joins cast of Show Hope's second annual CINDERELLA". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
- ^ Rosky, Nicole (January 27, 2016). "Eden Espinosa Will Lead Premiere of Michael John LaChiusa's RAIN at Old Globe Theatre; Full Cast Announced!". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
- ^ "VIDEO: Eden Does Eva- Watch Trailer of Espinosa in Studio Tenn's EVITA!". BroadwayWorld. June 28, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
- ^ "The Gardens of Anuncia".
- ^ McPhee, Ryan (October 16, 2019). "Lempicka Musical Will Play La Jolla Playhouse". Playbill.
- ^ Paulson, Michael (2023-10-30). "'Lempicka,' New Musical About Art Deco Artist, to Open on Broadway". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
- ^ Russo, Gillian (2024-04-23). "Tony Award Nominations: 'Hell's Kitchen', 'Sterophonic' Lead With 13". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
- ^ "Eden Espinosa Performs with Euan Morton October 22 at Town Hall Cabaret Festival". BroadwayWorld. August 2, 2005.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (February 12, 2009). "Eden Espinosa to Offer Three Shows at Joe's Pub; Billy Porter Directs". Playbill.
- ^ 54 Below Podcast. Ep.16 – Eden Espinosa" 54belowpodcast.wordpress.com, August 27, 2012
- ^ Varley, Eddie (April 27, 2009). "Eden Espinosa Set to Sing New Disneyland Fireworks Spectacular 'MAGICAL' Theme Song". BroadwayWorld.
- ^ Mosher, Stephen (February 11, 2020). "BWW Review: Eden Espinosa Turns The Green Room 42 into Paradise with UNPLUGGED AND UNPLANNED". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
- ^ Eden Espinosa's Album Project
- ^ "Eden Espinosa's New Album LOOK AROUND Hits No. 41 on iTunes Pop Chart". BroadwayWorld. December 19, 2012.
- ^ "WICKED's Eden Espinosa Wins 2014 Independent Music Award for 'Stone Cold Sober'". BroadwayWorld. August 15, 2014.
- ^ Eden Espinosa - Sophomore Album
- ^ "VIDEO: Eden Espinosa Releases First Music Video from New Album REVELATION". BroadwayWorld. March 30, 2019.
- ^ Thill, Scott (10 September 2009). "Mecha-Goof Titan Maximum Gets Cleared for Takeoff". WIRED. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
- ^ "'Ugly Betty' Air Date: Thursday, November 01, 2007. Episode Title: (#206) 'Something Wicked This Way Comes'". The Futon Critic. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
- ^ Eden Espinosa at IMDb
- ^ Fierberg, Ruthie (2 November 2016). "Eden Espinosa to Sing in Elena of Avalor". Playbill. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (24 October 2018). "Disney TV Highlights for November, from 'Star Wars' to 'Fancy Nancy'". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- ^ Bryant, Jacob (March 8, 2016). "TV News Roundup: Jeffrey Tambor Joins 'Tangled' Series; George Eads Cast in 'MacGyver' Reboot". Variety.com. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ^ Taylor, Drew (March 8, 2016). "New Details and Casting Revealed for Disney Channel's Tangled: Before Ever After". Oh My Disney. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
- ^ Kiefer, Hal (July 26, 2020). "Alan Menken Takes the EGOT Following Daytime Emmy Win for Best Original Song". Vulture. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
External links
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