Christy Altomare

Christine "Christy" Altomare is an American actress and singer-songwriter.

Christy Altomare
Born
Christine Altomare

(1986-06-23) June 23, 1986
Bucks County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Other namesChristy
Alma materUniversity of Cincinnati's Conservatory of Music (BFA, 2008)
OccupationActress, singer-songwriter
Websitewww.christyaltomare.com

Altomare played the role of Wendla in the first national tour of the rock musical Spring Awakening, played Sue Snell in the off-Broadway revival of Carrie, and made her Broadway debut as Sophie in Mamma Mia!.[1] She originated the titular role in the Broadway premiere of Anastasia, earning favorable reviews. The show's final Broadway performance was on March 31, 2019, playing a total of 808 regular shows and 34 previews.

Early life

Altomare began performing at age 5 in community theater productions in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. At Pennsbury High School, she was a part of choirs and school productions before attending University of Cincinnati's Conservatory of Music, where she performed in a number of productions. In 2004, she was a National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts winner in the musical theater category.[2] She graduated from CCM in 2008 with a BFA in Musical Theater.[3]

Personal Life

In December 2018, Altomare announced her engagement to longtime boyfriend Philip “Pete” Browning.[4]

Career

Altomare began writing songs at the age of twelve. She has three independent CDs: Not Yet Over You (2000), Waiting For You (2007), and an EP entitled After You (2008). When she was sixteen, she signed with her current manager, Edie Robb.[3] She looks to Jewel and Joni Mitchell as her biggest influences.[5]

In 2008, Altomare joined the first national touring cast of the hit Broadway musical Spring Awakening in the lead role of Wendla, beginning previews on August 15, 2008 in San Diego.[3] She traveled to 44 different cities and gave over 600 performances. She stayed with the tour until its final performance on May 23, 2010.[6] Altomare received generally positive reviews throughout the tour. Seth Kubersky of Orlando Weekly called her "appropriately innocent and adorable as the inevitable victim"[7] while Eric Rezsnyak of the Rochester City Paper praised her "piercing, haunting soprano voice," and how "even her most difficult melodic passes seem totally effortless."[8]

Following the Spring Awakening tour, Altomare appeared as Sue Snell in MCC Theater's limited engagement run of the Off-Broadway revival of Carrie at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. She can be heard on the official cast recording of the production, released by Ghostline and Sh-K-Boom Records.[9]

On June 4, 2012, Altomare made her Broadway debut in Mamma Mia! at the Winter Garden Theatre, where she replaced Liana Hunt resuming the role of Sophie Sheridan.[10] She stayed with the Broadway company for a year, ending her contract on June 1, 2013, and was replaced by Laurie Veldheer.[11]

From October 30, 2014 until January 4, 2015, she starred as Guinevere in the Drury Lane Theatre's production of Camelot.

On March 9, 2016, it was announced that Altomare will be starring in the World Premiere of the musical adaptation of the 1997 animated film Anastasia in the title role (nicknamed Anya). The show ran from May 13 - June 19, 2016 at Hartford Stage in Connecticut.[12] Altomare received critical acclaim for her performance, winning the Connecticut Critics Circle Award. She reprised the role on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre.[13] Previews began March 23, 2017 and the show officially opened April 24, 2017 at the Broadhurst Theatre.[14] Her performance in the Broadway production earned her positive reviews and numerous Award wins and nominations including a 2017 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical. She continued with the production through to its final Broadway performance on March 31, 2019.[15]

She played the part of Nellie in a concert version of South Pacific at the Aspen Music Festival on July 22, 2019.

On January 16, 2020, it was announced that Altomare will be starring in the new musical The Wanderer in the role of Susan alongside Wicked alums Michael Wartella as Dion DiMucci and Joey McIntyre as Johnny, running May 28-June 28 at Paper Mill Playhouse prior to a Broadway transfer. However, the production was pushed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Theatre
Broadway, Off-Broadway, & National Tours
Year Title Theatre Role Notes
2008-10
Spring Awakening
Various theatres across North America
  Wendla Bergmann 
  Original 1st National Tour Cast
2012
 Carrie
  Lucille Lortel Theatre
  Sue Snell 
  Off-Broadway Revival Cast
2012-13
Mamma Mia!
  Winter Garden Theatre
  Sophie Sheridan 
  Replacement Broadway Cast
2016-19
Anastasia
  Hartford Stage (2016)
  Anya 
  World Premiere / Original Broadway Cast
Broadhurst Theatre (2017–19)

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Work Result
2016 Connecticut Critics Circle Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical Anastasia Won
2017 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical Nominated
Theatre World Award Honoree
Broadway.com Audience Award Best Leading Actress in a Musical Nominated
Best Onstage Pair (w/ Derek Klena) Nominated
Broadway.com Star Of The Year[16] Won

Notes
  1. "Christy Altomare Currently starring in Anastasia, the new musical that made its broadway debut April 11. PERFORMER". Playbill. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  2. "Christy Altomare Bio" Archived 2011-02-07 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  3. "Pennsbury Grad Altomare is on the road to stardom". Bucks County News. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
  4. "Anastasia Star Christy Altomare Announces Engagement to Longtime Beau Pete Browning". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
  5. Glenn Sumi. "Sex and song". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
  6. Adam Hetrick. "Spring Awakening National Tour Ends Run in Orlando May 23". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on 2010-05-25. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
  7. Seth Kubersky. "Review: Spring Awakening". Orlando Weekly. Archived from the original on 2011-08-12. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
  8. Eric Rezsnyak. "THEATER REVIEW: RBTL's "Spring Awakening"". Rochester City Paper. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
  9. "Carrie Original Off-Broadway Cast". castalbums.org. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  10. "PHOTO CALL: Broadway's Mamma Mia! Welcomes Aaron Lazar, Felicia Finley, Christy Altomare and More". playbill.com. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  11. "Broadway's Mamma Mia! Welcomes Laurie Veldheer Beginning June 3". playbill.com. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  12. "Christy Altomare" broadwayworld.com, March 9, 2016
  13. Bethany, Rickwald. "Full Casting Announced for Broadway's Anastasia". Theater Mania.
  14. HETRICK, ADAM. "Tickets Now On Sale for Anastasia On Broadway". Broadway.com.
  15. Lenker, Maureen. "Anastasia sets closing date on Broadway". EW.
  16. ""Anastasia's Christy Altomare Voted the 2017 Broadway.com Star of the Year"".
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