Locals Who've Made it Big

[Elphie]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 4:43pm

Hey Broadwayworld!
Did any Broadway performers come from your hometown?
Paige Price, who stared in Saturday Night Fever on Broadway and was featured in the original cast of Beauty and the Beast and later went on to play the role of Belle, grew up in my sleepy hometown. Community theaters around here who she performed with before her big break have her pictures everywhere. Though I do not know Paige personally, I did meet her when I was about 6 or 7 years old after seeing Beauty and the Beast. She was very nice and stayed awhile to chat with my family and me. She kept asking how our hometown was doing and if this and that was still there and all that jazz. I did get to see her in Saturday Night Fever, which I honestly didnt really enjoy, but it was in February and it was too cold to stay after. Even though I disliked the show, Paige gave a great performance.

How about you guys?

[mebice]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 4:50pm

Nessa in Wicked grew up about 30 minutes away from where i was born...does that count? And isn't Michael Cavanaugh from Cleveland?
CLEVELAND ROCKS CLEVELAND ROCKS!
Ohioioioioioioioio!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 5:17pm

George M. Cohan was from my hometown!

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 5:39pm

Kathy Brier (currently playing Tracy in Hairspray).
Then again, it is Staten Island. I'm guessing there are a lot of other Broadway people from here of which I am not aware.

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 5:42pm

Not exactly hometown, but Laura Benati was born about 45 min from where I live...and Jane Krakowski a bit closer...(close enough! )

[Elphie]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 6:19pm

Woo!
I know she isnt a Broadway star, but Meryl Streep grew up about 20 minutes from me in a nice mountain town haha.

[Crazy4MattMorrison52]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 6:55pm

paul reed,phobes boyfrined in friends, was born in my town. i think he lived here too.

[emmamia]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 8:19pm

stephen buntrock (oklahoma) Naperville, IL

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 8:39pm

Didnt a lot of broadway celebs come from chicago (my town=D)?

[theatreguy]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 8:58pm

Brooks Ashmankas, Jeff Brooks, Sally Struthers, Jane Powell, Patrick Page (currently in Lion King on Broadway and husband of Paige Davis, host of Trading Spaces and soon-to-be Roxie in Chicago) and Shoshana Bean (I actually did a show her mother choreographed last year) are all from my hometown, Portland, OR. Updated On: 1/25/04 at 08:58 PM

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 9:09pm

Ivette Sosa (Eden's Crush/Popstars) went to my high school...okay, so *I* don't even remember them anymore- but they had the spotlight for a while! (and she still does theatre around NY...)

[mamamia sammy]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 10:04pm

Seany!!!

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 10:57pm

Tons. The closest would probably be Mitchel David Federan (Young Peter in TBFO) from Solon, OH. Jessica Grove (Miss Dorothy u/s in Millie) from Columbus, OH. Michelle Federer (Nessarose in Wicked) from Shaker Heights, OH. Jennifer Gambatese (Penny in Hairspray) from Cleveland, OH. Gavin Creel (original Jimmy in Millie) from Findlay, OH. The creators of Urinetown are from Cleveland, also. The tour is currently in Cleveland, so they are here with their family. I forget some, but I know there a tons of performers from Ohio!

[emmamia]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 11:32pm

yeah there are alot of famous chicagoans .... i just knew about stephen from reading an interview of his.

karen mason is another ... arlington heights

Updated On: 1/23/04 at 11:32 PM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 1/24/04 at 12:35am

Emma,
The Amazing Machota Man is from there as well..... do not leave HIM out.. Miss Mamma Mia Fan

[alterego]

Posted: 1/24/04 at 7:58am

I used to see Hugh Jackman at a local suburban coffee shop. Rachel Griffiths lives nearby (about two years ago I nearly knocked her over in my car). My father (in his youth) dated Zoe Caldwell a couple of times.

[JakeB]

Posted: 1/24/04 at 6:04pm

Samantha Morton lived down the road from me. Everyone has a story to tell..

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/24/04 at 6:10pm

Who is Samantha Morton, Jake?

Bulldog

[Maggie]

Posted: 1/24/04 at 6:46pm

Ernest Borgnine is from my hometown.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 1/24/04 at 8:11pm

Lee Wilkoff is from here; as is soap actor (and frequent stage player) David Canary, not to mention musicians Macy Gray and Marilyn Manson.

That's from Canton, Ohio, anyway. I wouldn't consider anyone scattered throughout the state to be 'local.'

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/24/04 at 8:46pm

I taught Robert Cuccioli and coaxed him into auditioning for his first stage role in high school.

Isabella Rosellini lives one block behind my house.

I had one student who I thought would have a brilliant career in radio. Then he went for a sex change operation and ruined his booming voice.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/24/04 at 11:14pm

My uncle bedded Tallulah Bankhead. Does that count?

Bulldog

[PennyLou]

Posted: 1/24/04 at 11:59pm

I don't think any Broadway stars are from here (yet) But my home town is also the town John Bonjoivi grew up and one of the cast members of the west wing, and I also think I heard the boy from Hows the boss lived here b4 that show.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 1/25/04 at 3:23pm

I am glad you do not consider people scattered across Ohio local. Good for you! I do...

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/25/04 at 5:50pm

Does that mean that Paul Reed lives "over the George Washington Bridge"? Geeze, as many times as I've driven across that bridge I've never seen people habitating above it. I'll have to be more attentive on my next trip to New Jersey.