Amber Gray

Amber Gray
Born (1981-04-02) April 2, 1981
Residence New York
Nationality American
Alma mater New York University (Tisch)
Occupation Actress, singer
Children 1

Amber Gray is an American actress and singer best known for portraying Hélène Kuragina in the 2016 Broadway musical Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812.[1] Gray also played Persephone in the 2016 Off-Broadway musical Hadestown, which received favorable reviews.[2]

Early life and education

Gray spent her early childhood in Europe, in four different cities within Germany, London, and Amsterdam.[3] She was raised in Massachusetts, and attended Wayland High School.

She attended Tisch School of the Arts within New York University, and graduated in 2010.[4]

Career

In 2012, Gray first became involved with Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812, an electro-pop opera based on War and Peace. Gray portrayed Countess Hélène Bezukhova in the musical's performances at the Off-Broadway Ars Nova Theater.[5] Gray continued with Great Comet when it moved to Kazino in 2013, and when it opened on Broadway in late 2016. Gray was awarded a 2017 Theatre World Award for her performance as Hélène.[6]

In 2014, Gray reprised her leading role as Zoe in An Octoroon at Soho Repertory Theatre (she had previously performed as Zoe in 2010).[7] An Octoroon utilized the plot of The Octoroon, an 1859 melodrama, but turned it into a contemporary new play that discusses America's slave history and both past and present racism. In an interview with the New York Times, Gray spoke of her difficulty with the part due to many intense racial scenes, calling it "an impossible role".[3] However, Gray was encouraged by the impactfulness of the play, and hoped that it would "start a conversation with the audience".[7]

In 2016, Gray portrayed Persephone in New York Theatre Workshop's production of the new musical Hadestown, based on Anaïs Mitchell's album of the same name.[2] Gray was again directed by Rachel Chavkin, whom she collaborated with during Great Comet.[8] Gray was praised by critics, who were impressed by her "vocal dexterity,"[9] "charisma," and "powerhouse voice".[10]

Theatre credits

Year(s) Production Role Location Category
2012 Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Hélène Bezukhova Ars Nova Off-Broadway
2013 Kazino Meatpacking District
2014 An Octoroon Zoe Soho Repertory Theatre
2016 Hadestown Persephone New York Theatre Workshop
2016-2017 Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Hélène Bezukhova Imperial Theatre Broadway
2017 Hadestown Persephone Citadel Theatre Canadian Premiere
2018-19 Royal National Theatre West End

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2017 Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical Hadestown Nominated
Theatre World Award Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Won[11]
2018 Sterling Awards Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Hadestown Won[12]

References

  1. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (2016-11-14). "Review: 'Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812,' on the Heels of 'Hamilton'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  2. 1 2 Isherwood, Charles (2016-05-23). "Review: 'Hadestown' Reanimates a Well-Known Myth". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  3. 1 2 Soloski, Alexis (23 April 2014). "Amber Gray on 'An Octoroon,' at Soho Rep". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  4. ↑ Tisch NYU. "Select Alumni Bios". tisch.nyu.edu. New York University. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  5. ↑ H., Claire (3 December 2013). "Amber Gray on her adventures in "Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812"". Stage Door Dish. Stage Door Dish. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  6. ↑ Editors, American Theatre (11 May 2017). "'Great Comet' Actors and More Receive Theatre World Awards". AMERICAN THEATRE. Theatre Communications Group. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  7. 1 2 Clement, Oivia (March 17, 2015). "An Octoroon Star Amber Gray on the "Secrets and Lies" of Race and Theatre | Playbill". Playbill. Playbill Inc. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  8. ↑ Kaplan, Janice (26 May 2016). "The Next 'Hamilton' Takes Place in Hell—and Stars Donald Trump". The Daily Beast. The Daily Beast Company. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  9. ↑ Stewart, Zachary. "Hadestown". TheaterMania.com. Theater Mania. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  10. ↑ Patterson, Megan. "All Aboard the Train to Hadestown". HowlRound. Emerson College. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  11. ↑ Theatre World Awards. "Theatre World Awards - Theatre World Awards". www.theatreworldawards.org. Theatre World Awards. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  12. ↑ Sterling Awards. "Sterling Awards". Retrieved 19 July 2018.



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