Courtney Reed

Last updated

Courtney Reed
Born (1984-08-10) August 10, 1984 (age 40)
Education Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts
Occupation(s)Singer, actress
Years active2005–present

Courtney Rhodes Reed (born August 10, 1984) is an American actress, best known for originating the role of Princess Jasmine in Disney's Aladdin on Broadway. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life

Reed was born and raised in Elgin, Illinois to a Caucasian American father and a mother of Vietnamese descent who was born and raised in Thailand. [3] [4] She began performing at age 6, playing a mouse in Children's Theatre of Elgin's production of Cinderella . [5] She was later cast as the title role in a community production of Annie, which inspired her to pursue theater as a professional career. She studied at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University as a Musical Theatre Major, also participating in their theatre conservatory. She considered moving to LA, believing Broadway success could only start with television fame. However, she was quickly cast in roles on the stage. [6]

Career

Reed performed on Broadway as a replacement understudy for Lisa and Ali in the musical Mamma Mia! [7] She also appeared in In The Heights , performing as the understudy/replacement for the roles of Vanessa, Nina, and Carla in the final Broadway cast. [8] [ unreliable source? ]

In 2011, she began performing in the original cast of the musical Aladdin as Princess Jasmine at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle. In 2012, the musical put on several regional and international productions, and was given a Toronto tryout the following year. Reed stayed in the role of Princess Jasmine when Aladdin opened on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on March 20, 2014, and took her final bow on January 11, 2018. She later went on to reprise the role in the North American Tour for a limited engagement, and once again in the West End production as part of its closing cast in 2019. Reed returned to the Broadway production for a limited engagement beginning October 16, 2019 and took her final bow as Princess Jasmine on October 27, 2019.

In September 2021 she was cast as Satine in the North American touring cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical , starring alongside Conor Ryan as Christian. She assumed the role on Broadway beginning August 1, 2023 opposite Casey Cott as Christian. [9]

Other roles include the role of Candy 1 in the 2007 film Crime Fiction and Ryder in the 2014 film A New York Love Story.

Reed's TV appearances include Law & Order: SVU as the villainous Alana Gonzalez in the episode "Above Suspicion." She also appeared in episodes of White Collar and The Affair .

Reed is also the creator of the company Gagged Chokers. The company features a collection of chokers themed by seasons and holidays, among others. [10]

Filmography

Film credits
YearTitleRoleNotes
2005Bargain BasementLisa Short film
2006HerAngelaShort film
2007Crime FictionCandy 1
2015A New York Love StoryRyder
2019 Endings, Beginnings Lauren
Television credits
YearTitleRoleNotes
2011Fake Henrik ZetterbergLizzetteEpisode: "This Picture Thing"
2012 NYC 22 RachelleEpisode: "Playing God"
2012 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Officer Alana GonzalezEpisode: "Above Suspicion"
2013 White Collar Kyle BringhamEpisode: "Brass Tacks"
2011–2014 Submissions Only Deborah Lee6 Episodes
2015 The Affair Attractive WomanEpisode: "208"
2016 Search Party ReceptionistEpisode: "The Mystery of the Golden Charm"
2019 Liza on Demand MeganEpisode: "Naked"

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References

  1. Krueger, Alyson. "The Joys And Trials Of Playing A Real Life Princess Jasmine On Broadway". Forbes. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  2. Beggs, Alex. "Aladdin's Jasmine, Courtney Reed, on Why All Broadway Actors Seem to Appear on Law & Order". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on August 11, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  3. "Interview: Aladdin on Broadway's Courtney Reed on Launching a Business While Playing a Real Life Disney Princess". Indicoe. Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  4. "Catching Up With Aladdin's Hapa Leading Ladies Courtney Reed And Arielle Jacobs". Hapa Mag. September 6, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  5. "DIVA TALK: Aladdin's Courtney Reed Charts Her Journey from Abu to Jasmine – Playbill". Playbill.
  6. "Courtney Reed Theatre Credits". broadwayworld.com.
  7. "Courtney Reed – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  8. "Courtney Reed profile". Broadway.com.
  9. Culwell-Block, Logan (June 20, 2023). "Courtney Reed Will Be Satine in Broadway's Moulin Rouge!". Playbill.com. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  10. "Princess Jasmine Is Bringing Back the Choker Trend, With a Broadway Flair – Playbill". Playbill.