Ericka Hunter

Last updated
Ericka Hunter Yang
Born
Ericka Yang

(1982-05-08) May 8, 1982 (age 42)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada [1]
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
  • dancer
Years active2000–present
Partner Aaron Tveit

Ericka Hunter Yang (born May 8, 1982) is a Canadian-born singer, songwriter, dancer and actress. [2] Hunter began her career as a Radio City Music Hall Rockette and made her Broadway debut in 2002. She has since been part of the original Broadway ensemble casts of Rock of Ages (later starring as Sherrie), American Psycho, Doctor Zhivago, the 2017 revival of Miss Saigon, and Moulin Rouge! , with her now Husband, Aaron Tveit.

Contents

Early life

Yang was born in Ottawa, Ontario, to a Canadian mother and Chinese-born Hong Konger father. She grew up in the city's suburb of Nepean and attended a public performing arts high school. She has an older sister, Vanessa, and younger brother, Warren Yang, a former gymnast and actor. [3] [4] Hunter is of Chinese, Dutch, German, and English descent.

Career

After studying dance and theater in her hometown of Ottawa, Ontario, she made her professional debut with Radio City Rockettes at 18. Ericka then joined the Toronto company of The Lion King before being cast as a featured dancer in the ABC/Disney movie The Music Man. In 2002, at the age of 20, she made her Broadway debut in the original revival cast of Flower Drum Song and then went on to perform in the Broadway cast of 42nd Street .

In 2006, she relocated to Los Angeles to develop a music and fashion career. She worked as an assistant to stylist Joe Zee performed alongside artists such as Rihanna, Shakira, and Justin Timberlake. During this period, she began using the professional name Ericka Hunter, taking the last name from a maternal great-grandmother.

In 2008, she returned to New York. She joined the cast of the Broadway musical Rock of Ages in 2009. She later performed in Doctor Zhivago , the musical thriller American Psycho, Rock Of Ages (where she played the lead role of Sherrie), as well as the revival of Miss Saigon (understudied/performed the roles of Gigi and Ellen).

Early in 2018, she performed in the Danny Strong newly scripted version of Chess at the Kennedy Center. In addition to her Broadway credits, she's been cast in multiple TV productions including Mozart In The Jungle (Amazon), Smash (NBC), Modern Love (Amazon), and Katy Keene (CW). In 2021, she was a Core Dancer on Schmigadoon! , released on Apple TV+. [5]

Hunter is featured on French DJ Morgan Nagoya's dance single "Promised Land"[ citation needed ] along with Jonny Rose and Chris Reeder. [6] She released her first U.S. solo single "Fight to Believe" on January 17, 2013. [2]

Personal life

Hunter is in a relationship with actor Aaron Tveit. Tveit confirmed on his Instagram page in July 2024 that the two are expecting their first child. [7]

Theatre

YearProductionRoleVenueNotes
2000 The Lion King Ensemble The Princess of Wales Theatre Toronto production
2001 Radio City Christmas Spectacular Rockette Radio City Music Hall
2002–03 Flower Drum Song Ensemble The August Wilson Theatre:
October 2002 – March 2003
Original Broadway production
Credited as: Ericka Yang
2003–04 42nd Street Ensemble Ford Center for the Performing Arts Broadway replacement
Credited as: Ericka Yang
Ethel
2004 Princesses Goodspeed Theater Regional developmental production
2005 Aida Ensemble Ogunquit Playhouse Regional production
2007 Damn Yankees EnsembleFreud Playhouse at UCLA:
November 2007
Reprise Theatre Company
2009–15 Rock of Ages Ensemble, Swing
(u/s Sherrie, Regina)
Brooks Atkinson Theatre:
March 2009 – March 2013
Original Broadway production
Ensemble
(u/s Sherrie, Justice, Regina)
Brooks Atkinson Theatre:
November 2014 – January 2015
Broadway replacement
2014 The Band Wagon Isabelle New York City Center Stage II:
November 2014
Concert staging
2015 Doctor Zhivago Ensemble Broadway Theatre:
March – May 2015
Original Broadway production
2016 American Psycho Sabrina / Video Store Clerk
(u/s Evelyn Williams, Courtney Lawrence, Svetlana, Mrs. Bateman, Mrs. Wolfe)
Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre:
March – June 2016
Original Broadway production
2017 Miss Saigon Ensemble
(u/s Gigi, Ellen)
Broadway Theatre:
March – October 2017
Broadway revival
2018 Chess Ensemble JFK Center for the Performing Arts:
February 2018
Concert staging
2018–2022 Moulin Rouge! Ensemble
(u/s Arabia, La Chocolat)
Emerson Colonial Theatre:
July – August 2018
Original Boston production
(Pre-Broadway tryout)
Al Hirschfeld Theatre:
June 2019 – April 2022
Original Broadway production
2023 ''Some Like It Hot'' Swing [1] Shubert Theatre:
March – April 2023; June 2023

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2003 The Music Man DancerFilm
2004–2011 Rescue Me Singing NurseEpisode: "Disease"
2012–2013 Smash Dancer2 episodes
2014It Could Be WorseLacyEpisode: "Fate"
2014 Mozart In The Jungle DancerEpisode: "Pilot"
2019 Modern Love
2020 Katy Keene Episode: "Chapter One"
2020Broadway Profiles with Tamsen FadalSelfEpisode on Oct 2020
2021–2023 Schmigadoon! Core Dancer, Tribal Dancer,

Cabaret Girl Molly

9 episodes
2022 Better Nate Than Ever DancerFilm

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sutton Foster</span> American actress (born 1975)

Sutton Lenore Foster is an American actress. She is known for her work on the Broadway stage, for which she has won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical twice, in 2002 for her role as Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie, and in 2011 for her performance as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes, a role which she reprised in 2021 for a production in London and for which she received a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Her other Broadway credits include Grease, Little Women, The Drowsy Chaperone, Young Frankenstein, Shrek the Musical, Violet, The Music Man, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and Once Upon a Mattress. On television, Foster played the lead role in the short-lived ABC Family comedy-drama Bunheads from 2012 to 2013. From 2015 to 2021, she starred in the TV Land comedy-drama Younger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruthie Henshall</span> English entertainer (born 1967)

Valentine Ruth Henshall, known professionally as Ruthie Henshall, is an English actress, singer and dancer, known for her work in musical theatre. She began her professional stage career in 1986, before making her West End debut in Cats in 1987. A five-time Olivier Award nominee, she won the 1995 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Amalia Balash in the London revival of She Loves Me (1994).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerry Butler</span> American actress and singer

Kerry Butler is an American actress and singer known primarily for her work in theater. She is best known for originating the roles of Barbara Maitland in Beetlejuice, Penny Pingleton in Hairspray, and Clio/Kira in Xanadu, the latter of which earned her a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Benanti</span> American actress and singer (born 1979)

Laura Ilene Benanti is an American actress and singer.

Amy Spanger is an American actress, singer and dancer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Osnes</span> American actress

Laura Ann Osnes is an American actress and singer known for her work on the Broadway stage. She has played starring roles in Grease as Sandy, South Pacific as Nellie Forbush, Anything Goes as Hope Harcourt, and Bonnie and Clyde as Bonnie Parker, for which she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. She also starred in the title role of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella on Broadway, for which she received a Drama Desk Award and her second Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annaleigh Ashford</span> American actress, singer, and dancer (b. 1985)

Annaleigh Ashford is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Her early roles on Broadway include in the musicals Wicked (2007), Legally Blonde (2007), and Hair (2010). She received the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for playing Essie Carmichael in You Can't Take It With You (2014–2015). Her other Tony-nominated roles include Lauren in Kinky Boots (2013) and Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2023). She also starred in the Broadway revival of Sunday in the Park with George (2017).

<i>Legally Blonde: The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods</i> 2008 American TV series or program

Legally Blonde: The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods is an MTV program created in order to cast an actress to replace Laura Bell Bundy in the role of Elle Woods in the Broadway production of Legally Blonde: The Musical. The show debuted on June 2, 2008.

<i>Rock of Ages</i> (musical) Jukebox musical featuring 1980s rock songs

Rock of Ages is a jukebox musical built around classic rock songs from the 1980s, especially from the famous glam metal bands of that decade. The musical features songs from Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Steve Perry, Poison and Europe, among other well-known rock bands. It was written by Chris D'Arienzo, directed by Kristin Hanggi and choreographed by Kelly Devine with music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Ethan Popp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">63rd Tony Awards</span> 2009 awards ceremony

The 63rd Annual Tony Awards, which recognized Broadway productions of the 2008-2009 season, were presented on June 7, 2009 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The ceremony was broadcast by CBS, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Tveit</span> American actor and singer (born 1983)

Aaron Kyle Tveit is an American actor and tenor singer. Tveit originated the lead role of Christian in the stage adaptation of Moulin Rouge! on Broadway, a performance for which he won the 2020 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and received a 2020 Grammy Award nomination. His other work on the Broadway stage includes originating the roles of Gabe in Next to Normal and Frank Abagnale Jr. in Catch Me If You Can, as well as performing the roles of Fiyero Tigelaar in Wicked, Link Larkin in Hairspray, and the title role in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. He also played John Wilkes Booth in an Off West End production of Assassins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elsie Fest</span> Annual music festival in New York City

Elsie Fest is an annual music festival in New York City co-created and produced by Darren Criss, Ricky Rollins, Lea Michele, and Jordan Roth. The yearly festival is touted as "New York City’s first outdoor music festival celebrating tunes from the stage and screen". Elsie Fest's inaugural event was held at New York City's JBL Live at Pier 97 on September 27, 2015. A portion of the proceeds benefited BroadwayCares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Lora Lee Gayer is an American stage actress. On Broadway, she originated the lead role of Linda Mason in Holiday Inn in 2016. She appeared on Broadway in the 2011 revival of Follies as Young Sally.

Emily Padgett is an American actress, singer, and dancer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Jones (Rockette)</span> American dancer and actress (born 1967)

Jennifer Jones is an American dancer and actress. In 1987, she became the first African American Radio City Music Hall Rockette.

<i>Moulin Rouge!</i> (musical) 2018 musical based on the 2001 film

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a jukebox musical with a book by John Logan. The musical is based on the 2001 film Moulin Rouge! directed by Baz Luhrmann and written by Luhrmann and Craig Pearce.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashley Park (actress)</span> American actress and musician (born 1991)

Ashley Jeein Park is an American actress and musician. She is best known for her portrayal of Mindy Chen on the Netflix comedy series Emily in Paris. She originated the role of Gretchen Wieners in the Broadway musical Mean Girls, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical.

Kate Rockwell is an American actor, dancer, and singer. She is known for her work on Broadway and for originating the roles of Skylar in Bring It On: The Musical in 2011 and of Karen Smith in the 2018 musical Mean Girls, for the latter of which she received Drama Desk Award and Helen Hayes Award nominations.

Joan Lader is an American vocal coach and voice therapist. She is known for her work with elite performers and recording artists as well as for the rehabilitation of injured voices. Her teaching methods combine elements of voice science, acoustics, and bodywork. She is a recipient of the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre in recognition of her contributions to the Broadway theatre community.

Tam Mutu is an English stage and screen actor. He began his career in the West End in the early 2000s. He was part of the original West End production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies (2010–2011) before starring in the revivals of Les Misérables (2013–2014) and City of Angels (2015). That same year he starred in the original Broadway musical Doctor Zhivago. He returned to Broadway in 2019 with Moulin Rouge! The Musical; for his supporting role of the Duke of Monroth he was nominated for a Grammy Award. On screen, he had a recurring role on the Netflix show Medici.

References

  1. 1 2 "Ericka Hunter". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  2. 1 2 http://www.globalnews.ca/entertainment/ottawas+ericka+hunter+wont+stop+believin/6442790747/story.html%5B‍%5D
  3. Skethway, Nathan (July 5, 2019). "Siblings Ericka Hunter and Warren Yang Face the Challenges of Broadway Together". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  4. ""I'm Watching Him Do Something Neither Of Us Thought Was A Possibility."". The Ensemblist. Retrieved 2021-05-10.[ dead link ]
  5. "Who Is Aaron Tveit's Fiancée? All About Ericka Yang". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  6. Walden, James (6 November 2012). "European Vs American Music: Closing the Gaps With Ericka Hunter". www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/. Archived from the original on 2018-09-07. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  7. Baker, Emma Aerin (2024-07-24). "Aaron Tveit and Fiancée Ericka Yang Are Expecting Their First Baby Together: 'Table for 3'". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2024-07-24.