Vanessa Sears

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Vanessa Sears
Born (1993-02-01) February 1, 1993 (age 31)
Deep River, Ontario, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Education Sheridan College
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active2015–present

Vanessa Sears is a Canadian actress and singer. She originated the role of Nicola in the Canadian premiere production of Kinky Boots , which played at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. In 2022, Sears originated the role of Anaia in the Canadian premiere production of Is God Is , for which she was nominated for a Dora Award for Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role.

Contents

Early life

Sears was born and raised in Deep River, Ontario. [1] She is of Guyanese and Jamaican heritage, since her father was born in Guyana and her mother was born in Jamaica. [2] She has two brothers and two sisters. [2] As a child, Sears contracted flesh-eating disease, where she stayed at the Ronald McDonald House while receiving treatment at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. [3]

Growing up, Sears performed in community theatre productions of Beauty and the Beast and My Fair Lady. [2] She also performed as an entertainer at Canada's Wonderland. [3] In 2014, Sears advanced to the semi-finals of an international singing competition to become the Voice of McDonald's. [4]

Although she considered pursuing studies to become a veterinarian, Sears decided to pursue musical theatre and graduated from the Honours Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance program at Sheridan College. [2] [5] As of 2023, Sears started studying to also become a musical theatre director. [2]

Career

Shortly after graduating, Sears made her professional stage debut in the Canadian premiere production of Kinky Boots , where she played Nicola. [6] The musical began an open-ended run at the Royal Alexandra Theatre on June 16, 2015, before closing on May 15, 2016.

In 2016, Sears starred as Dorothy in a production of The Wizard of Oz by Young People's Theatre in Toronto, for which she won a Dora Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Musical. [1] [7]

In 2017, Sears played Edwina in a production of Passing Strange , produced by the Musical Stage Company and Obsidian Theatre. [8] For her performance, Sears won the Toronto Theatre Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. [9]

Sears made her Shaw Festival debut in 2017. After appearing in the ensemble of two productions, Sears appeared as Zoe in the Canadian premiere of An Octoroon , which played between July 16 and October 14, 2017. [10]

In 2018, Sears starred as Mary Poppins in the Young People's Theatre production of Mary Poppins , which opened on November 8, 2018, and closed on January 6, 2019. [11] . At the 2019 Dora Awards, Sears was nominated in the Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role category for her performance as Mary Poppins. [12]

During the 2019 Stratford Festival season, Sears appeared as Ronnette in their production of Little Shop of Horrors and as Dead Mum in Billy Elliot the Musical . [13] [14]

In 2020, Sears played Emmie Thibodeaux in a production of Caroline, or Change by the Musical Stage Company and Obsidian Theatre. [15] The musical, which starred Jully Black and Measha Brueggergosman, played at the Winter Garden Theatre between January 30 and February 15, 2020. [15] For her performance, Sears won the Dora Award for Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role. [16]

Sears starred as Anaia in the Canadian premiere of the play Is God Is , which was presented by the Canadian Stage Company between May 6 - 22, 2022. [17] She was nominated for a Dora Award for Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role. [18] Later that year, she played Regan in the world premiere production of Queen Goneril by the Soulpepper Theatre Company, for which she won the Dora Award for Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role. [19] [20] Sears also played Red Queen / Ruby in a regional production of Alice in Wonderland , which earned her a Dora Award nomination for Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role. [21] [20]

In 2022, Sears starred in her first Hallmark movie, 14 Love Letters. [22]

In 2023, Sears made her Broadway debut in New York, New York . She was a standby for the lead role of Francine Evans in the musical, which played at the St. James Theatre between March 24, 2023, and July 30, 2023. [23]

In 2024, Sears returned to Stratford Festival where she will star as Juliet in a production of Romeo and Juliet . [24]

Theatre credits

YearProductionRoleTheatreCategoryRef.
2015–2016 Kinky Boots Nicola Royal Alexandra Theatre Mirvish Productions [6]
2016 The Wizard of Oz DorothyRegional: Young People's Theatre [1]
2016 Million Dollar Quartet DyanneShoctor Theatre Citadel Theatre
2017 Passing Strange EdwinaThe Opera HouseMusical Stage Company, Obsidian Theatre [8]
Me and My Girl EnsembleFestival Theatre Shaw Festival
1837: The Farmers' RevoltEnsembleCourt House Theatre
An Octoroon ZoeRoyal George Theatre [10]
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat NarratorRegional: Theatre Aquarius
2018The Magician's NephewPollyFestival Theatre Shaw Festival
Grand Hotel Flaemmchen
2018–2019 Mary Poppins Mary PoppinsRegional: Young People's Theatre [11]
2019 Little Shop of Horrors RonnetteAvon Theatre Stratford Festival [13]
Billy Elliot the Musical Dead MumFestival Theatre [14]
2020 Caroline, or Change Emmie Thibodeaux Winter Garden Theatre Musical Stage Company, Obsidian Theatre [15]
2022 Is God Is AnaiaBerkeley Street Theatre Canadian Stage Company, Obsidian Theatre [17]
Queen GonerilRegan Young Centre for the Performing Arts World premiere: Soulpepper Theatre Company [19]
King Lear Regan Soulpepper Theatre Company
Alice in Wonderland Red Queen / RubyRegional: Bad Hats Theatre [18]
2023 New York, New York Francine Evans (standby) St. James Theatre Broadway [23]
2024 Romeo and Juliet JulietFestival Theatre Stratford Festival [24]
Twelfth Night Olivia

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2016 Suits Young JessicaS6.E10: "P.S.L."
2017 The Beaverton Various charactersS1.E7; S1.E10
2020Too Close for ChristmasAmy Parker-BarnettTV movie
2021 TallBoyz Various characters4 episodes
Sex/Life KylaS1.E7: "Small Town Saturday Night"
Odd Squad Reporter #5S3.E21: "Odd Off the Press"
Y: The Last Man StephS1.E5: "Mann Hunt"
Royally Wrapped for ChristmasMonicaTV movie
202214 Love LettersKallieTV movie
My Little Pony: Make Your Mark Additional voicesVoice role, S2.E1: "Izzy Does It"
Sappy HolidayJoy JohnsonTV movie
2024 My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale Sunny's MomVoice role, S2.E11: "Written In The Starscouts"

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2021 Romance in the Wilds Abi
Christmas in the Wilds

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2015 BroadwayWorld AwardBest Featured Female in a Musical Kinky Boots Won [25]
2016 Dora Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble The Wizard of Oz Won [7]
2017Toronto Theatre Critics AwardBest Supporting Actress Passing Strange Won [9]
2019 Dora Awards Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role Mary Poppins Nominated [12]
2020Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role Caroline, or Change Won [16]
2022Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role Is God Is Nominated [18]
2023Outstanding Performance in a Featured RoleQueen GonerilWon [20]
Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role Alice in Wonderland Nominated [20]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Dundas, Camille (March 24, 2016). "Dorothy Is Back - And She's Black". ByBlacks. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 La Rose, Miranda (June 4, 2023). "Canadian actress with Guyanese and Jamaican roots Vanessa Sears debuts on Broadway". Stabroek Weekend. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Cukier, Abigail (June 19, 2014). "Oakville Sheridan student a semifinalist as Voice of McDonald's". Oakville Beaver. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  4. ↑ "McDonald's Welcomes Chris Daughtry and Wayne Brady as Celebrity Hosts for "Voice of McDonald's" Global Singing Competition". Globe Newswire. April 7, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  5. ↑ Sneddon, Scott (June 24, 2016). "Vanessa Sears can't help falling in love in All Shook Up". SesayArts Magazine. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Gans, Andrew (June 28, 2015). "Tony-Winning Hit Kinky Boots Opens in Canada". Playbill. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Kappler, Maija (June 27, 2016). "2016 Dora Award Winners". Intermission Magazine. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Cushman, Robert (January 31, 2017). "Passing Strange is a 'vibrant' piece about an aspiring young musician". National Post. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  9. 1 2 Murphy, Aisling (May 25, 2017). "Here Are This Year's Toronto Theatre Critics Award Winners". Intermission Magazine. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  10. 1 2 "An Octoroon to Make Canadian Premiere at Shaw Festival". BroadwayWorld. July 14, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  11. 1 2 Hoile, Christopher (November 9, 2018). "Review:Mary Poppins". Stage-Door. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  12. 1 2 "2019 Dora Award Nominees". Mooney on Theatre. May 29, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  13. 1 2 Sumi, Glenn (September 11, 2019). "Stratford Festival review: Little Shop Of Horrors is frighteningly good". NOW Magazine. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  14. 1 2 Siblin-Librach, Judy (October 29, 2019). "The bliss of Billy Elliot". Find Your Bliss. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  15. 1 2 3 Nestruck, J. Kelly (February 6, 2020). "Caroline, or Change is a tremendous musical-theatre debut for Jully Black". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  16. 1 2 Smith, Mae (June 29, 2020). "2020 Dora Mavor Moore Award Winners". Intermission Magazine. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  17. 1 2 Wild, Stephi (March 23, 2022). "Oyin Oladejo and Vanessa Sears Lead Canadian Premiere Of IS GOD IS". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  18. 1 2 3 Watson, Jessica (September 20, 2022). "2022 Dora Mavor Moore Award Winners". Intermission Magazine. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  19. 1 2 Sneddon, Scott (September 5, 2022). "Soulpepper's Electrifying Queen Goneril and apocalyptic King Lear create a conversation worth having". SesayArts Magazine. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  20. 1 2 3 4 Crowley, Helene (June 28, 2023). "Announcing the 2023 Dora Mavor Moore Award Winners". Intermission Magazine. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  21. ↑ Watson, Jessica (December 20, 2022). "REVIEW: Alice in Wonderland at Bad Hats Theatre/Soulpepper". Intermission Magazine. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  22. ↑ Gidlow, Steve (July 28, 2022). "Vanessa Sears on Joining the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Family in "14 Love Letters"". MediaVillage. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  23. 1 2 Culwell-Block, Logan (February 1, 2023). "Clyde Alves, Emily Skinner, Janet Dacal, More Join Cast of Broadway's New York, New York". Playbill. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  24. 1 2 Smith, Cory (June 1, 2024). "Romeo and Juliet: Romance, passion and tragedy". Stratford Beacon-Herald. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  25. ↑ Henry, Alan (January 18, 2016). "2015 BroadwayWorld Toronto Award Winners Announced". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
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