Alysha Umphress

Alysha Umphress
Born (1982-03-09) March 9, 1982
Concord, California, U.S.
SpouseCody Williams

Alysha Umphress (born March 3, 1982) is an American actor and vocalist best known for her work in Broadway musicals. Notable roles include Hildy in On The Town, DeeLee in Smokey Joe's Cafe, Shirley in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and Paula in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.

Career

Umphress graduated from the San Francisco School of the Arts and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Boston Conservatory before moving to New York City in 2004.[1][2][3]

Umphress made her Broadway debut in 2010 as an ensemble member of American Idiot and has performed in venues around the country.[4] She has performed in concerts and cabarets at such venues as 54 Below, Green Room 42, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Classic Stage Company, and more.[5][6][7][8] Her recordings include On the Town, American Idiot, Bring it On!, Fugitive Songs, Alysha Umphress Live at the Laurie Beechman, and I've Been Played: Alysha Umphress Swings Jeff Blumenkrantz.[9]

In 2015, Umphress was nominated for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical (HAYES Production) Helen Hayes Award for her performance in Beaches at Signature Theatre.[10] In 2019, she was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance in Smokey Joe's Cafe at Stage 42.[11] In 2023, Umphress was the grand prize winner of the American Traditions Vocal Collection Competition. She has been announced as a vocalist on the upcoming concept album of the new musical The Fitzgeralds of St. Paul.[12]

In 2018, New York Times critic Laura Collins-Hughes mentioned Alysha's body size in her review of Smokey Joe's Cafe,[13] which many described as body-shaming.[14] Collins-Hughes received pushback from the theatre community for her review.[15] Alysha responded on Twitter by calling Collins-Hughes' writing "full on mean girl" and calling for a celebration of diversity in the arts.[16]

Umphress met Cody Williams while working on a workshop of On The Town and they started dating in 2013.[17] They were married in November 2017.[18]

Theatrical credits

Broadway
ProductionRoleYear(s)
American IdiotEnsemble2010–2011[4]
On a Clear Day You Can See ForeverPaula (understudy for Muriel Bunson, Melinda Wells)2011–2012
Priscilla Queen of the DesertShirley2012
Bring It On: The Musical"Legendary" Soloist2012
On The TownHildy2014–2015
Off-Broadway/National Tour /Regional
ProductionRoleYear(s)Theatre
Bring It On: The Musical"Legendary" Soloist2011–2012National tour[19]
BeachesCecilia Carol "C.C." Bloom2014Signature Theatre[20]
Pump Boys and DinettesRhetta2016Paper Mill Playhouse[21]
Hood: The Robin Hood Musical AdventureMeg2017Dallas Theatre Center[22]
Smokey Joe's CafeEnsemble2018Stage 42[23]
Scotland, PAJessie2019Roundabout Theatre Company[24]
Mr. Saturday NightSusan2021Barrington Stage Company[25]
The BedwetterMrs. Dembo2025Arena Stage[26]

References

  1. ↑ Donahue, Tori (10 May 2022). "Conservatory and College Alumni Nominated for Tony Awards". Berklee College of Music. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  2. ↑ San Francisco Symphony. "Biography: Alysha Umphress". San Francisco Symphony. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  3. ↑ Sokol, Robert (8 November 2016). "Alysha Umphress: From Bay Area to Broadway and back". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Alysha Umphress". The Broadway League. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  5. ↑ Gans, Andrew (7 October 2024). "Laura Benanti, Kate Baldwin, Nikki M. James, More Will Be Part of Broadway Melody at 54 Below". Playbill. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  6. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (20 January 2024). "Alysha Umphress Reunites With Jeff Blumenkrantz at Green Room 42 January 20". Playbill. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  7. ↑ Higgins, Molly (17 July 2024). "Sara Bareilles Will Play Benefit Concert for Williamstown Theatre Festival". Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  8. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (17 May 2024). "Classic Stage Company Plans Bernstein's Broadway Benefit Evening". Playbill. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  9. ↑ "Alysha Umphress". waitingroom.sfsymphony.org. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  10. ↑ Purcell, Carey (27 January 2015). "Signature Theatre, Side Show Stars, Alysha Umphress and More Nominated for Helen Hayes Awards". Playbill. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  11. ↑ "Noteworthy". Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Summer 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  12. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (17 December 2024). "Raúl Esparza, Grace McLean, More Will Sing on The Fitzgeralds of St. Paul Concept Album". Playbill. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  13. ↑ Russian, Ale. "Broadway Star Fires Back at New York Times Critic Who 'Body Shamed' Her: 'Full on Mean Girl'". People.com. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  14. ↑ Edwards, Tanya (24 July 2018). "Broadway actress calls out 'mean girl' reviewer after she was body-shamed". Yahoo Life. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  15. ↑ Gervais, Gigi (29 July 2018). "The NYT Smokey Joe's Cafe Review". The Theatrical Board. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  16. ↑ Abrahamson, Rachel Paula (24 July 2018). "'New York Times' Critic Laura Collins-Hughes Is Under Fire for 'Body-Shaming' Broadway Star Alysha Umphress". US Weekly. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  17. ↑ "Alysha Umphress and Cody Williams Are Engaged". Playbill. 4 January 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  18. ↑ Kahn, Jason Mitchell (23 April 2018). "4 Times Broadway Influenced Celeb Weddings". Playbill. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  19. ↑ "Alysha Umphress". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  20. ↑ Gilbert, Sophie (3 March 2014). "Theater Review: "Beaches" at Signature Theatre". Washingtonian Media Inc. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  21. ↑ "Alysha Umphress Will Serve Up Pump Boys and Dinettes in NJ". Playbill. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  22. ↑ Gans, Andrew (7 July 2017). "Hood: The Robin Hood Musical Adventure Opens at Tony-Winning Dallas Theater Center". Playbill. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  23. ↑ Vine, Hannah (18 May 2018). "First Look at Upcoming Off-Broadway Revival of Smokey Joe's Café". Playbill. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  24. ↑ Franklin, Marc (24 October 2019). "Inside Opening Night of Scotland, PA Off-Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  25. ↑ Meyer, Dan (22 October 2021). "Billy Crystal Stars in Mr. Saturday Night Musical at Barrington Stage Company Beginning October 22". Playbill. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  26. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (26 February 2025). "The Reviews Are Out for Sarah Silverman Musical The Bedwetter in D.C." Playbill. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
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