Elle McLemore

Elle McLemore
Elle McLemore in 2013
Born
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active2010–present

Elle McLemore is an American actress. She originated the roles of Eva in the Tony-nominated Broadway musical production Bring It On and Heather McNamara in Heathers: The Musical. She also starred in the final season of the television series Army Wives. In 2016, she played Patty Simcox in the TV special Grease: Live.

Early life

McLemore was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to Gail Van Dervoort, a dancer, and Todd Vandervoort, a pyrotechnician. She grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada.[1] She has Irish and Japanese roots.[2] At age four, she toured for 18 months with her family for the Melinda: First Lady of Magic show. Her mother danced on the show and was the magician's assistant while her father did pyrotechnics.[3][4] She attended Palo Verde High School, where she performed in the school productions Grease and Peter Pan and in the benefit concert God Lives in Glass.[1] She graduated in 2009 and moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.[3]

Career

McLemore began performing professionally as a child, touring with her family in Melinda: First Lady of Magic. She performed in school productions including Peter Pan, in which she played the title role.

In 2010, she made her television debut with a guest appearance on Disney Channel's The Suite Life on Deck. She later starred as Jamie Parker in the feature film At the Top of the Pyramid, alongside Dean Cain and Steve Guttenberg.[5][6][7]

In 2011, McLemore was cast as Eva, the show's villain, in the first national tour of Bring It On: The Musical. The production, directed and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler, featured music by Tom Kitt (musician) and Lin-Manuel Miranda and lyrics by Amanda Green. The 13-city national tour transferred to Broadway's St. James Theatre in 2012, with McLemore continuing in the role, making her broadway debut.[8][9][10] McLemore's performance as Eva received positive critical attention. She was described as “outstanding” as well as a “singing, acting, dancing dynamo." Other reviews called her a standout and praised her ability to transform Eva from an innocent character into a villain. [11][12][13][14] McLemore appeared on the original Broadway cast recording of Bring It On: The Musical, performing "Killer Instinct", and "Eva's Rant".[15] The cast also performed in the 2012 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.[16]

McLemore was cat as a series regular Holly Truman for the seventh and final season of Lifetime's Army Wives. Her husband was played by Jesse McCartney.[17][18]

In 2013, McLemore was cast as Heather McNamara in the Los Angeles production of Heathers: The Musical, before reprising the role in the 2014 Off-Broadway production at New World Stages. She originated the role in the world-premiere production and was featured on the original cast recording, including the solo "Lifeboat". Her performance received positive reviews, with critics highlighting her comedic timing and vocals. The world-premiere cast recording was later certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). [19][20][21][22][23][24]

In 2016, McLemore was cast as Patty Simcox in Fox's live television musical Grease: Live!. McLemore's performance as Patty was praised by critics, with Variety describing her performance as “simply terrific.”[25]

In 2024, McLemore expanded into digital media,[26] producing and directing the travel documentary series Lost & Found in Japan, which follows her travels through Tokyo, Kyoto, and Okinawa and explores her Japanese heritage.[27]

In 2026, McLemore launched a digital talk show The Elle McLemore Show! [28] featuring interviews and entertainment segments. Its debut guest was her former Heathers: The Musical co-star Barrett Wilbert Weed, marking a reunion of original Heathers cast members more than a decade after the show's original production.[29] The show has also featured McLemore's former Bring It On: The Musical co-star Taylor Louderman.[30]

Stage credits

Year Title Role Theatre Notes
2011–2012 Bring It On Eva Various Pre-Broadway National Tour[3][31]
2012 St. James Theatre Broadway Debut
2013 Heathers Heather McNamara Hudson Backstage Theatre LA Premiere[32]
2014 New World Stages Off-Broadway[33]

Personal life


McLemore married Josh Levinson in September 2021 in the Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County, California in a wedding featured in People Magazine.[34]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2010 The Suite Life on Deck Gina Episode "My Oh Maya"
2010 The Middle Denise Episode "Halloween"
2011 Los Americans Courtney Episodes "Happy Birthday", "The Legacy"
2013 Army Wives Holly Truman Series regular (Season 7)
2014 At the Top of the Pyramid Jamie Parker
2016 Grease: Live Patty Simcox Television musical

References

  1. 1 2 Lawrence, Christopher (March 10, 2013). "Palo Verde grad making debut on 'Army Wives'". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on January 4, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  2. ↑ McLemore, Elle (May 19, 2013). "Twitter status: Im irish and a quarter japanese!!". Twitter.com. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 Hogan, Jan (February 21, 2012). "Summerlin actress hits national scene in 'Bring It On: The Musical'". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  4. ↑ Padgett, Sonia (May 8, 2011). "Bevertainer serves cocktails and dances". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Elle McLemore – Broadway and Theatre Credits". BroadwayWorld.
  6. ↑ "At the Top of the Pyramid – Full Cast & Crew". IMDb.
  7. ↑ Tamanini, Matt (March 3, 2015). "BWW Interview: How Elle McLemore's 'New' Movie AT THE TOP OF THE PYRAMID Prepared Her for BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL". BroadwayWorld.
  8. ↑ "Go, Fight, Win! Bring It On: The Musical Extends Broadway Run Through 2013". Broadway.com. 2012-08-09.
  9. ↑ "Bring It On: The Musical". Internet Broadway Database.
  10. ↑ "Bring It On: The Musical and Its Broadway Newcomers". The New York Times. August 18, 2012.
  11. ↑ Byrne, Christopher (August 15, 2012). "Pep Rally Romp". Gay City News.
  12. ↑ "REVIEW: Bring It On: The Musical". JK's TheatreScene. August 6, 2012.
  13. ↑ "They Brought It". KQED. December 21, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Chicago Theater Review: BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL". Stage and Cinema. March 8, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Bring It On – Original Broadway Cast". CastAlbums.org.
  16. ↑ "Casts from Newsies, Bring It On and Cinderella Plus Tony Danza, Kelli O'Hara and More Share Thanksgiving Day Parade Memories". Playbill.
  17. ↑ "Elle McLemore – Broadway and Theatre Credits". BroadwayWorld.
  18. ↑ "'Army Wives' Season 7 Spoilers: Torrey DeVitto, Ashanti, Elle McLemore". The Hollywood Reporter. November 26, 2012.
  19. ↑ "First Listen from HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL World Premiere Cast Recording". iHeartRadio Broadway. June 5, 2025.
  20. ↑ Solis, Jose (April 1, 2014). "Review: Heathers: The Musical". StageBuddy.
  21. ↑ "Review: Heathers: The Musical". JK's TheatreScene. May 14, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Heathers: The Musical at New World Stages". Litro Magazine.
  23. ↑ "BWW CD Reviews: Yellow Sound Label's HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL World Premiere Cast Recording Has Some 'Damage'". BroadwayWorld. July 3, 2014.
  24. ↑ "What's Your Damage? A Track-by-Track Breakdown of the Heathers: The Musical Cast Album". Playbill. 2014.
  25. ↑ Brian Lowry, "TV Review: 'Grease: Live!'", Variety, January 31, 2016.
  26. ↑ Hall, Margaret. "Heathers: Where Are They Now?". Playbill.
  27. ↑ "Lost & Found in Japan". IMDb.
  28. ↑ "IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  29. ↑ Major, Michael (January 28, 2026). "Video: Original HEATHERS Stars Barrett Wilbert Weed & Elle McLemore Reunite on Podcast". BroadwayWorld.
  30. ↑ Sharpe, Josh (June 3, 2026). "Video: Taylor Louderman Opens Up About Backlash from Ariana Grande Fans After Losing WICKED Role". BroadwayWorld.
  31. ↑ "Taylor Louderman, Adrienne Warren Lead BRING IT ON National Tour; Full Cast Announced!". BroadwayWorld. September 14, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  32. ↑ "Barrett Wilbert Weed, Elle McLemore & More Star in HEATHERS THE MUSICAL, Beg. Tonight in LA". BroadwayWorld. November 30, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  33. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (February 6, 2014). "Cast Announced for Off-Broadway premiere of Heathers: The Musical, Based On Cult Comedy". Playbill. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  34. ↑ https://people.com/tv/elle-mclemore-marries-josh-levinson-theater-actress-tennis-coach/#:~:text=Elle%20McLemore%20and%20Josh%20Levinson%20are%20officially%20husband%20and%20wife,after%20a%20five%2Dyear%20engagement.


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