Alysha Umphress

Alysha Umphress is an American actor and vocalist from Concord, California. She 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
Production Role Year(s)
On The Town Hildy 2014–2015
Bring It On: The Musical "Legendary" Soloist 2012
Priscilla Queen of the Desert Ensemble/Shirley 2012
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever Paula (understudy for Muriel Bunson, Melinda Wells) 2011–2012
American Idiot Ensemble 2010–2011[4]
Off-Broadway/National Tour /Regional
Production Role Year(s) Theatre
The Bedwetter Mrs. Dembo 2025 Arena Stage[19]
Mr. Saturday Night Susan 2021 Barrington Stage Company[20]
Scotland, PA Jessie 2019 Roundabout Theatre Company[21]
Smokey Joe's Cafe Ensemble 2018 Stage 42[22]
Hood: The Robin Hood Musical Adventure Meg 2017 Dallas Theatre Center[23]
Pump Boys and Dinettes Rhetta 2016 Paper Mill Playhouse[24]
Beaches Cee Cee 2014 Signature Theatre[25]
Bring It On: The Musical "Legendary" Soloist 2011–2012 National tour[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. ^ a b "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. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (26 February 2025). "The Reviews Are Out for Sarah Silverman Musical The Bedwetter in D.C." Playbill. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ Franklin, Marc (24 October 2019). "Inside Opening Night of Scotland, PA Off-Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  22. ^ Vine, Hannah (18 May 2018). "First Look at Upcoming Off-Broadway Revival of Smokey Joe's Café". Playbill. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  23. ^ Gans, Andrew (7 July 2017). "Hood: The Robin Hood Musical Adventure Opens at Tony-Winning Dallas Theater Center". Playbill. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  24. ^ "Alysha Umphress Will Serve Up Pump Boys and Dinettes in NJ". Playbill. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  25. ^ Gilbert, Sophie (3 March 2014). "Theater Review: "Beaches" at Signature Theatre". Washingtonian Media Inc. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  26. ^ "Alysha Umphress". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
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