Alison Luff
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Alison Nicole Luff (born December 20, 1988) is an American singer and stage actress. She is best known for her extensive work in musical theatre, notably for her roles as
Elphaba Elphaba Thropp () is the protagonist of Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel '' Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West'', the novel's musical theatre adaptation, and the musical's two-part film adaptation, '' Wicked'' (2024) and '' ...
in the First National Tour of ''
Wicked Wicked may refer to: Books * ''Wicked'' (Maguire novel), a 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire that inspired the musical of the same name * ''Wicked'', a 1997 novel series collaboration between Australian children's authors Paul Jennings and Morris ...
'' and Jenna in the Broadway production of ''
Waitress Waiting staff ( BrE), waiters () / waitresses (), or servers (AmE) are those who work at a restaurant, a diner, or a bar and sometimes in private homes, attending to customers by supplying them with food and drink as requested. Waiting staff ...
''. From 2021 to 2023, she has appeared in a lead role in the
Starz Starz (stylized in all caps as STARZ; pronounced "stars") is an American pay television network owned by Starz Entertainment, and is the flagship property of Starz Inc. Launched in 1994 as a multiplex service of what is now Starz Encore, ...
drama series ''
Heels High-heeled shoes, also known as high heels (colloquially shortened to heels), are a type of shoe with an upward-angled sole. The heel in such shoes is raised above the ball of the foot. High heels cause the legs to appear longer, make the wea ...
''. Her other Broadway credits include ''
Ghost the Musical ''Ghost'' is a musical with book and lyrics by Bruce Joel Rubin and music and lyrics by Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard. Based on the hit 1990 romantic fantasy thriller film of the same name, it centres on lovers Sam and Molly, who are attack ...
'', ''
Matilda the Musical ''Roald Dahl's Matilda'', also known simply as ''Matilda'' and ''Matilda the Musical'', is a musical with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and a book by Dennis Kelly. It is based on the 1988 novel '' Matilda'' by Roald Dahl. The musical's narr ...
'', ''Les Misérables'', '' Escape to Margaritaville'', ''
The Who's Tommy ''The Who's Tommy'' is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Pete Townshend and a book by Townshend and Des McAnuff. It is based on the 1969 rock opera '' Tommy'' by The Who. Productions The musical opened at La Jolla Playhouse in San Di ...
'' and ''
& Juliet ''& Juliet'' is a 2019 coming-of-age story, coming-of-age jukebox musical featuring the music of Swedish pop (music), pop songwriter Max Martin, with a book by David West Read. The story focuses on a "what if" scenario, where Juliet decided not ...
''.


Early life

Alison Luff was born on December 20, 1988, in
Spring Spring(s) may refer to: Common uses * Spring (season), a season of the year * Spring (device), a mechanical device that stores energy * Spring (hydrology), a natural source of water * Spring (mathematics), a geometric surface in the shape of a he ...
, Texas. Since childhood, she had a passion for theater, which grew as she grew up. At age 6, she began singing and dancing with Encore Youth Performers. One year later, she began acting in
community theater Community theatre refers to any Theatre, theatrical performance made in relation to particular Community, communities—its usage includes theatre made by, with, and for a community. It may refer to a production that is made entirely by a communit ...
, and at age 10, she began acting in professional theater. She attended
Klein Collins High School Klein Collins High School is a public high school located at 20811 Ella Boulevard in unincorporated Harris County, Texas, United States. The school, with a Klein, Texas postal address, serves students in grades 9 through 12, as part of the Klein ...
, where she was involved in almost every one of her school's theater productions''.'' As
Éponine Éponine Thénardier (; ), also referred to as "Ponine", the "Jondrette girl" and the "young working-man", is a fictional character in the 1862 novel ''Les Misérables'' by Victor Hugo. The character is introduced as a spoiled and pampered child, ...
in her school's production of ''
Les Miserables LES or Les may refer to: People * Les (given name) * Les (surname) * L.E.S. (producer), hip hop producer Space flight * Launch Entry Suit, worn by Space Shuttle crews * Launch escape system, for spacecraft emergencies * Lincoln Experimental ...
'', she was nominated for best actress at the Tommy Tune Awards, and as Annabel Glick in her school's production of ''
Lucky Stiff ''Lucky Stiff'' is a musical farce. It was the first collaboration for the team of Lynn Ahrens (book and lyrics) and Stephen Flaherty (music). The show is based on the 1983 novel ''The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo'' by Michael Butter ...
'', she won best actress at an awards ceremony at the
Hobby Center for the Performing Arts The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts is a theater in Houston, Texas, United States. Opened to the public in 2002, the theater is located downtown ''Downtown'' is a term primarily used in American and Canadian English to refer to a c ...
. Instead of attending college, she worked and performed to save money to move to New York City.


Career

Luff made her Broadway debut in the ensemble of '' Mamma Mia'', understudying the roles of Ali and Sophie. She departed the production on January 1, 2012. She also performed the same track on the second national tour. She then understudied
Carolee Carmello Carolee Carmello is an American actress best known for her performances in Broadway musicals and for playing the role of Maple LaMarsh on the television series '' Remember WENN'' (1996–1998). She is a three-time Tony Award nominee and a five ...
as
Aimee Semple McPherson Aimee Elizabeth Semple McPherson (née Kennedy; October 9, 1890 â€“ September 27, 1944), also known as Sister Aimee or Sister, was a Canadian-born American Pentecostalism, Pentecostal Evangelism, evangelist and media celebrity in the 1920 ...
in the short-lived Broadway musical, ''Scandalous''. She then went on to star in the Broadway production of ''
Ghost In folklore, a ghost is the soul or Spirit (supernatural entity), spirit of a dead Human, person or non-human animal that is believed by some people to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely, from a ...
'' as an understudy for the role of Molly, which was played by
Caissie Levy Caissie Levy (born April 15, 1981) is a Canadian-American actress and singer, mainly known for her work in musical theatre on Broadway and in the West End. Her early Broadway credits included Penny Pingleton in ''Hairspray'' and Sheila in ''Hai ...
. Luff made her ''
Wicked Wicked may refer to: Books * ''Wicked'' (Maguire novel), a 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire that inspired the musical of the same name * ''Wicked'', a 1997 novel series collaboration between Australian children's authors Paul Jennings and Morris ...
'' debut on April 30, 2013 with the 1st National Tour, alongside
Jennifer Gambatese Jenn Gambatese (born September 10, 1975) is an American actress and singer. Gambatese has performed in the musical production of Disney's ''Tarzan'' as Jane. Gambatese also played Glinda on the first National Tour of ''Wicked''. Early life a ...
as
Glinda Glinda is a fictional character created by L. Frank Baum for his ''Oz'' novels. She first appears in Baum's 1900 children's classic ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'', and is the most powerful sorceress in the Land of Oz, ruler of the Quadling Coun ...
. She took a short break from Elphaba July 2 to 7, 2013, in which time the role was played by
Dee Roscioli Danielle Marie Roscioli (born July 20, 1977) is an American singer and actress, who is known for her performances as Elphaba in the Broadway theatre, Broadway, Chicago, San Francisco, and national touring productions of the musical ''Wicked (mu ...
. She played her final performance as Elphaba on April 20, 2014, with
Gina Beck Gina Beck (born on 30th December 1981 in Buckinghamshire) is a British stage actress and singer, mainly known for playing major roles in various West End musicals. She played the characters of Miss Honey in the Royal Shakespeare Company's produc ...
as Glinda. She was replaced by Emma Hunton as Elphaba. Luff played Miss Honey in the Broadway production of ''
Matilda Matilda or Mathilda may refer to: Animals * Matilda (chicken) (1990–2006), World's Oldest Living Chicken record holder * Mathilda (gastropod), ''Mathilda'' (gastropod), a genus of gastropods in the family Mathildidae * Matilda (horse) (1824–1 ...
'', in which she performed from September 6, 2014, to September 6, 2015. She played Charlie Jane in the
Pasadena Playhouse Pasadena Playhouse is a Tony Award-winning historic performing arts venue located 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engag ...
production of ''Breaking Through'' until the end of the show's run on November 22, 2015. Luff then starred as
Fantine Fantine (French pronunciation: ) is a fictional character in Victor Hugo's 1862 novel ''Les Misérables''. She is a young ''Grisette (person), grisette'' in Paris who is impregnated by a rich student. After he abandons her, she is forced to look ...
in the second Broadway revival of ''Les Misérables'' from February 2016 until the production's closing in September 2016. From October 20 to December 2, 2017, Luff starred in the pre-Broadway tour of '' Escape to Margaritaville'' as Rachel. She reprised her role in the Broadway production from March 15 to July 1, 2018. She also starred as Jenna in ''Waitress'' from July 23, 2019, to September 15, 2019. In October 2024, Luff is scheduled to take over the role of Anne Hathaway in the Broadway production of ''
& Juliet ''& Juliet'' is a 2019 coming-of-age story, coming-of-age jukebox musical featuring the music of Swedish pop (music), pop songwriter Max Martin, with a book by David West Read. The story focuses on a "what if" scenario, where Juliet decided not ...
'', replacing original cast member
Betsy Wolfe Betsy Wolfe (born Elizabeth Marie Wolfe; June 1, 1982) is an American actress, singer, and entrepreneur. Wolfe starred in the Broadway musical '' & Juliet'' as Anne Hathaway, a performance for which she was nominated for the 2023 Tony Award fo ...
.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Luff, Alison American stage actresses 1988 births 21st-century American women singers Actors from Spring, Texas Living people 21st-century American actresses Singers from Texas Actresses from Texas American television actresses