Chryssie Whitehead
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Chryssie Whitehead is an American actress, singer and dancer on
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...
, film and television as well as a passionate educator, director and choreographer.


Early life and education

Whitehead grew up in
South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
. During her first year of high school, she was in a community theatre production of ''
A Chorus Line ''A Chorus Line'' is a 1975 musical conceived by Michael Bennett with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, and a book by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante. Set on the bare stage of a Broadway theater, the musical is cent ...
'', in which she played a cut dancer and understudy to Judy.


Career


Off Broadway

Before appearing on
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...
, Whitehead was a Rockette in Los Angeles and New York City at the start of her career right out of high school. She toured and performed in '' Fosse'', ''
The Will Rogers Follies ''The Will Rogers Follies'' is a Musical theatre, musical with a book by Peter Stone (writer), Peter Stone, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and music by Cy Coleman. It focuses on the life and career of humorist and performer Will Rogers, ...
'', ''
All Shook Up "All Shook Up" is a song recorded by Elvis Presley, published by Elvis Presley Music, and composed by Otis Blackwell. The single topped the U.S. ''Billboard'' Top 100 on April 13, 1957, staying there for nine weeks. It also topped the ''Billboa ...
'' and
Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained global fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and the piano, and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John ...
's "Driving Rain" tour.


On Broadway

Her Broadway debut was starring in the 2006 Broadway revival of ''
A Chorus Line ''A Chorus Line'' is a 1975 musical conceived by Michael Bennett with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, and a book by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante. Set on the bare stage of a Broadway theater, the musical is cent ...
'', in which she played the character of Kristine alongside
Tony Yazbeck Tony Yazbeck (born March 14, 1979) is an American actor, singer, and dancer, best known for his work on the Broadway stage, including the revival of ''On the Town (musical), On the Town'', for which he received 2015 Tony Awards, Tony Award and Ou ...
. The audition process that she took to get the role can be seen in ''Every Little Step'', a documentary of the ''A Chorus Line'' Broadway revival casting process. Following Broadway, television roles ensued, as well as the musicals ''
Damn Yankees ''Damn Yankees'' is a 1955 musical comedy with a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop, music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story is a modern retelling of the Faust legend set during the 1950s in Washington, D.C., d ...
'' as Lola, ''Gigi'', ''Cats'', ''
A Chorus Line ''A Chorus Line'' is a 1975 musical conceived by Michael Bennett with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, and a book by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante. Set on the bare stage of a Broadway theater, the musical is cent ...
'' (as Cassie) and '' Will Rogers Follies'' as Z's Favorite. In 2011, she appeared in the role of Kathy opposite
Neil Patrick Harris Neil Patrick Harris (born June 15, 1973) is an American actor, singer, writer, producer, and television host. Primarily known for his comedic television roles and dramatic and musical stage roles, he has received List of awards and nominations ...
as Bobby in the
New York Philharmonic The New York Philharmonic is an American symphony orchestra based in New York City. Known officially as the ''Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc.'', and globally known as the ''New York Philharmonic Orchestra'' (NYPO) or the ''New Yo ...
production of ''Company''. In 2016– 2017, she played the role of Kitty in the Broadway revival of ''
Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
'', where she understudied and performed the role of Velma Kelly.


In film and television

Whitehead was
Julia Stiles Julia O'Hara Stiles (born March 28, 1981) is an American actress. Stiles began acting at the age of 11 as part of New York's La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club. Her film debut was a small role at age 15 in '' I Love You, I Love You Not'' (1996), ...
' dance double in the final audition scene of ''
Save the Last Dance ''Save the Last Dance'' is a 2001 American dance film produced by MTV Films, directed by Thomas Carter and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film stars Julia Stiles and Sean Patrick Thomas as a teenage interracial couple in Chicago who ...
''. She has also been in '' The Producers'' and other independent films. She was also in the
ABC Family American cable television, cable and satellite television network Freeform (TV channel), Freeform was originally launched as the CBN Satellite Service on April 29, 1977, and has gone through four different owners and six different name changes dur ...
TV movie ''
Revenge of the Bridesmaids ''Revenge of the Bridesmaids'' is a 2010 ABC Family Original Movie that premiered on July 18, 2010. It stars Raven-Symoné as Abigail and JoAnna García as Parker, undercover bridesmaids with a mission to break up a wedding. In addition, the f ...
'' with Raven Simone. On television, Whitehead appeared as Helen Boyd in a 2007 episode of ''
Grey's Anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series focusing on the personal and professional lives of surgical internship (medicine), interns, residency (medicine), residents, and attending physician, attendings at the fictional ...
'', "Kung Fu Fighting", as well as in the TV series ''
In Plain Sight ''In Plain Sight'' is an American drama television series that premiered on the USA Network on June 1, 2008. The series revolves around Mary Shannon (Mary McCormack), a Deputy United States Marshal attached to the Albuquerque, New Mexico office ...
'' in the episode "Coma Chameleon", playing the character of Krista. In 2011, she appeared on the TV series ''
Castle A castle is a type of fortification, fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by Military order (monastic society), military orders. Scholars usually consider a ''castle'' to be the private ...
'', ''
The Mentalist ''The Mentalist'' is an American procedural drama television series that ran from September 23, 2008, until February 18, 2015, broadcasting 151 episodes over seven seasons, on CBS. Created by Bruno Heller, who was also its executive producer, t ...
'' and ''
Happy Endings A happy ending is a type of plot conclusion. Happy Ending or Happy Endings may also refer to: Film and television * Happy Ending (Schitt's Creek), "Happy Ending" (Schitt's Creek), the 2020 series finale of ''Schitt's Creek'' * Happy Ending (20 ...
''. In 2012, she appeared on '' Switched at Birth''. In 2013, she had a recurring role on four episodes of '' Private Practice''. In 2014, Whitehead was a recurring guest star for three of the six final episodes of ''
Warehouse 13 ''Warehouse 13'' is an American science fiction television series that originally ran from July 7, 2009, to May 19, 2014, on the Syfy network, and was executively produced by Jack Kenny and David Simkins for Universal Cable Productions. Des ...
''. She played Claire Donovan, the older sister and eldest sibling to Claudia and Joshua Donovan. Her last television appearance was during the third season of ''Grimm'' in 2014. Her last film credit was in the remake of
West Side Story ''West Side Story'' is a Musical theatre, musical conceived by Jerome Robbins with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a Book (musical theatre), book by Arthur Laurents. Inspired by William Shakespeare's play ''Romeo an ...
film directed by Steven Spielberg as the female social worker at the dance at the gym.


Other aspects

In addition to performing, Chryssie is a director, choreographer and writer. She produced her autobiographical show
In My Own Little Corner: A Work in Progress with Bipolar Disorder
as a fundraiser in New York City, November 5th, 2022. The goal is to travel with the show to spread mental health care and awareness, stopping the stigma and normalizing the conversation around mental illness. She is the proud co-founder/director of the performing arts educational company with an holistic approach
Broadway Arts Community
(BAC) with best friend of 20+ years,
Alexis Carra Alexis Carra (born 27 April 1990) is a French Association football, footballer who plays as a Forward (association football)#Striker, striker. References

1990 births Living people Sportspeople from Villefranche-sur-Saône Footballers f ...
. BAC coaches privately and provides workshops in acting for camera, musical theatre, college and career prep. Chryssie is a proud faculty member who teaches theatre jazz and jazz dance at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in New York.


Personal life

Whitehead resides in New York City with her husband and two dogs. She is a director and musical theatre faculty member at the
American Musical and Dramatic Academy The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) is a private conservatory for the performing arts in New York City and Los Angeles, California. The conservatory offers master's degrees, bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, and certificates ...
on the New York campus.


References


External links

* *
Official website
Chryssie Whitehead

Dance Act Sing Intensive with Chryssie Whitehead

Broadway Arts Camp {{DEFAULTSORT:Whitehead, Chryssie American female dancers Dancers from South Carolina American musical theatre actresses American film actresses American television actresses Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Actresses from South Carolina 21st-century American women