61 Facts About Annaleigh Ashford

1.

Annaleigh Amanda Ashford is an American actress, singer, and dancer.

2.

Annaleigh Ashford received the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for playing Essie Carmichael in You Can't Take it With You.

3.

Annaleigh Ashford starred in the Broadway revival of Sunday in the Park with George.

4.

Annaleigh Ashford released her debut recording Lost in the Stars: Live at 54 Below in 2015.

5.

Annaleigh Ashford was born in Denver on June 25,1985, the daughter of Holli Swanson, an elementary school gym teacher, and Chris Swanson, a small-business owner.

6.

Annaleigh Ashford participated in Kids Cross Country and track at the age of six, coached by her mother.

7.

Annaleigh Ashford discovered that she hated running, and it was very clear that she was more interested in the race uniforms than the actual races.

8.

Annaleigh Ashford began practicing at Kit Andree's Dance and Performing Arts Center the same day she started the second grade.

9.

Annaleigh Ashford acted and sang in numerous performances and competitions in her hometown.

10.

Annaleigh Ashford graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in three years, at the age of 16, and then attended Marymount Manhattan College, where she earned a degree in theatre in another three years, at the age of 19.

11.

In 2004, while hanging around in New York City's Lower East Side club scene, Annaleigh Ashford met nightlife personality Lady Starlight, a local rock DJ and performance artist.

12.

Annaleigh Ashford performed in Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey's Feeling Electric as Natalie at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2005.

13.

Annaleigh Ashford joined the cast in December 2005 and left in September 2006.

14.

Annaleigh Ashford then originated the role of Margot in Legally Blonde: The Musical, her Broadway debut.

15.

Annaleigh Ashford was featured on the original cast recording and appeared in the MTV televised airing.

16.

Annaleigh Ashford previously did a staged reading for the project under the Tony Award-winning director of Hairspray, Jack O'Brien.

17.

Annaleigh Ashford then returned to Wicked, this time playing the lead role of Glinda in the Broadway production.

18.

Annaleigh Ashford departed the company on May 11,2008, when Kassebaum returned to the role, and transferred to the Chicago production, replacing Kate Fahrner as Glinda on June 3,2008.

19.

Annaleigh Ashford played her final performance as Glinda on January 25,2009, when the Chicago production closed.

20.

In 2009, it was announced that Annaleigh Ashford would be one of the principal characters and singers in the new vaudeville styled Cirque du Soleil show, Banana Shpeel.

21.

Annaleigh Ashford was originally slated to stay in the production from its premiere in Chicago until sometime in 2010.

22.

Annaleigh Ashford starred as Jeanie in the Broadway revival of Hair.

23.

Annaleigh Ashford succeeded Kacie Sheik in the role from March 9,2010, through June 27,2010, when the production closed.

24.

In September 2010, Annaleigh Ashford made her directorial debut at Birdland Jazz Club, directing fellow Hair alum Jay Armstrong Johnson in his solo concert debut.

25.

The concert was met with rave reviews, including a notice for Annaleigh Ashford's "thoughtfully put together" directorial style.

26.

In September 2010, Annaleigh Ashford played Veronica Sawyer in a concert version of the new musical Heathers.

27.

In November 2010, Annaleigh Ashford was part of a reading of the musical Carrie.

28.

In January 2012, Annaleigh Ashford ended her run playing Maureen Johnson in the Off-Broadway revival of Rent, which began July 14,2011 and closed on September 9,2012.

29.

In February 2012, Annaleigh Ashford made a cameo on Smash as Lisa McMann and returned for another short appearance in 2013 before the show's cancellation.

30.

Annaleigh Ashford performed on the original cast recording of the musical.

31.

In 2013, Annaleigh Ashford provided the voice of a troll in Frozen.

32.

Annaleigh Ashford has a short line greeting Kristoff and sings the second female solo after Maia Wilson in the song "Fixer Upper" for the soundtrack.

33.

In 2013, after appearing in the Chicago try-outs, Annaleigh Ashford reprised her role as Lauren in the Broadway production of Kinky Boots, a musical with a book by Harvey Fierstein and music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper.

34.

Annaleigh Ashford left her role in Kinky Boots on March 2,2014.

35.

Annaleigh Ashford's part was upgraded from a recurring to regular for Season 2.

36.

On January 14,2014, Annaleigh Ashford released her first single, "Another Time ", with musical director Will Van Dyke on iTunes.

37.

Annaleigh Ashford appeared alongside Rose Byrne, James Earl Jones, and Elizabeth Ashley.

38.

On November 17,2015, it was announced that Annaleigh Ashford had signed with talent agency ICM Partners.

39.

On November 20,2015, Annaleigh Ashford was selected to present the sixth annual Clive Barnes Theatre Award, taking place on January 11,2016.

40.

On November 30,2015, Annaleigh Ashford played eight roles in a reading of Paul Rudnick's critically acclaimed play Jeffrey, directed by Christopher Ashley.

41.

Annaleigh Ashford starred alongside Laverne Cox, Victoria Justice, and Ryan McCartan.

42.

Annaleigh Ashford was not eligible for a Tony Award for this performance, as the production withdrew itself from any award competition, including the Tony Awards.

43.

Annaleigh Ashford [has] impeccable timing with delightfully unexpected line readings.

44.

On September 12,2017, it was announced that Annaleigh Ashford would join the cast of Woody Allen's drama film A Rainy Day in New York, which was completed on October 23,2017.

45.

On November 3,2017, it was announced that Annaleigh Ashford would make her New York Philharmonic debut in a televised New Year's Eve concert celebrating the music of Leonard Bernstein.

46.

Annaleigh Ashford appeared as Elizabeth Cote in four episodes of the mini-series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, which premiered on January 17,2018.

47.

Annaleigh Ashford co-starred in the Jennifer Lopez-led comedy film Second Act as Hildy, opposite Vanessa Hudgens.

48.

On July 23,2018, it was announced that Annaleigh Ashford would be starring in American Reject, a new musical film.

49.

In February 2020, Annaleigh Ashford was cast as one of the two main lead roles for the CBS situation comedy B Positive, in which she plays Gina, an unstable woman who is the perfect match for a person in need of a kidney, who happens to be a divorced father who she knows from the past.

50.

Annaleigh Ashford performed the series' lengthy opening theme in a musical-theater style.

51.

Annaleigh Ashford did not meet with the real life figure but heavily relied on the wealth of material available.

52.

Annaleigh Ashford starred alongside Kumail Nanjiani, Murray Bartlett, and Juliette Lewis.

53.

Annaleigh Ashford earned rave reviews for her performance, with many stating she made the role her own and distinguished herself from Angela Lansbury who originated the role.

54.

Annaleigh Ashford was praised for her vocal abilities and her comedic talents.

55.

Annaleigh Ashford received her third Tony Award nomination this time for Best Actress in a Musical.

56.

Annaleigh Ashford has celiac disease, and therefore maintains a strict gluten-free diet.

57.

On May 11,2016, People announced that Annaleigh Ashford was pregnant with their first child, a boy.

58.

Annaleigh Ashford performed an early version of what has now become her critically acclaimed Lost in the Stars show.

59.

In February 2014, Annaleigh Ashford made her 54 Below concert debut with her now acclaimed cabaret show, Lost in the Stars.

60.

On February 11,2015, it was announced that Annaleigh Ashford would be joined by Van Dyke and The Whiskey Five band in a tour of her acclaimed cabaret show in five cities.

61.

Annaleigh Ashford returned to 54 Below for a New Year's Eve special, Lost in the Stars: New Year's Magic.