Cynthia Erivo

Cynthia Erivo
Born	Cynthia L. Erivo January 8, 1987 London, England, United Kingdom
Occupation	Singer songwriter actress
Years active	2012–present

Cynthia Erivo (born 8 January 1987) is a British singer-songwriter and theatre actress. She is best known for her role as Celie Harris in the Menier Chocolate Factory and Broadway productions of The Color Purple, and her role as Deloris Van Cartier/Sister Mary Clarence in the UK tour of Sister Act.

Early life

Erivo was born to Nigerian immigrants in London.^[1] She was later raised in Stockwell, a suburb of London.^[1] Erivo began a music psychology degree at the University of East London, however a year into her degree she applied^[2] and subsequently trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.^[3]

Career

Erivo first appeared in roles on British television programmes such as Chewing Gum and The Tunnel. Her first stage role was in Marine Parade by Simon Stephens at the Brighton Festival.^[4]

In 2013, Erivo played the role of Celie Harris in the Menier Chocolate Factory production of The Color Purple.^[5][6] Erivo had previously portrayed Sister Mary Clarence/Deloris Van Cartier in the UK tour of the musical stage version of Sister Act^[7] which Goldberg also originated in its film adaptation.

Erivo originated the role of Chenice in the West End musical I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical,^[8] which opened on 26 March 2015, at the London Palladium.^[9] The production closed on the 10 May,^[10] just six weeks and three days since its official opening night.^[11]

She is also featured as a recording artist, co-writing and performing "Fly Before You Fall" on the soundtrack to the American musical drama Beyond the Lights.^[1]

She made her Broadway debut in the 2015 Broadway revival transfer of the Menier Chocolate Factory production of The Color Purple,^[12] reprising her role as Celie Harris alongside American actresses Jennifer Hudson as Shug Avery and Danielle Brooks as Sofia.^[13] The production began performances at Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, from 10 December 2015.^[14]

References

1. A Star Is Born! Meet Cynthia Erivo, Who Plays Celie in John Doyle’s London Premiere of The Color Purple | Broadway Buzz | London
2. "Move over Whoopi! How Cynthia Erivo made The Color Purple her own". theguardian.com. The Guardian. 27 July 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
3. "Leading Ladies: Cynthia Erivo 'I want to do everything'". whatsonstage.com. Whats On Stage. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
4. "Cynthia Erivo: ‘You have to drag me off the stage’". thestage.co.uk. The Stage. 26 July 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
5. "The Color Purple – review". theguardian.com. The Guardian. 21 July 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
6. "Complete Casting Announced for The Color Purple at London's Menier Chocolate Factory". london.broadway.com. Broadway.com. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
7. "U.K. Tour of Sister Act Will Be Led by Denise Black, Michael Starke and Cynthia Erivo". playbill.com. Playbill. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
8. "Nigel Harman and Cynthia Erivo star in X Factor musical I Can't Sing!". whatsonstage.com. Whats On Stage. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
9. "'I Can't Sing': Harry Hill reveals name of his X Factor musical". express.co.uk. Sunday Express. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
10. "X Factor musical I Can't Sing! to close early". bbc.co.uk/news. BBC News. 27 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
11. "X Factor musical I Can’t Sing! to close after less than two months". independent.co.uk. The Independent. 27 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
12. "The Color Purple: Cynthia Erivo wows critics in Broadway debut". bbc.co.uk/news. BBC News. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
13. "Cynthia Erivo to join Jennifer Hudson in 'The Color Purple'". dailymail.co.uk. Daily Mail. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
14. "Breakout London Star Cynthia Erivo Wins Plum Lead in Broadway Color Purple Revival". playbill.com. Playbill. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.