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Draft:Chilina Kennedy

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  • Comment: Broadwayworld is not a reliable source, and I reckon that "Theater, Author" is not a person's name. Please have a look at your referencing; I suggest you improve your citations. Best, --Johannes (Talk) (Contribs) (Articles) 19:16, 4 July 2024 (UTC)


Chilina Joelle Kennedy is a Canadian actress, singer and songwriter born in Oromocto, NB. Following 3 seasons at the Shaw Festival and Stratford Festival, Kennedy made her Broadway debut playing Mary Magdalene in the 2012 Broadway Revival of Jesus Christ Superstar. Chilina Kennedy is best known for playing Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on Broadway for over 1200 performances.[1] She originated the role of Annie Lewis in the Broadway production of Paradise Square, and was the original Dina in the First National Tour of the Tony-Award® winning The Band's Visit.[2]

Chilina Kennedy is the Co-Founder & Artistic Producer of the Toronto-based Eclipse Theatre Company, and the composer of the new musical Wild About You.[3]

Early life

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Chilina Kennedy was born in Ormocto, NB to father Vincent Wayne Kennedy and mother Wendy Barbara Pearson. With her father being a Brigadier General in the Canadian Armed Forces, she moved around the world for most of her life.[4] Kennedy grew up in Gagetown, NB, Longstanton, UK, Toronto, ON, Winnipeg, MB, Montréal, QC, Calgary, AB, Point Lonsdale, Victoria, Canberra, and Kingston, ON. She began her artistic pursuits with ballet and piano, beginning at age 4 and continuing throughout her life and travels. She remained in Kingston, ON throughout high school where she attended Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute (KCVI). KCVI is the oldest high school in Ontario, and other famed alumni include The Tragically Hip, and Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald.[5]

Chilina Kennedy moved to Etobicoke, ON to attend Sheridan College for Musical Theatre.[6]

Currently, Kennedy has a home in Stratford, ON and is a resident of New York City.

Career

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Broadway

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Chilina Kennedy made her Broadway debut playing Mary Magdalene in the 2012 Revival of Jesus Christ Superstar directed by Des MacAnuff, a production which originated at The Stratford Festival.[7] She then went on to play Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Kennedy holds the record for the longest-running actor to play the role, performing the part for over 1200 performances. She then went on to originate the role of Annie Lewis in Paradise Square.[8]

In 2023, Chilina Kennedy played Billie Jean King in the Broadway-bound play Love All by Anna Deavere Smith at La Jolla Playhouse.[9]

Off-Broadway

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In 2024, Chilina Kennedy debuted as Cindy in the premiere of A Sign of The Times at New World Stages, a new musical based mostly on the catalogue of Petula Clark, as well as Lesley Gore & Dusty Springfield.[10] Kennedy had originated the role at the Delaware Theatre Company production in 2018.

Additionally, Chilina Kennedy played Binky in the world premiere of the Studio 54 musical This Ain't No Disco directed by Darko Tresnjak.[11]

National tours

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Chilina Kennedy led the First National Tour of the Tony-Award Winning Best Musical The Band's Visit as Dina. For her performance, Kennedy won the Toronto Theatre Critics Award for Best Performance in a Musical.[12] Her other tour credits include Fantine in Les Miserables, Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Sophia in Mamma Mia!.[13]

Canadian theatre

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Chilina Kennedy is a fixture of the Canadian theatre landscape and one of its preeminent stars.[14]

Her credits include: Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar (Stratford Festival), Rose Of Sharon in The Grapes of Wrath (Stratford Festival), Eva Perón in Evita (Stratford Festival),[15] Louis Lane in Kiss Me, Kate (Stratford Festival), Maria in West Side Story (Stratford Festival), Philia in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (Stratford Festival), Louse in The Wanderlust (Stratford Festival), Eileen in Wonderful Town (Shaw Festival), Nellie Ewell in Summer and Smoke (Shaw Festival), Lydia in The President (Shaw Festival), Anne in Anne of Green Gables (Charlottetown Festival), Evangeline in Evangeline (Charlottetown Festival), Leighton in BLACKOUT (Musical Stage Co.)[16] Ariel in The Little Mermaid Panto (Ross Petty Productions),[17] and Maud Lewis in the workshop of Maudie: The Musical (Theatre Calgary).

In 2006, Kennedy was a part of the world premiere of the Lord Of The Rings Musical with Mirvish Productions.[18]

In 2024, Chilina Kennedy co-lead the new Canadian Musical The Last Timbit, produced by Michael Rubinoff (Come From Away).[19]

Other

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Chilina Kennedy played "She" in the film festival selected short film With Me directed by Weyni Mengesha.[20]

She also performed as Bertrande in The House of Martin Guerre In Concert at The Stratford Festival.[21]

Additionally, Kennedy released her debut album, "What You Find In A Bottle", in 2015.

Eclipse Theatre Company

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In 2018, Chilina Kennedy launched Eclipse Theatre Company alongside Evan Tsitsias and Sara-Jeanne Hosie.[22] Kennedy serves as Co-Founder & Artistic Producer of the Toronto-based theatre company. ETC focuses on both developing new work, as well as reimagining existing musicals. Kennedy said regarding the launch, “I wanted to help foster new Canadian work and I felt it was important to reinvest in theatre that already existed in new and innovative ways".

The premiere season included a site-responsive revival of Kiss of The Spider Woman at The Don Jail in Toronto,[23] as well as developing a song cycle of Chilina Kennedy's Album "What You Find In A Bottle" which was first entitled Call It Love and later became Wild About You.

Wild About You

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Chilina Kennedy is the composer of a new musical Wild About You.[24]

Originally based off of her debut album, "What You Find In A Bottle", the musical began as a song cycle entitled Call It Love, through a development process, industry reading and workshops the title changed to With(out) Her and is currently entitled Wild About You.

In 2023, a concept album was released featuring Katharine McPhee, Jackie Burns, Paul Alexander Nolan, Jenn Colella, Chilina Kennedy, Jessie Mueller, Jay McKenzie, Noah J. Ricketts, Eric McCormack, Joaquina Kalukango, Kennedy Caughell, Rachel Ling Gordon, Aisha Jackson, Alex Newell, and Lea Salonga.[25]

In March 2024, the show had a London Concert in the West End at Theatre Royal Drury Lane featuring Eric McCormack, Rachel Tucker, Todrick Hall, Jamie Muscato, Oliver Tompsett, and Tori Allen Martin.[26]

References

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  1. ^ "Chilina Kennedy Returns to Broadway's Beautiful | Playbill".
  2. ^ "Chilina Kennedy Biography | Broadway Buzz | Broadway.com". www.broadway.com. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  3. ^ "Odds & Ends: Beautiful Star Chilina Kennedy Launches New Theater Company & More". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  4. ^ Critic, Richard Ouzounian Theatre (2010-12-17). "Chilina Kennedy: The army brat who became a star". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  5. ^ "A very special KCVI reunion | The Kingston Whig Standard".
  6. ^ "Chilina Kennedy". Sheridan College. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  7. ^ "Stratford's Jesus Christ Superstar heads to La Jolla | CBC News".
  8. ^ "Chilina Kennedy () | Playbill".
  9. ^ "Chilina Kennedy to Play Billie Jean King in Love All - TheaterMania.com". 2023-04-20. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  10. ^ "Chilina Kennedy Makes Joy the Medium and the Message in A Sign of the Times". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  11. ^ Theater, Author: New York (2018-07-29). "This Ain't No Disco Review: Studio 54 Where are You?". New York Theater. Retrieved 2024-07-04. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  12. ^ "Toronto Theatre Critics Awards announced for curtailed 2019-20 season". The Globe and Mail. 2020-06-03. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  13. ^ "Chilina Kennedy – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  14. ^ "Canadian theatre star Chilina Kennedy comes home with Broadway musical". The Globe and Mail. 2017-01-30. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  15. ^ "Bright star: we chat with Stratford's new Evita - Toronto Life".
  16. ^ "Blackout Review | CBC".
  17. ^ Critic, Richard Ouzounian Theatre (2013-11-26). "The Little Mermaid: Ross Petty steals the laughs at the Elgin Theatre production". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  18. ^ "Fly, You Fools! Stage Epic Lord of the Rings Begins in Toronto | Playbill".
  19. ^ Wild, Stephi. "Chilina Kennedy and Jake Epstein Will Lead Premiere of THE LAST TIMBIT, Produced by Michael Rubinoff". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  20. ^ "With Me". Weyni Mengesha. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  21. ^ "Chilina Kennedy in The House of Martin Guerre in Concert | Stratford Festival Official Website". Stratford Festival. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  22. ^ "Broadway star Chilina Kennedy launches new musical theatre company in Toronto". The Globe and Mail. 2018-05-21. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  23. ^ Press, Victoria Ahearn The Canadian (2019-03-06). "Former Don Jail gets first theatrical event with 'Kiss of the Spider Woman'". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  24. ^ Clarendon, Emma (2024-02-02). "Interview With….Chilina Kennedy". Love London Love Culture. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  25. ^ Patrick, Bobby. "Album Review: Chilina Kennedy's WILD ABOUT YOU (World Premiere Recording) Debuts A New Show In Development". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  26. ^ "Review: WILD ABOUT YOU, Theatre Royal Drury Lane". West End Best Friend. Retrieved 2024-07-04.

HOME

Chilina Kennedy – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB

Chilina Kennedy, Crystal Lucas-Perry Cast In ‘A Sign Of The Times’ Musical With Songs Of Petula Clark, Lesley Gore & Dusty Springfield

Wild About You | A new musical

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