Christy Altomare

Early life

Altomare was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Altomare began performing at age five in community theater productions in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. At Pennsbury High School, she was a part of choirs and school productions before attending University of Cincinnati's Conservatory of Music, where she performed in a number of productions. In 2004, she was a National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts winner in the musical theater category. She graduated from CCM in 2008 with a BFA in musical theater.

Career

Altomare began writing songs at the age of twelve. She has three independent CDs: Not Yet Over You (2000), Waiting For You (2007), and an EP entitled After You (2008). When she was sixteen, she signed with her current manager, Edie Robb. She looks to Jewel and Joni Mitchell as her biggest influences.

In 2008, Altomare joined the first national touring cast of the Broadway musical Spring Awakening in the lead role of Wendla, beginning previews on August 15, 2008, in San Diego. She traveled to 44 different cities and gave over 600 performances. She stayed with the tour until its final performance on May 23, 2010. Altomare received generally positive reviews throughout the tour. Seth Kubersky of Orlando Weekly called her "appropriately innocent and adorable as the inevitable victim" while Eric Rezsnyak of the Rochester City Paper praised her "piercing, haunting soprano voice," and how "even her most difficult melodic passes seem totally effortless."

Following the Spring Awakening tour, Altomare appeared as Sue Snell in MCC Theater's limited-engagement run of the Off-Broadway revival of Carrie at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. She can be heard on the official cast recording of the production, released by Ghostlight Records. On June 4, 2012, Altomare made her Broadway debut in Mamma Mia! at the Winter Garden Theater, where she replaced Liana Hunt in the role of Sophie Sheridan. She stayed with the Broadway company for a year, ending her contract on June 1, 2013, and was replaced by Laurie Veldheer.

From October 30, 2014, until January 4, 2015, Altomare starred as Guinevere in the Drury Lane Theater's production of Camelot.

On March 9, 2016, it was announced that Altomare would star in the world premiere of the musical adaptation of the 1997 animated film Anastasia in the title role (nicknamed Anya). The show ran from May 13 to June 19, 2016, at Hartford Stage in Connecticut. Altomare received critical acclaim for her performance, winning the Connecticut Critics Circle Award. She reprised the role on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theater. Previews began March 23, 2017, and the show officially opened April 24, 2017. Altomare's performance in the Broadway production earned her positive reviews and numerous award wins and nominations including a 2017 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical. During *Anastasia'''s run, Altomare filmed a series of video blogs for Broadway.com titled Royal Misfits: Backstage at Anastasia with Christy Altomare, giving an inside look at life backstage at the production. She continued with the production through its final Broadway performance, on March 31, 2019.

Altomare played Nellie in a concert version of South Pacific at the Aspen Music Festival on July 22, 2019.

Since the closing of Anastasia, Altomare has performed frequently in the Broadway Princess Party concert both in New York City and occasionally touring in selected cities across North America alongside fellow original Broadway princesses Laura Osnes, Susan Egan, Courtney Reed, and more.

On January 16, 2020, it was announced that Altomare would star in the new musical The Wanderer as Susan alongside Wicked alums Michael Wartella as Dion DiMucci and Joey McIntyre as Johnny, running May 28 through June 28 at Paper Mill Playhouse prior to a Broadway transfer. However, the production was pushed back to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In February 2021, Altomare announced that she would release a solo album of original music, titled Wandering Bird, later that year. On April 9th, 2021, Altomare released the album as a surprise drop on her YouTube music page and on Spotify.

Altomare was cast in the role of Scarlet in the world premier of "Noir" on the Hubbard Stage of the Alley Theater in Houston, Texas. The show ran from June 2, 2022 to July 3, 2022.

Personal life

In December 2018, Altomare announced her engagement to longtime boyfriend Philip “Pete” Browning. She announced their separation in October 2020.

On February 7, 2022, Altomare announced her engagement to Chris Crook. The couple went to middle school together before reconnecting after one of Altomare's shows in 2021. They married in September 2022, at the Lambertville Station in Lambertville, New Jersey. They have a son named Preston, born mid-2023.

Theater credits

Discography

• Not Yet Over You (2000)
• Waiting For You (2007)
• After You: LA Sessions - EP (2009)
• Wandering Bird (2021)

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. "Christy Altomare".
2. "Christy Altomare".
3. "Christy Altomare Bio".
4. (June 17, 2009). "Pennsbury Grad Altomare is on the road to stardom".
5. Sumi. (March 10, 2009). "Sex and song".
6. Hetrick. (May 23, 2010). "''Spring Awakening'' National Tour Ends Run in Orlando May 23".
7. Kubersky. (May 20, 2010). "Review: Spring Awakening".
8. Rezsnyak. "THEATER REVIEW: RBTL's "Spring Awakening"".
9. "Carrie Original Off-Broadway Cast".
10. Blank, Matthew. (June 5, 2012). "PHOTO CALL: Broadway's ''Mamma Mia!'' Welcomes Aaron Lazar, Felicia Finley, Christy Altomare and More".
11. Gans, Andrew. (June 3, 2013). "Broadway's ''Mamma Mia!'' Welcomes Laurie Veldheer Beginning June 3".
12. (March 9, 2016). "Christy Altomare and Derek Klena Will Reunite for Hartford Stage's World Premiere of ANASTASIA- Full Cast Announced!".
13. (January 11, 2017). "Full Casting Announced for Broadway's ''Anastasia''".
14. "Tickets Now On Sale for Anastasia On Broadway".
15. Lefkowitz, Andy. (August 17, 2017). "''Anastasia'' Star Christy Altomare Is Broadway.com's Next Vlogger".
16. (February 5, 2019). "''Anastasia'' sets closing date on Broadway".
17. (July 25, 2019). "Photos: Christy Altomare Stars In SOUTH PACIFIC In Concert with Aspen Music Festival and Theater Aspen".
18. Hetrick, Adam. (July 3, 2019). "Laura Osnes, Susan Egan, Christy Altomare, and Arielle Jacobs Set for ''Broadway Princess Party''".
19. "Broadway Princess Party (@bwayprincesspty) • Instagram photos and videos".
20. (January 16, 2020). "Christy Altomare to Join Michael Wartella & Joey McIntyre in ''The Wanderer'' at Paper Mill Playhouse".
21. Lefkowitz, Andy. (March 17, 2020). "''Sister Act'' Postponed at Paper Mill Playhouse; ''The Wanderer'' Put on Hold".
22. (February 7, 2021). "Christy Altomare with Seth Rudetsky".
23. (April 9, 2021). "Christy Altomare Drops New Album WANDERING BIRD".
24. (May 25, 2022). "Photos: Christy Altomare, Adam Kantor & Morgan Marcell to Star in World Premiere of NOIR - First Look!".
25. Lefkowitz, Andy. (December 20, 2018). "Anastasia Star Christy Altomare Announces Engagement to Longtime Beau Pete Browning".
26. Altomare, Christy. (October 10, 2020). "The man of my dreams and I have decided to part...".
27. (February 9, 2022). "A Broadway Star's Childhood Crush Showed Up at Her Concert 20 Years Later — Now They're Engaged".
28. (September 18, 2022). "Broadway's Christy Altomare Is Married! How Her Childhood Crush Became Her Husband After Chance Reunion".
29. (31 October 2023). "Happy Halloween 2".
30. (December 21, 2017). "Anastasia's Christy Altomare Voted the 2017 Broadway.com Star of the Year".