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American Broadway actress (born 1985) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jessica Lee Goldyn (born December 26, 1985) is an American musical theatre actress, singer, and dancer best known for creating the role of Val in the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line and appearing as Nini (replacement) in Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Goldyn played the lead role of Cassie from August 10, 2008 opposite Mario Lopez as Zack, until the show ended its Broadway revival run on August 17, 2008.[1] Goldyn had been an understudy for the lead character of Cassie.[2] She played the title role in Annie (musical) at age 21. Goldyn appeared in The Paper Mill Playhouse (NJ) rendition of A Chorus Line in the star role of Cassie from October 7 through October 28, 2012.[3]
Jessica Lee Goldyn | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | December 26, 1985 Staten Island, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Stage actress |
| Years active | 2006 ─ present |
Goldyn grew up in Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey where she spent her early years dancing. Her mother taught her dance until she was old enough to attend dance class. Additionally, she did gymnastics competitively, starting around age 7.
At 12, she was cast in a production of Gypsy at the Paper Mill Playhouse. During her teen years she played nearly every female character in a A Chorus Line, including a female version of Mike.
She attended the Professional Performing Arts School in New York but never graduated. Instead she received her GED after getting hired in a non-Equity tour of Fosse.[4]
Goldyn has trained with the New Jersey Ballet Company[5] and has been a student and instructor at the Worth Tyrrell Studios.
Goldyn was a Children's Foundation for the Arts grant recipient from 1998 to 2003.
On Instagram, Goldyn has posted openly about her sobriety. She has been sober since 2013.
In March 2023, Goldyn was engaged to fellow performer Blake Zelesnikar (credits include the national tours of Mean Girls, An American in Paris, The Phantom of the Opera, and Flashdance the Musical).
Goldyn's professional debut was in the ensemble of Gypsy at Paper Mill Playhouse in September 1998.[6]
Goldyn’s various regional theatrical credits include Fosse, A Chorus Line (Val), Sweet Charity (Charity), A Christmas Carol at North Shore Music Theatre, and Pippin[5][7] at the Arvada Center.[4]
Goldyn made her Broadway debut on October 5, 2006 when she opened as Val in the revival of A Chorus Line.[1] Goldyn is one of the few original revival cast members who closed the show, finishing as Cassie.[8][9] At the auditions for the revival, Goldyn was originally considered as a cover for the character Val, but won the role at the final callback.[10] Goldyn replaced Charlotte d'Amboise as Cassie from August 13–17, 2008.[11][12]
In 2015, Goldyn returned to Broadway in Finding Neverland at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Goldyn was previously featured in the short-lived Broadway production of Tuck Everlasting, which opened April 26, 2016 at the Broadhurst Theatre.[13] The show only ran a total of 28 previews and 39 regular performances and closed on May 29, 2016.[14]
From 2017-2018, Goldyn performed in the ensemble of the hit Bette Midler-led revival of Hello, Dolly! at the Shubert Theatre (New York City).[15]
She succeeded Broadway’s original Nini Robin Hurder in Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on February 22, 2022 and departed the role on April 9, 2023.
Goldyn portrayed the dance-intensive Ivy in On the Town as part of New York City Center’s 2008-2009 Encores! season, part of a citywide celebration of On the Town composer Leonard Bernstein’s 90th birthday. Goldyn appeared opposite Justin Bohon as Chip, Christian Borle as Ozzie, and Tony Yazbeck, her former Chorus Line colleague, as Gabey. Leslie Kritzer as Hildy Esterhazy and Jennifer Laura Thompson as Claire DeLoone rounded out the trio of the sailors’ romantic counterparts.[16]
Goldyn starred as Polly in the Maine State Music Theatre production of Crazy for You in July 2009 opposite Tony Yazbeck.[17]
From July 30, 2009 to August 9 Goldyn choreographed Sweet Charity at The Mac-Haydn Theatre in Chatham, N.Y. using original Fosse choreography.
From June 2 to 27, 2010, Goldyn returned to Paper Mill Playhouse as Tiger Lilly in their production of Peter Pan.[18] [19]
In August 2010 Jessica replaced Felicia Finley as Lola in Damn Yankees at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport.
In January–February 2019, Goldlyn starred as Roxie Hart in Fulton Theatre's production of Chicago alongside fellow Chorus Line cast member Heather Parcells as Velma.
| Year(s) | Production | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-08 | A Chorus Line | Valerie Clark | Closed show as Cassie |
| 2015-16 | Finding Neverland | Ensemble | Replacement |
| 2016 | Tuck Everlasting | Ensemble | U/S Mother |
| 2017-18 | Hello, Dolly! | Ensemble | |
| 2022-23 | Moulin Rouge! The Musical | Nini-Legs-In-The-Air | Broadway Replacement |
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