Alice Fearn
{{Short description|English score vocalist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Alice Fearn
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1983|10|23}}
| birth_place = Bath, England
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|singer}}
| alma_mater = Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
| years_active = 2004–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Gavin Alex Wood|2019}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.alicefearn.com/}}
}}
Alice Fearn (born 23 October 1983){{Cite web |title=Alice Fearn {{!}} West End Performers {{!}} London Theatre Direct |url=https://www.londontheatredirect.com/actor/alice-fearn |access-date=13 June 2023 |website=www.londontheatredirect.com}} is a British stage actress. She is best known for playing captain Beverley Bass in Come from Away and Elphaba in Wicked in London's West End.
Early life and education
Fearn was born in Bath, where she lived until age 4. Her family then moved to a small village in Cumbria called Caldbeck, where she lived until moving to London to study drama in 2002.
In Cumbria, she studied at Austin Friars School in Carlisle, her favourite subject being music. She played different instruments, settling on piano, harp and singing.{{Cite web |last=Cheesman |first=Neil |date=21 June 2011 |title=Interview with Alice Fearn |url=https://www.lastminutetheatretickets.com/interview-with-alice-fearn-starring-in-shrek-the-musical/ |access-date=13 June 2023 |website=Last Minute Theatre Tickets |language=en-US}}
She trained at the Mountview Theatre School in London, graduating in 2005.
Career
=Stage=
Fearn started her career onstage in 2004 as an understudy for the character of Laura in The Woman in White (Palace Theatre, London). After this, she understudied Cosette and Fantine in Les Misérables (Queen's Theatre, London), as well as playing one of the Factory Girls.
Fearn performed as Rapunzel in the version of Into the Woods at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in London for the summer season of 2010, alongside Hannah Waddingham (Witch), Michael Xavier (Big Bad Wolf / Cinderella's Prince), Jenna Russell (Baker's Wife), Helen Dallimore (Cinderella) and Beverly Rudd (Little Red Riding Hood).{{Cite web |title=Into The Woods |url=https://openairtheatre.com/production/intothewoods |access-date=13 June 2023 |website=Open Air Theatre |language=en}}
She was part of the original UK cast of Shrek The Musical in 2011 in the role of Gingy / Sugar Plum Fairy and understudying and playing the role of Princess Fiona in various performances.{{Cite web |last=Pintus |first=Kathryn |title=BWW Interviews: SHREK's Alice Fearn |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/BWW-Interviews-SHREKs-Alice-Fearn-20110605 |access-date=13 June 2023 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}
In 2017, she made her debut in the musical Wicked as Elphaba opposite Sophie Evans as Glinda and stayed in the role until July 2019. Prior to this she was a standby for the role from September 2016 until July 2017.{{Cite web |date=20 November 2018 |title=Cast Mates Challenge: Wicked's David Witts and Alice Fearn {{!}} LondonTheatre.co.uk |url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/cast-mates-challenge-wickeds-david-witts-and-alice-fearn |access-date=13 June 2023 |website=London Theatre |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Alice Fearn to lead West End Wicked |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/news/alice-fearn-to-lead-west-end-wicked-394718/ |access-date=13 June 2023 |website=Official London Theatre |language=en-GB}}
Fearn has played the role of captain Beverley Bass in Come from Away, taking over from Rachel Tucker, at the Phoenix Theatre in London, until the show closed in January 2023.{{Cite web |last=Wild |first=Stephi |title=Photos: All New Photos of COME FROM AWAY in the West End |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Photos-All-New-Photos-of-COME-FROM-AWAY-in-the-West-End-20220831 |access-date=13 June 2023 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}} On 6 February 2023 she performed 'Me and the Sky' at Leicester's Curve Theatre to announce the launch of the UK tour of the show, starting from the venue on 1 March 2024.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Fiona |date=6 February 2023 |title=Curve to open and co-produce first ever UK and Ireland tour of Come From Away |url=https://www.curveonline.co.uk/news/curve-to-open-and-co-produce-first-ever-uk-and-ireland-tour-of-come-from-away/ |access-date=13 June 2023 |website=Curve Theatre, Leicester |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=6 February 2023 |title=”Come From Away” confirms plans for tour – beginning in March 2024 |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/leicester-theatre/news/come-from-away-confirms-tour-details_58285.html/ |access-date=13 June 2023 |language=en-US}}
On 16 April 2023, Fearn joined a star-studded cast for the concert version of Mad Hatter the Musical at the Place des Arts, Symphony Hall in Montreal in the role of Marybeth, the Mad Hatter's Wife.{{Cite web |title=Montreal Concert & Cast |url=https://www.madhatterthemusical.com/montreal-concert-cast |access-date=13 June 2023 |website=Mad Hatter - Musical |language=en}} Fellow cast members included: Brittney Johnson, as the Queen of Hearts and Ra'ed Saade, Netflix star of My Unorthodox Life, as Barry.{{Cite web |last=Rabinowitz |first=Chloe |title=Ra'ed Saade to Join Brittney Johnson & Alice Fearn For MAD HATTER, THE MUSICAL in Montreal |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/montreal/article/Raed-Saade-to-Join-Brittney-Johnson-Alice-Fearn-For-MAD-HATTER-THE-MUSICAL-in-Montreal-20230309 |access-date=13 June 2023 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}
She starred in the original musical Then, Now and Next at the Southwark Playhouse - Borough (London), directed by Julie Atherton and written by Christopher J Orton and Jon Robyns, from June until July 2023.{{Cite web |last=Wild |first=Stephi |title=Alice Fearn Will Lead The World Premiere of THEN, NOW & NEXT at Southwark Playhouse |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Alice-Fearn-Will-Lead-The-World-Premiere-of-THEN-NOW-NEXT-at-Southwark-Playhouse-20230427 |access-date=13 June 2023 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}} The show follows Alex over the course of twenty years and through two loves, Stephen and Peter, played by Joaquin Pedro Valdes and Peter Hannah respectively.{{Cite web |title=Then, Now & Next |url=https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/then-now-next/ |access-date=13 June 2023 |website=Southwark Playhouse |language=en-GB}}
In September 2023 it was announced that Fearn will join the cast of Diana the musical as Camilla Parker Bowles, alongside Kerry Ellis as Lady Di and Maiya Quensah Breed as young Diana Spencer.{{Cite web |date=19 September 2023 |title=Diana the Musical announces full London casting |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/diana-the-musical-announces-full-london-cast_1527804/ |access-date=19 September 2023 |language=en-US}} The UK premiere concert version of the show played at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith on 4 December 2023.{{Cite web |date=14 June 2023 |title=Exclusive: Diana musical is coming to London |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/exclusive-diana-musical-is-coming-to-london_1352354/ |access-date=19 September 2023 |language=en-US}}
A new production of Dear Evan Hansen, co-produced by Ambassador Theatre Group Productions and Nottingham Playhouse was announced in 2024. The show would open in Nottingham ahead of a UK tour and open-call casting was launched in collaboration with TikTok. In June 2024 it was revealed that Fearn will be playing Heidi Hansen, Evan's mum. {{Cite web |date=11 June 2024 |title=Dear Evan Hansen tour announces complete casting |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/dear-evan-hansen-tour-announces-complete-casting_1605101/ |access-date=24 June 2024 |language=en-US}}
= Films and television =
Fearn has a long career as a singer/voice artists in major films, from movie musicals such as Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Mamma Mia!, Les Misérables, to Alice in Wonderland, How to train your dragon, Robin Hood and Life of Pi among many.
On 11 November 2024 it was announced that Fearn will be playing Galinda/Glinda's mother in the first of the two-part film adaptation of Wicked.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-10 |title=Alice Fearn confirmed for Wicked movie |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/alice-fearn-confirmed-for-wicked-movie_1646988/ |access-date=2024-11-11 |language=en-US}} Fearn joins many West End and Broadway stage actors making an appearance in the movie, such as Andy Nyman, Adam James, Sharon D. Clarke, Kerry Ellis and Courtney-Mae Briggs. At the last stop of the movie premiere tour "Journey to Oz"{{Cite web |last=Vagg |first=Neil |date=2024-10-11 |title=Universal Pictures Announces the WICKED ‘Journey Through Oz’ Global Premiere Tour |url=https://getyourcomicon.co.uk/blog/2024/10/11/universal-pictures-announces-the-wicked-journey-through-oz-global-premiere-tour/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=Get Your Comic On |language=en-GB}} in London, the city's Royal Festival Hall was transformed in the Emerald City{{Cite web |date=2024-11-18 |title=Wicked: London transformed into Emerald City for film premiere |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg5ldeyqleo |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} with many of the movie stars and West End theatre and TV celebrities in attendance. Fearn made an appearance with Wicked co-star Sophie Evans.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-18 |title=Sophie Evans and Alice Fearn attend the "Wicked: Part One" UK... |url=https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/sophie-evans-and-alice-fearn-attend-the-wicked-part-one-uk-news-photo/2185467278?adppopup=true |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=Getty Images |language=en-gb}}
=Music=
Fearn released the album Where I've Been...Where I'm Going in 2016.{{Cite web |title=Alice Fearn - Where I've been... Where I'm Going {{!}} BUY CD |url=https://www.auburnjam.co.uk/product/alice-fearn-where-ive-been-where-im-going-cd/ |access-date=13 June 2023 |website=Auburn Jam Music |language=en-GB}}
Track list:
- Big Time
- What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?
- Sorry I Asked
- Time Stops (feat. Oliver Tompsett)
- They Just Keep Moving The Line
- I'm A Woman (feat. Emma Lindars)
- I'm Here
- Being Alive
- Where Am I Going?
- That's How I Say Goodbye
- Bonus Track: She Used To Be Mine – Live at the St James Studio
On 30 September 2024 Fearn performed in a solo concert titled The Power of Love, at the London Palladium. The show was a tribute to Celine Dion, where Fearn performed some of the singer's greatest hits, such as All Coming Back to Me Now, My Heart Will Go On, The Power of Love and Because You Loved Me.{{Cite web |title=The Power Of Love Tickets {{!}} The London Palladium |url=https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/the-power-of-love/ |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=LW Theatres |language=en-GB}}
Fearn joined fellow West End performers for West End Does: Christmas in Oz in December 2024 at Cadogan Hall. Cast for the concert included: Oliver Tompsett, Louise Dearman, Sophie Evans, Claudia Kariuki and Liam Tamne and was hosted by Matt Lucas and Rob Houchen.{{Cite web |title=West End Does: Christmas in Oz {{!}} Cadogan Hall |url=https://cadoganhall.com/whats-on/west-end-does-christmas-in-oz/#performances-list |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=cadoganhall.com |language=en-GB}}
Personal life
Filmography
= Film =
class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |
2007
|Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street |Singer |Movie |
2008
|Singer |Movie |
2010
|Singer |Movie |
2010
|Singer |Movie |
2010
|Singer |Movie |
2011
|Into the woods (Regent's Open Air Theatre) |Rapunzel |Musical, live recording |
2012
|Factory Woman 6 |Movie |
2012
|Singer |Movie |
2012
|Singer |Movie |
2014
|Singer |Movie |
2015
|Pan |Singer |Movie |
2016
|Singer |Movie |
2020
|Thomas and the Magic Railroad: 20th Anniversary Celebration |Storyteller (Adult Lily) |Video |
2020
|A Tale to Tell |Fairy Godmother |Short |
2021
|I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change | |Musical, live recording |
2024
|Galinda's momsie |Movie |
= Television =
class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |
2009–2011
|Tonight's the night (BBC) |Singer |She regularly appeared on the show |
2016
|Singer |TV series (1 episode). Performed "Being Alive" |
= Stage =
class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Title !Role !Theatre |
2004
|Laura Fairlie (understudy) |
2005
|Factory Girl / Fantine (understudy) / Cosette (understudy) |
2009
|Ensemble |
2010
|Rapunzel |
2011
|Gingy / Sugar Plum Fairy / Fiona (understudy) |
2014
|Muriel Eubanks (u/s), Christine Colgate (u/s) |
2016–2017
|Standby Elphaba |
2017–2019
|Elphaba |
2020–2023
|Beverley Bass |
2022
|Streaming only |
2023
|Mad Hatter the Musical |Marybeth, the Mad Hatter's Wife |
2023
|Then, Now and Next |Alex Shaw |Southwark Playhouse (Borough) |
2023
|Camilla Parker Bowles |
2024–2025
|Heidi Hansen |Nottingham Playhouse and UK Tour |
Awards
Fearn won the West End Wilma Award for Best Understudy as Elphaba in Wicked in 2017.{{Cite web |last=Wilma |date=4 November 2017 |title=Winners announced for the 2017 West End Wilma Awards |url=https://www.westendwilma.com/news-winners-announced-wilma-awards-2017/ |access-date=13 June 2023 |website=West End Wilma |language=en-GB}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.alicefearn.com/}}
- {{IMDB name|4862068}}
- [https://www.evanontour.com/cast/alice-fearn Dear Evan Hansen on tour, Alice Fearn]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fearn, Alice}}
Category:Alumni of the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
Category:Actresses from Bath, Somerset
Category:English musical theatre actresses
Category:Actresses from Cumbria
Category:21st-century English actresses