Amber Gray
{{Short description|American actress and singer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Amber Gray
| image =
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| education = Boston University (BFA}
New York University (MFA}
| occupation = Actress, singer
| partner = Galen Hamilton
| children = 2
}}
Amber Gray is an American actress and singer. She is known for originating the role of Hélène Bezukhova in the musical Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/15/theater/natasha-pierre-and-the-great-comet-of-1812-review.html|title=Review: 'Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812,' on the Heels of 'Hamilton'|last=Isherwood|first=Charles|date=November 14, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=November 15, 2016}} and the role of Persephone in the musical Hadestown, both off and on Broadway. For the latter 2019 role, she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, additionally earning the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/24/theater/review-hadestown-reanimates-a-well-known-myth.html|title=Review: 'Hadestown' Reanimates a Well-Known Myth|last=Isherwood|first=Charles|date=May 23, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 15, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}
Early life and education
Gray is a military brat and spent her early childhood across Europe and the United States.{{cite news|last1=Soloski|first1=Alexis|title=Amber Gray on 'An Octoroon,' at Soho Rep|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/27/theater/amber-gray-on-an-octoroon-at-soho-rep.html|accessdate=August 4, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=April 23, 2014}} She later settled in Wayland, Massachusetts, where she attended Wayland High School.{{Citation needed |date=July 2024}}
She attended Boston University where she received a BFA in acting and New York University where she received an MFA in acting.{{cite web|last1=Tisch NYU|title=Select Alumni Bios|url=https://tisch.nyu.edu/grad-acting/alumni/some-alumni-bios|website=tisch.nyu.edu|publisher=New York University|accessdate=August 4, 2017}}
Career
In 2007, she began her screen career by appearing in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, titled "Haystack", as a character named Raye.{{Citation|title="Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" Haystack (TV Episode 2007) - IMDb|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0946364/fullcredits|access-date=April 17, 2020}} She also worked as a photographer on Canada's Top Model in 2009 on the episode "Bright Lights: No Pity". In 2012, Gray first became involved with Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812. Gray portrayed Countess Hélène Bezukhova in the musical's performances at the Off-Off-Broadway Ars Nova Theater.{{cite web|last1=H.|first1=Claire|title=Amber Gray on her adventures in "Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812"|url=http://stagedoordish.com/amber-gray-on-her-adventures-in-natasha-pierre-and-the-great-comet-of-1812/|website=Stage Door Dish|accessdate=August 4, 2017|date=December 3, 2013}} Gray continued with Great Comet when it moved to Kazino Meatpacking in 2013, Kazino Times Square in 2014, and when it opened on Broadway in late 2016. Gray was awarded a 2017 Theatre World Award for her performance as Hélène.{{cite news |date=May 11, 2017 |title='Great Comet' Actors and More Receive Theatre World Awards |url=http://www.americantheatre.org/2017/05/11/great-comet-actors-and-more-receive-theatre-world-awards/ |accessdate=August 4, 2017 |work=AMERICAN THEATRE |publisher=Theatre Communications Group}}
In 2014, Gray reprised her leading role as Zoe in An Octoroon at Soho Repertory Theatre{{cite news|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/an-octoroon-star-amber-gray-on-the-secrets-and-lies-of-race-and-theatre-com-344156|title=An Octoroon Star Amber Gray on the "Secrets and Lies" of Race and Theatre|last1=Clement|first1=Oivia|date=March 17, 2015|work=Playbill|accessdate=August 4, 2017|publisher=Playbill Inc.|language=en}} An Octoroon utilized the plot of The Octoroon, an 1859 melodrama, but turned it into a contemporary new play that discusses America's slave history and both past and present racism. In an interview with The New York Times , Gray spoke of the part's difficulty due to many intense racial scenes. Gray remained with the production when it went on to play at Theatre for a New Audience in 2015.{{Citation needed |date=July 2024}}
In 2016, Gray portrayed Persephone in New York Theatre Workshop's production of the new musical Hadestown, based on Anaïs Mitchell's album of the same name and the tragic myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Gray was again directed by Rachel Chavkin, whom she collaborated with during Great Comet.{{cite news|last1=Kaplan|first1=Janice|title=The Next 'Hamilton' Takes Place in Hell—and Stars Donald Trump|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/the-next-hamilton-takes-place-in-helland-stars-donald-trump|accessdate=August 4, 2017|work=The Daily Beast|publisher=The Daily Beast Company|date=May 26, 2016}} Gray was praised by critics, who were impressed by her "vocal dexterity,"{{cite news|last1=Stewart|first1=Zachary|title=Hadestown|url=http://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/reviews/hadestown-_77163.html|accessdate=August 4, 2017|work=TheaterMania.com|publisher=Theater Mania}} "charisma," and "powerhouse voice".{{cite web|last1=Patterson|first1=Megan|title=All Aboard the Train to Hadestown|url=http://howlround.com/all-aboard-the-train-to-hadestown|website=HowlRound|date=August 23, 2016 |publisher=Emerson College|accessdate=August 4, 2017|language=en}} She reprised this role in the Edmonton Citadel Theatre, London National Theatre, and Broadway productions. For the Broadway production, she received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She's set to reprise the role for her West End debut in February and March 2025.
In 2021, Gray appeared in the Amazon limited series The Underground Railroad as Gloria Valentine.{{Cite web|last1=Evans|first1=Greg|date=October 24, 2019|title='The Underground Railroad': Broadway's Amber Gray Joins Amazon Limited Series|url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/amber-gray-the-underground-railroad-amazon-limited-series-broadway-hadestown-1202767310/|access-date=May 13, 2021|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Selleck|first=Emily|date=October 24, 2019|title=Hadestown Star Amber Gray Joins Amazon's The Underground Railroad|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/hadestown-star-amber-gray-joins-amazons-the-underground-railroad|access-date=May 13, 2021|website=Playbill|language=en}}
Gray plays the role of Ajax on the 2024 concept album by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis, Warriors.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-18 |title=Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis on their 'Warriors' musical concept album with Lauryn Hill |url=https://apnews.com/article/linmanuel-miranda-eisa-davis-warriors-lauryn-hill-album-942ba5ca1e424f82ca55a91c938c6322 |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=AP News |language=en}}
Personal life
Gray's partner is Galen Hamilton, whom she began dating in 2011.{{Cite web|title=Livin' It Up: Amber Gray Goes from 'Weak Link' of the School Play to Tony-Nominated Hadestown Standout|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/196063/livin-it-up-amber-gray-goes-from-weak-link-of-the-school-play-to-tony-nominated-hadestown-standout/|access-date=May 4, 2021|website=Broadway.com|language=en}} They have two children.{{Cite news|title=Hadestown Tony Nominee Amber Gray on Raising Babies While Performing 8 Shows a Week on Broadway|url=https://people.com/theater/tonys-2019-amber-gray-hadestown-interview/|access-date=May 4, 2021|newspaper=People|language=en}}
Gray is biracial.{{Cite web|last=Clement|first=Olivia|date=March 17, 2015|title=An Octoroon Star Amber Gray on the "Secrets and Lies" of Race and Theatre|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/an-octoroon-star-amber-gray-on-the-secrets-and-lies-of-race-and-theatre-com-344156|access-date=May 4, 2021|website=Playbill|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Soloski|first=Alexis|date=April 23, 2014|title=Returning to an 'Impossible' Role|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/27/theater/amber-gray-on-an-octoroon-at-soho-rep.html|access-date=May 4, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}
Theatre
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Years !Production !Role ! scope="col" width="300px" | Theatre !Director |
| 2004
|Charlaine |
| rowspan="3" |2005
|Lady Plymdale |
| On The Razzle
|Lisette |
| Prudence
|Sarah |Connecticut Repertory Theatre |Tyler Marchant |
| 2006
|Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir |Activist, Singer |Internationally |Savitri D |
| 2009
|Florence's Villa La Pietra, NYC Bandshells, Classic Stage Company |Jim Calder |
| rowspan="2" |2010
|Zoe |
| Banished Children of Eve
|Eliza |Irish Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway |Ciaran O'Reilly |
| 2011
|Sueño |The Sun |Atlas Theatre |Jack Fletcher |
| 2011–13
|The TEAM's Mission Drift |Joan |P.S. 122's COIL Festival, London's National Theatre, Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre, Lisbon, Coimbra, Salzburg, Hong Kong, Perth, Williams College |
| rowspan="5" |2012
|Greta |Hoi Polloi |
| We Play for the Gods
|Simi |Jessi D. Hill, Sarah Rasmussen, Mia Rovegno |
| The World is Round
|Rose Rose Rose |Ripe Time |Rachel Dickstein |
| Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 |
| Eager to Lose
|Trixie |Ars Nova |Portia Krieger and Wes Grantom |
| 2013
| rowspan="2" |Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 | rowspan="2" |Hélène Kuragina Bezukhova |Kazino Meatpacking District, Off-Broadway | rowspan="2" |Rachel Chavkin |
| rowspan="2" |2014
|Kazino Times Square, Off-Broadway |
| An Octoroon
|Zoe |Soho Rep |
| 2014–15
|A 24 Decade History of Popular Music: 1900s-1950s |Singer |New York Live Arts with Under the Radar |Taylor Mac, Niegel Smith |
| rowspan="3" |2015
|Zoe |Theatre for a New Audience |
| Oklahoma!
|Laurey Williams |
| Iphigenia in Aulis
|Classic Stage Company | rowspan="7" |Rachel Chavkin |
| 2016 |
| 2016–17 |
| rowspan="2" |2017
|The TEAM's Primer for a Failed Superpower |Activist, Singer |Roulette |
| rowspan="3" |Hadestown
| rowspan="3" |Persephone |Edmonton's Citadel Theatre |
| 2018–19 |
| 2019–22 |
| 2019
| Into the Wild | Performer | Playwrights Horizons[https://playbill.com/article/amber-gray-jennifer-laura-thompson-ryan-mccartan-more-featured-in-industry-reading-of-into-the-wild-musical Amber Gray, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Ryan McCartan, More Featured in Industry Reading of Into the Wild Musical] |
| 2021
|Against Women and Music |Celine Gray |Virtual production |Sarna Lapine |
| 2022 |
| 2023
|Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris | Performer |Benefit performance in Tangier, Morocco |
| 2023–24
|Claudia Bursik-Zimmer |
| 2024-25
|Carina |
| 2025
|Lyric Theatre, West End[https://www.theatermania.com/news/hadestown-original-broadway-stars-to-reunite-for-west-end-production_1758722/ Hadestown Original Broadway Stars to Reunite for West End Production] |
Filmography
| class="wikitable"
|+Film !Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 2011
|Roger, the Chicken |Dr. Rose | |
| 2013
|The Weekend |Maggie | |
| 2017
|Walden: Life in the Woods |Melinda | |
| 2021
|Where There's Smoke |Jenifer |Short film |
| 2022
|Liv Beckman | |
| class="wikitable"
|+Television !Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 2007
|Law & Order: Special Victims Unit |Raye |Episode: "Haystack" |
| 2018
|Annie |2 episodes |
| 2020
|Ms. Guidance |Bethany Bump |6 episodes |
| 2021
|Bull |Dr. Kinsey |Episode: "To Save a Life" |
| 2021
|Gloria Valentine |2 episodes |
| 2023
|Bea Sturt |Episode: "Close Enough to Touch" |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Award !Category !Work !Result !Ref. |
| rowspan="2" |2017
|Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance |Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 |{{won}} |
| Lucille Lortel Awards
|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical | rowspan="6" |Hadestown |{{nom}} | |
| rowspan="1" |2018
|Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role |{{won}} |
| rowspan="3" |2019
|Best Featured Actress in a Musical |{{nom}} |
| Outer Critics Circle Awards
|Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical |{{won}} |
| Drama League Awards
|Distinguished Performance Award |{{nom}} |
| 2020
|{{win}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IBDB name}}
- {{IOBDB name|39322}}
- {{IMDb name|1996454}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gray, Amber}}
Category:American musical theatre actresses
Category:Theatre World Award winners
Category:Wayland High School alumni
Category:American film actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses