Faith Prince

{{Infobox person

| name = Faith Prince

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Augusta, Georgia, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| years_active = 1983–present

| occupation = Actress, singer

| spouse = {{marriage|Larry Lunetta|1992}}

| children = 1

| education = University of Cincinnati (BFA)

}}

Faith Prince is an American actress and singer, best known for her work on Broadway in musical theatre. She won the Tony Award for Best Actress in Guys and Dolls in 1992, and received three other Tony nominations.

Life and career

Prince was born in Augusta, Georgia, and raised in Lynchburg, Virginia, where she attended E.C. Glass High School, and later studied theater at the University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music.Quintos, Michael L. She also had voice lessons from Carl Harris, a conductor at Shenandoah Conservatory.[http://costamesa.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW_Interviews_Tony_Winner_FAITH_PRINCE_Returns_to_OCPACs_Cabaret_Stage_20100408 "BWW Interviews: Tony Winner FAITH PRINCE Returns to OCPAC's Cabaret Stage"] broadwayworld.com, April 8, 2010{{cite book|page = 325|chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=470x9np3GMMC&q=jason+graae&pg=PA325|quote = Faculty, Resident Artists, and Alumni ... Alumni continue to hold key positions in the performing and media arts. Numbered among them are ... musical theatre stars Faith Prince, Lee Roy Reams, Michele Pawk, Jason Graae, Jim Walton, Vicki Lewis, and Ashley Brown.|chapter = University of Cincinnati College—Conservatory of Music|title = College Guide for Performing Arts Majors: The Real-World Admission Guide for Dance, Music, and Theater Majors|first = Carole J.|last = Everett|year = 2009|isbn = 9780768926989|publisher = Peterson's}} She made her Broadway debut as the Gypsy character Tessie Tura in Jerome Robbins' Broadway (1989) and followed this with a role in the ill-fated Nick & Nora.Kenrick, John.[http://www.musicals101.com/who15.htm "Faith Prince biography"] musicals101.com, retrieved May 26, 2010

She was established as a Broadway star with her portrayal of Miss Adelaide in the 1992 revival of Guys and Dolls, for which she won both the Tony and Drama Desk Award as Best Actress in a Musical. In 2001, Prince was once again nominated for Tony and Drama Desk Awards for her portrayal of Ella Peterson in the revival of Bells Are Ringing. She was featured in the 2008 Broadway musical A Catered Affair, for which she received Tony and Drama Desk nominations.Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/the-broadway-affair-begins-new-fierstein-bucchino-musical-arrives-at-the-kerr-march-25-com-148592# "The Broadway Affair Begins: New Fierstein-Bucchino Musical Arrives at the Kerr March 25"], Playbill.com, March 25, 2008. Accessed December 4, 2016.

She appeared in a concert version of Sweeney Todd with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra in Orlando, Florida in March 2009.Gans, Andrew.[http://www.playbill.com/article/faith-prince-and-davis-gaines-will-attend-the-tale-of-sweeney-todd-in-florida-com-157548# "Faith Prince and Davis Gaines Will Attend the Tale of Sweeney Todd in Florida"] Playbill.com, January 30, 2009. Accessed December 4, 2016. On April 7, 2009, she took over the role of Ursula from Heidi Blickenstaff in the Broadway musical The Little Mermaid.Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/tony-winner-faith-prince-to-join-broadways-little-mermaid-com-158076# "Tony Winner Faith Prince to Join Broadway's Little Mermaid"], Playbill.com, February 17, 2009. Accessed December 4, 2016.

She appeared in such films as The Last Dragon (1985), Dave (1993), Picture Perfect (1997), and Our Very Own (2005), among others. Her television credits include the short-lived High Society (1995); recurring roles on Spin City (1997–2000) and Huff (2004–2005), as well as guest appearances on such shows as Remington Steele, Law & Order, Monk, Frasier, House, Grey's Anatomy, Drop Dead Diva, Ugly Betty, and Happy Endings.

A live recording of her 2005 cabaret debut at Joe's Pub, at The Public Theater, entitled A Leap of Faith, was released on the DRG Records label. A second recording, titled Total Faith was recorded at the Royal Room, Palm Beach, Florida.Kramer, Peter D.[http://www.lohud.com/article/20100504/ENTERTAINMENT/5040302/-1/ARCHIVE/Faith%20Prince%20at%20Caramoor "Faith Prince at Caramoor"], lohud.com, May 4, 2010. She participated in studio recordings of scores from Breakfast at Tiffany's[http://www.musical-theatre.net/html/cdreviews/breakfast.html "'Breakfast At Tiffany's' Studio Recording"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612001604/http://www.musical-theatre.net/html/cdreviews/breakfast.html |date=2009-06-12 }}, musical-theatre.net. Retrieved February 20, 2010. and Jerry Herman's unproduced musical, Miss Spectacular.Suskin, Steven. [http://www.playbill.com/article/on-the-record-into-the-woods-with-miss-spectacular-com-110355# "On The Record: Into the Woods with Miss Spectacular"], Playbill.com, July 28, 2002. Accessed December 4, 2016.

She performs her cabaret act in various venues, such as the Orange County Performing Arts Center, California, in April 2010,[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/02/faith-prince-to-replace-paul-szot-in-cabaret-series-at-ocpac.html "Faith Prince to Replace Paul Szot in Cabaret Series at OCPAC"], Los Angeles Times, February 12, 2010. and at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, Westchester County, New York, in May 2010. Prince appeared in the concert version (and accompanying recording) of the revue Life Begins at 8:40 at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., on March 22, 2010.Probst, Andy .[http://www.theatermania.com/washington-dc/news/03-2010/kate-baldwin-montego-glover-brad-oscar-faith-princ_25514.html "Kate Baldwin, Montego Glover, Brad Oscar, Faith Prince, et al. Set for Life Begins at 8:40 Concert and Recording"], theatermania.com, March 5, 2010. She also performed the closing show in the 2002–2003 theatre season at Eisenhower Hall at West Point.

Prince played Mrs. Wilkinson in the second United States national tour of Billy Elliot the Musical, which began performances in October 2010 and ended in August 2011.Gans, Andrew.[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/144359-Second-National-Tour-of-Billy-Elliot-With-Faith-Prince-Launches-Oct-30 "Second National Tour of 'Billy Elliot', With Faith Prince, Launches Oct. 30"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204063508/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/144359-Second-National-Tour-of-Billy-Elliot-With-Faith-Prince-Launches-Oct-30 |date=2010-12-04 }} playbill.com, October 30, 2010.Sokol, Robert.[http://www.sfexaminer.com/entertainment/2011/07/faith-home-and-charity-billy-elliots-prince-plays-san-francisco-benefit "Faith, home and charity: 'Billy Elliot's' Prince plays in San Francisco benefit"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123154730/http://www.sfexaminer.com/entertainment/2011/07/faith-home-and-charity-billy-elliots-prince-plays-san-francisco-benefit |date=2012-11-23 }} San Francisco Examiner, July 25, 2011.

In 2012, Prince worked with long-term friend Jason Graae on The Prince and the Showboy, a show which pays tribute to composer Jerry Herman (La Cage aux Folles, Hello Dolly!) whom Graae described as "a survivor of the highest degree [who] lives his life as an eternal optimist."{{cite news|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/faith-prince-jason-graae-54-below-new-york-cabaret_n_1812468|title = Faith Prince, Jason Graae Dish On Their 54 Below Cabaret Gig, Broadway And Jerry Herman|date = August 21, 2012|access-date = September 30, 2016|first = Curtis M.|last = Wong|newspaper = Huffington Post}} Prince and Graae won the New York Nightlife Award for outstanding musical comedy performer in January 2013.{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/17/arts/music/nightlife-awards-presented-at-town-hall.html|title = Where Knowing Your Way Around a Song Trumps Youth|first = Stephen|last = Holden|date = January 16, 2013|access-date = September 30, 2016|newspaper = The New York Times}}

She returned to the Broadway stage replacing Jane Lynch as Miss Hannigan in the revival of Annie beginning July 19, 2013.Gioia, Michael. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/180257-Tony-Winner-Faith-Prince-Steps-Into-Miss-Hannigans-Shoes-in-Broadways-Annie-Starting-July-19 "Tony Winner Faith Prince Steps Into Miss Hannigan's Shoes in Broadway's 'Annie' Starting July 19"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805041206/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/180257-Tony-Winner-Faith-Prince-Steps-Into-Miss-Hannigans-Shoes-in-Broadways-Annie-Starting-July-19 |date=2013-08-05 }} playbill.com, July 19, 2013. She then appeared as Shirley in the Broadway production of Disaster!{{cite web | url= http://www.broadway.com/buzz/182486/look-out-all-star-disaster-will-hit-broadway-starring-adam-pascal-roger-bart-faith-prince-more/ | title=Look Out! All-Star Disaster! Will Hit Broadway, Starring Adam Pascal, Roger Bart, Faith Prince & More | publisher=Broadway.com | date= November 5, 2015 | access-date=March 9, 2016 | author=Lloyd Webber, Imogen}}

She had a recurring role in the ABC Family sitcom, Melissa & Joey, as Gloria Longo, and in the Fox musical drama Monarch as Nellie Cantrell.

Personal life

Prince has been married to trumpeter Larry Lunetta since 1992; the couple resides in Sacramento, California, with their son.Spanner, Whitney. [http://www.playbill.com/article/how-the-man-with-the-horn-settled-down-with-broadways-favorite-doll# "How The Man With the Horn Settled Down with Broadway’s Favorite Doll"] Playbill, December 4, 2016Richards, David. [https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/31/theater/theater-faith-prince-how-does-your-garden-grow.html?pagewanted=all&pagewanted= "Theater; Faith Prince, How Does Your Garden Grow?"] The New York Times, May 31, 1992 She has been predeceased by her brother, Philip.Crowder, Marcus. [http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/20/v-print/3637367/sacramento-resident-and-broadway.html "Sacramento resident, Broadway actress Faith Prince to sing with Sac Philharmonic"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013041911/http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/20/v-print/3637367/sacramento-resident-and-broadway.html |date=2012-10-13 }}, May 20, 2011

Prince is a Presbyterian.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/reviews/faith-prince-leap-of-faith-1200458927/|title=Review: 'Faith Prince: Leap of Faith'|first=Charles|last=Isherwood|date=27 September 1999|access-date=28 October 2016}}

Stage productions

Carousel (1986)
Jerome Robbins' Broadway (1989)
Falsettoland (1990)
Guys and Dolls (1992 revival)
What's Wrong with This Picture? (1994)
The King and I (1996 revival)
Little Me (1998 revival)
James Joyce's The Dead (2000)
The Torch-Bearers (2000)
Noises Off (2001 revival)
Bells Are Ringing (2001 revival)
A Man of No Importance (2002)
A Catered Affair (2008)
The Little Mermaid (2009)
Billy Elliot (Second National Tour) (2010–2011)
The Prince and the Showboy (2012)
Annie (2013–2014)
Disaster! (2016)
Boop! The Musical (2023, 2025)

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"
Year !Award !Category !Nominated Work !Result !Notes
rowspan=2\|1989 \|Drama Desk Award \|Outstanding Actress in a Musical \|rowspan=2\|Jerome Robbins' Broadway \|{{nom}} \|
Tony Award \|Best Featured Actress in a Musical \|{{nom}} \|
rowspan=2\|1992 \|Drama Desk Award \|Outstanding Actress in a Musical \|rowspan=2\|Guys and Dolls \|{{won}} \|
Tony Award \|Best Actress in a Musical \|{{won}} \|
rowspan=2\|2001 \|Drama Desk Award \|Outstanding Actress in a Musical \|rowspan=2\|Bells Are Ringing \|{{nom}} \|
Tony Award \|Best Actress in a Musical \|{{nom}} \|
rowspan=2\|2008 \|Drama Desk Award \|Outstanding Actress in a Musical \|rowspan=2\|A Catered Affair \|{{nom}} \|
Tony Award \|Best Actress in a Musical \|{{nom}} \|
2012 \|New York Nightlife Award \|Outstanding Musical Comedy Performer \|The Prince and the Showboy \|{{won}} \|Joint with Jason Graae

class="wikitable"

Year

!Award

!Category

!Nominated Work

!Result

!Notes

rowspan=2|1989

|Drama Desk Award

|Outstanding Actress in a Musical

|rowspan=2|Jerome Robbins' Broadway

|{{nom}}