Gretha Boston

Boston' s early musical training and experience was in the choir at Crossett High School and in the Gates Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church. She graduated from North Texas State University (Denton, Texas), with a BA in music and performance, and then attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.[http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=2941 "Gretha Denise Boston"] encyclopediaofarkansas.net, accessed December 23, 2015

Boston sang in the Manhattan Philharmonic concert performance of Mozart's "Coronation Mass" (K. 317) at Carnegie Hall in November 1990; she is described as a "mezzo-soprano."Oestreich, James R. [https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/28/arts/reviews-music-manhattan-philharmonic-in-a-choral-near-marathon.html?pagewanted= "Reviews/Music; Manhattan Philharmonic in a Choral Near-Marathon"] New York Times, November 28, 1990

Boston made her Broadway debut as "Queenie" in the revival of Show Boat, directed by Hal Prince, which opened at the Gershwin Theatre in October 1994.Richards, David. [https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/03/theater/theater-review-show-boat-classic-musical-with-a-change-in-focus.html?pagewanted=all&pagewanted= "Theater Review. 'Show Boat'"] New York Times, October 3, 1994 She won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance.[http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/11032/Show-Boat" Show Boat Broadway"] playbillvault.com, accessed December 23, 2015

She was nominated for the 1999 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance in the original musical revue It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues, as well as the Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical.[http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/11232/It-Aint-Nothin-But-the-Blues "It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues Broadway"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151203141615/http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/11232/It-Aint-Nothin-But-the-Blues |date=2015-12-03 }} playbillvault.com, accessed December 23, 2015McGrath, Sean. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/1999-tony-nominee-gretha-boston-featured-actress-musical-it-aint-nothin-but-82272?r=n# "1999 Tony Nominee: Gretha Boston (Featured Actress, Musical, 'It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues')"] playbill.com, June 3, 1999

She performed in the musical revue Let Me Sing -- A Musical Evolution at the George Street Playhouse, New Brunswick, New Jersey, in December 2002.Siegel, Naomi. [https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/22/nyregion/theater-review-a-history-class-taught-with-music.html?pagewanted= "Theater Review. A History Class Taught With Music"] New York Times, December 22, 2002.

She appeared in the staged concert "Broadway By the Year, 1935" at Town Hall (New York City) in March 2004.Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/broadway-by-the-year-welcomes-never-gonna-dance-stars-118306# "Broadway By the Year Welcomes Never Gonna Dance Stars"], playbill.com, March 6, 2004.

In January 2005 she appeared as "Velma" in Crowns by Regina Taylor at the Studio Theatre, Buffalo, New York.Comerford, Ellen. S. [http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/crowns.html "Hat's the Thing in Musical 'Crowns'"] niagarafallsreporter.com, January 25, 2005 This production played at the Arena Stage, Washington, D.C., in July 2005.Marks, Peter. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/12/AR2005071201562_pf.html "Energy Bubbles To the Top in Arena's 'Crowns'"] Washington Post, July 13, 2005

She appeared in the revue 3 Mo' Divas! at the Arena Stage (Washington, D.C.) in July 2006.Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/3-mo-divas-with-tony-winner-boston-begins-performances-at-arena-stage-july--133704?r=n# "'3 Mo' Divas! '— with Tony Winner Boston — Begins Performances at Arena Stage July 12"], playbill.com, July 12, 2006.

According to The Washington Post "It was 'Show Boat' that Boston says caused her to "jump ship" and leave her classical roots for musical theater."Hurwitz, Jane. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2006/08/01/just-call-them-divas-deluxe-span-classbankheadbroadway-stars-gretha-boston-and-vivian-reed-spice-up-3-mo-divasspan/f5e5e552-c801-4dd0-bed7-bf0b3b3ceb90/# "Just Call Them Divas Deluxe Broadway Stars Gretha Boston and Vivian Reed Spice Up '3 Mo' Divas'"], Washington Post, August 1, 2006.

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Category:1959 births

Category:Living people

Category:Theatre World Award winners

Category:Tony Award winners

Category:American musical theatre actresses

Category:Actresses from Arkansas

Category:People from Crossett, Arkansas

Category:21st-century American women