Isabelle McCalla
{{short description|American actress and singer (born 1993)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Isabelle McCalla
| other_names = Izzy McCalla
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|06|15}}
| birth_place = Queens, U.S.
|education = University of Michigan (BFA)
| occupation = Actress, singer, dancer
| years_active = 2015–present
}}
Isabelle McCalla (born June 15, 1993) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for playing Alyssa Greene in the Broadway musical The Prom and playing Jasmine in the Broadway musical version of Disney's Aladdin.
Early life and education
McCalla was born in Queens and grew up in Suffern, New York. She has a younger brother named Colin. McCalla attended Rockland Country Day School. She studied dance at Coupé Theater Studio from a young age. McCalla was enrolled in ballet class in third grade to learn discipline, and she took more classes as she entered high school.{{cite web|last=Kramer|first=Peter D.|date=November 14, 2018|title=From Rockland to Broadway to 'The Prom': 13 things about Isabelle McCalla|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/rockland/2018/11/14/isabelle-mccalla-prom-broadway-rockland-roots/1975052002/|access-date=6 November 2019|website=lohud.com}} She attended the University of Michigan and graduated in 2015.{{Cite instagram ||last= McCalla |first=Isabelle |user=izzymccalla |postid=2KgBgthAHS |date=May 1, 2015 |title=So...this happened today...WHAT?!?! |access-date=November 7, 2019 |link=https://www.instagram.com/p/2KgBgthAHS/ }}{{Cite web|date=December 14, 2018|title=Musical Theatre Alumni|url=https://smtd.umich.edu/alumni/department-lists/musical-theatre-alumni/|access-date=March 24, 2021|website=University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance|archive-date=April 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422015243/https://smtd.umich.edu/alumni/department-lists/musical-theatre-alumni/|url-status=dead}}
Career
McCalla made her Broadway debut in January 2018, as Jasmine in Disney's Aladdin. She had previously originated the role in the first national tour.{{cite web|last1=Rickwald|first1=Bethany|date=February 22, 2017|title=Full Cast Announced for Aladdin North American Tour|url=https://www.theatermania.com/chicago-theater/news/full-cast-announced-aladdin-north-american-tour_80103.html|access-date=7 November 2019|website=TheatreMania}}
Later in 2018, McCalla originated the role of Alyssa Greene in The Prom on Broadway.{{cite web|last1=Sullivan|first1=Lindsey|date=January 28, 2018|title=Beth Leavel, Brooks Ashmanskas & More to Star in Broadway's The Prom|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/191010/beth-leavel-brooks-ashmanskas-more-to-star-in-broadways-the-prom/|access-date=7 November 2019|website=Broadway.com}} She had previously performed as an ensemble member in the show's Atlanta premiere in 2016.{{cite web|last=Moynihan|first=Caitlin|date=2019-07-10|title=The Prom's Isabelle McCalla on 'Choosing Joy,' Bringing Miss Congeniality to Broadway & More|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/196345/the-proms-isabelle-mccalla-on-choosing-joy-bringing-miss-congeniality-to-broadway-more/|access-date=2020-12-17|website=Broadway.com}} McCalla and co-star Caitlin Kinnunen's kiss during their performance at the 2018 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade made national news as the first LGBT kiss in the parade's history.{{Cite web|last=Romano|first=Nick|date=November 22, 2018|title='The Prom' celebrates 'first LGBTQ kiss' in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade history|url=https://ew.com/theater/2018/11/22/the-prom-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-first-same-sex-kiss/|access-date=2019-06-08|website=EW.com}}
McCalla appeared across the US performing beloved songs as part of the Disney Princess — The Concert tour.[https://www.disneyconcerts.com/princess/]
McCalla replaced Caroline Innerbichler as Maizy in Shucked on Broadway at the Nederlander Theater in early September 2023.{{Cite web |last=Russo |first=Gillian |date=2023-07-27 |title=Isabelle McCalla to join 'Shucked' Broadway cast {{!}} Official NY Theatre Guide |url=https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/isabelle-mccalla-to-join-shucked-broadway-cast |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=New York Theatre Guide |language=en}} In 2024, she starred with Grant Gustin in the Broadway musical adaptation of the novel, Water for Elephants.{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Greg |date=2023-11-03 |title='The Flash's Grant Gustin To Make Broadway Debut In 'Water For Elephants' Musical |url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/grant-gustin-broadway-water-for-elephants-1235591918/ |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
In February 2025, it was announced that McCalla would portray Elinor in the musical Regency Girls, which is set to premiere on April 10th, 2025.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-13 |title=Exclusive: Isabelle McCalla to lead pre-Broadway run of ‘Regency Girls’ musical |url=https://www.broadwaynews.com/exclusive-isabelle-mccalla-to-lead-pre-broadway-run-of-regency-girls-musical-2/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Broadway News |language=en}}
Personal life
McCalla's father is from Haiti.{{cite web|last=Farrell|first=Paul|date=November 23, 2018|title=Caitlin Kinnunen & Isabelle McCalla: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know|url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/2018/11/caitlin-kinnunen-isabelle-mccalla/|access-date=7 November 2019|website=Heavy.com}}
In 2019, McCalla came out as queer and bisexual on the Thank You For Coming Out podcast.{{cite web|last1=Schindler|first1=Paul|date=July 18, 2019|title=Isabelle McCalla, Thank You For Coming Out|url=https://www.gaycitynews.com/isabelle-mccalla-thank-you-for-coming-out/|access-date=7 November 2019|website=Gay City News}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes !Ref. |
|---|
| TBA
|Aladdin: The Broadway Musical |Jasmine |Filmed recording of 2019 West End Musical | |
=Television=
=Web=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes !Ref. |
|---|
| 2020
|Gallery View |Lulu |Youtube web series written by Ellyn Marsh and Gavin Lodge | |
Stage credits
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year(s) !Production !Role !Location !Category !Ref. |
| align=center|2012
|rowspan=2|Ensemble |rowspan=12|Regional | |
| rowspan=2 align=center|2013
| |
| West Side Story
| Rosalia | |
| rowspan=4 align=center|2014
| Zelda Zanders | rowspan=3|Benedum Center | |
| Legally Blonde
| Pilar | |
| Footloose
| Ensemble | |
| Cabaret
| Sally Bowles | |
| align=center|2015
| Mrs. Corry | |
| rowspan=4 align="center" |2016
| Anita | Miracle Theatre | |
| Mary Poppins
| Mrs. Corry | |
| 42nd Street
| rowspan=2|Ensemble | The Muny | |
| The Prom
| |
| align="center" |2017–18
| rowspan="2" |Aladdin | rowspan="2" |Jasmine |National Tour |Touring | |
| align="center" |2018
| rowspan="2" |Broadway | |
| align="center" |2018–19
|Alyssa Greene | |
| rowspan="2" align="center" |2019
|Ariel |Regional | |
| Fun Home
|Joan |Plaza Jewish Community Chapel |Benefit Reading | |
| align="center" |2020
|Fly |Tink | rowspan="4" |Regional | |
| align="center" |2021
|Clue |Yvette | rowspan="2" |Paper Mill Playhouse | |
| rowspan=2 align="center" |2023
|Meg | |
| Water for Elephants
|Marlena | |
| align="center" |2023–24
|Maizy |rowspan=2|Broadway | |
| align="center" |2024
|Marlena / June | |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" width="95%'"
! style="background:#B0C4DE; width:5%" |Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE; width:35%" |Award ! style="background:#B0C4DE; width:35%" |Category ! style="background:#B0C4DE; width:15%" |Nominated Work ! style="background:#B0C4DE; width:10%" |Result |
| rowspan="2" |2019
| rowspan="4" |Broadway.com Audience Awards{{Cite web|last=Wontorek|first=Paul|date=May 7, 2019|title=Fan-Picked 2019 Broadway.com Audience Choice Award Nominations Announced; Be More Chill Leads With 12|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/195749/fan-picked-2019-broadwaycom-audience-choice-award-nominations-announced-be-more-chill-leads-with-12/|access-date=2019-06-06|website=Broadway.com}} |Favorite Onstage Pair (with Caitlin Kinnunen) | rowspan="2" |The Prom |{{nominated}} |
| Favorite Breakthrough Performance (Female)
|{{nominated}} |
| rowspan="2" |2024
| Favorite Leading Actress in a Musical | {{nominated}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|7033528}}
- [https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/isabelle-mccalla-513807 Internet Broadway Database]
- [https://www.instagram.com/izzymccalla/ Instagram]
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCalla, Isabelle}}
Category:21st-century African-American actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American women singers
Category:American musical theatre actresses
Category:21st-century African-American women singers
Category:Bisexual women musicians
Category:American queer actresses
Category:University of Michigan alumni
Category:Musicians from Queens, New York
Category:Actresses from Queens, New York
Category:Singers from New York City
Category:American bisexual actresses