Lindsay Pearce

Pearce was born April 30, 1991, in Modesto, California, and was adopted by Carol and Gregory Pearce. She was adopted into a very athletic family; all three of her brothers played sports and one, Heath Pearce, went on to be a professional soccer player.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/index?id=6996855|title='Glee' actress sister to Major League Soccer player|author=Hoppes, Lynn|publisher=ESPN|access-date=September 23, 2011}}{{Cite web |last=Bera |first=Maggie |date=October 5, 2020 |title=The Ultimate Journey From TV to Broadway with Lindsay Heather Pearce (Glee, Wicked) |url=https://www.actoraesthetic.com/podcasts/105 |website=Actor Aesthetic}}

At a young age, Pearce moved with her family to Portland, Oregon, so her father could attend Multnomah University. While at a soccer tournament there, Pearce was discovered singing by a music teacher who taught at a local university, who then recommended to her parents that they do something about her talent. Upon moving back to Modesto, Pearce got involved in the children's community theatre division of Townsend Opera Players and continued doing community theatre. She became a regular in shows with Opera Modesto, Denair Gaslight Theater, Sonora's Stage 3 Theatre, and Turlock Youth Performing Arts.{{Cite news |last=Rowland |first=Marijke |date=April 15, 2020 |title=Modesto native made her 'Wicked' Broadway debut. But coronavirus puts dream on hold |work=The Modesto Bee |url=https://www.modbee.com/entertainment/article242013611.html}} Her first regional credit was at 17 playing Belle in Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre's production of Beauty and the Beast in the summer of 2008.{{Cite web |title=Lindsay Heather Pearce |url=https://www.abouttheartists.com/artists/403526-lindsay-heather-pearce |website=About the Artists}} She was also in productions of Peter Pan and Cinderella with Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre in 2009 and 2010, respectively.

Pearce attended Modesto Christian High School until her sophomore year, when she decided to leave and apply to other programs because it did not have an arts program. She then attended Valley Charter High School to complete her high school education while simultaneously taking full time college classes at Modesto Junior College, where she studied classical voice, Shakespeare, movement for the stage and English literature and was also able to participate in college theatre.{{Cite web |title=Lindsay Pearce {{!}} California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office |url=https://www.cccco.edu/About-Us/Notable-Alumni/Lindsay-Pearce |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=www.cccco.edu}}{{Cite web |title=LINDSAY HEATHER PEARCE |url=https://www.artistsandbeyond.com/lindsaypearce |website=Artists and Beyond}}

Pearce intended to attend a four-year university for musical theatre and applied to several, including Elon University, when she was 19 but was not accepted. Her plan was to do another semester at Modesto Junior College and then reapply. In 2010, she participated in the inaugural Valley's Got Talent (now called Valley Talent Project), a talent competition in Modesto, California, which she won after singing Gimme Gimme from Thoroughly Modern Millie. Robert Ulrich, the casting director for both Glee and The Glee Project, was a judge for the competition and later encouraged her to audition for The Glee Project.

{{further|The Glee Project}}

In early 2011, Pearce auditioned for The Glee Project, a singing/acting reality show where the winner would receive a seven-episode arc on the third season of Glee. She reached the show's finale, but did not win the competition; however, the producers gave her and the other runner-up, Alex Newell, each a two-episode arc on Glee.{{Cite news |last=Slezak |first=Michael |date=August 25, 2011 |title=Glee Project's Lindsay Pearce on Her 'Villain Edit,' 'God-Given' Gift, and 'Kissing Bandit' Rep |work=TVLine |url=https://tvline.com/2011/08/25/glee-project-lindsay-pearce-interview/}}

Pearce later explained that being on The Glee Project felt like abuse and the show was heavily edited to make her seem like a monster. Scenes that could've "humanized" her were frequently cut, including a moment when she talked about her sexual assault. Additionally, a director on the show told her to kiss fellow contestant Cameron Mitchell while shooting a music video, and she did not know he had not given consent. This kiss eventually led to Mitchell quitting the show two weeks later.{{Cite news |last=Walsh |first=Charlotte |date=September 12, 2022 |title='Glee Project' contestant says being on the show felt like 'abuse' and she was portrayed as a 'monster' |work=Insider |url=https://www.insider.com/glee-project-lindsay-pearce-says-show-felt-like-abuse-interview-2022-9}}

In the third-season premiere of Glee, Pearce was introduced as Harmony, an ambitious and talented singer who awes characters Kurt and Rachel when they watch her and her group sing a mash-up of "Anything Goes" from the musical Anything Goes and "Anything You Can Do" from the musical Annie Get Your Gun. This first episode featuring her character aired September 20, 2011.{{cite news|last=Slezak|first=Michael|title=Glee Project's Lindsay Pearce on Her 'Villain Edit,' 'God-Given' Gift, and 'Kissing Bandit' Rep|url=http://www.tvline.com/2011/08/glee-project-lindsay-pearce-interview/|work=TVLine|date=August 25, 2011|access-date=September 22, 2011}} Her debut was widely acclaimed by critics such as TVLine{{'s}} Michael Slezak, who said Harmony was "brilliantly brought to life" by Pearce, and Emily VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club, who wrote that she "may be the best new character ever".{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/glee-the-purple-piano-project-1798169670|title={{-"}}The Purple Piano Project{{"-}}|first=Emily|last=VanDerWerff|work=The A.V. Club|publisher=The Onion|date=September 21, 2011|access-date=September 21, 2011}} The mash-up was released as a single for digital download after the episode aired.{{cite web|last=Hensel|first=Amanda|title={{-'}}Glee' Recap: 'The Purple Piano Project' Goes Up in Flames|url=http://popcrush.com/glee-recap-the-purple-piano-project-flames/|publisher=PopCrush|access-date=September 22, 2011}} She appeared for a second time in the eighth episode, "Hold On to Sixteen", in which Harmony was the lead singer of a different group, the Unitards, a rival show choir competing against the show's main glee club, New Directions. In the episode, she sings "Buenos Aires" from the musical Evita, which was also released as a single. Pearce was complimented for her rendition by Billboard{{'s}} Rae Votta, who said she was a "fantastic singer".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/42262/glee-recap-chord-overstreet-returns-in-jam-packed-episode|title={{-'}}Glee' Recap: Chord Overstreet Returns in Jam-Packed Episode|first=Rae|last=Votta|magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=December 7, 2011|access-date=December 7, 2011}} Harmony tells Kurt that she is a sophomore, leaving open the possibility that she could return to the show in future seasons.{{cite web|url=http://www.aoltv.com/2011/12/06/glee-season-3-hold-on-to-sixteen-recap/|title={{-'}}Glee' Season 3, Episode 8 Recap: It's Sectionals Time! And the Winner Is...|first=Crystal|last=Bell|work=AOLTV|publisher=AOL|date=December 6, 2011|access-date=December 7, 2011}}

The "Anything Goes" / "Anything You Can Do" mash-up was widely acclaimed. Respers France named Pearce's performance the best moment of the episode, and found that the character positively reminded her of "Glee of old".{{cite news|url=http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/21/youre-right-glee-you-need-new-members/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923052105/http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/21/youre-right-glee-you-need-new-members/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 23, 2011|title=You're right 'Glee,' you need new members|first=Lisa|last=Respers France|work=CNN.com|publisher=CNN|date=September 21, 2011|access-date=September 21, 2011}} The song was also a favorite of Lee's, who wrote that the intensity of the actress was perfectly matched to the character's disposition.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/21/glee-season-three-episode-one_n_973695.html|title={{-'}}Glee' Season 3, Episode 1: 'The Purple Piano Project{{'-}}|first=Amy|last=Lee|work=The Huffington Post|publisher=AOL|date=September 21, 2011|access-date=September 21, 2011}} West, Slezak and Benigno gave the performance an "A"; the former called it an "outstanding rendition" which "felt like it belonged on a big stage or in a big-screen musical",{{cite magazine|url=http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/glee-season-3-episode-1-purple-piano-project/|title={{-'}}Glee' season premiere recap: Join the Club!|first=Abby|last=West|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Time Inc.|date=September 21, 2011|access-date=September 21, 2011}} and the latter two praised her vocal talent, which Benigno deemed unequalled on Glee.{{cite news|url=http://www.tvline.com/2011/09/glee-recap-season-3-episode-1-purple-piano-project/|title=Glee Season Premiere Recap: 'Beat' Generation|first=Michael|last=Slezak|work=TVLine|publisher=Mail.com Media|date=September 21, 2011|access-date=September 22, 2011}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefastertimes.com/tvrecapsandnews/2011/09/21/glee-recap-season-3-episode-1-glitterbomb/|title={{-'}}Glee' Recap (Season 3, Episode 1): Glitterbomb|date=September 21, 2011|first=Anthony|last=Benigno|work=The Faster Times|publisher=Sam Apple|access-date=September 21, 2011|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926190757/http://www.thefastertimes.com/tvrecapsandnews/2011/09/21/glee-recap-season-3-episode-1-glitterbomb/|archive-date=September 26, 2011|df=mdy-all}} Futterman and Bell found Harmony a credible rival to Rachel vocally, and eagerly anticipated future competition between them.{{cite web|url=http://www.aoltv.com/2011/09/21/glee-season-3-premiere-recap/|title={{-'}}Glee' Season 3 Premiere Recap|first=Crystal|last=Bell|work=AOLTV|publisher=AOL|date=September 21, 2011|access-date=September 21, 2011}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/glee-season-premiere-recap-season-three-off-to-a-strong-start-20110921|title={{-'}}Glee' Recap: Season Three Off to a Strong Start|first=Erica|last=Futterman|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media LLC|date=September 21, 2011|access-date=September 21, 2011}} Urban called Pearce's performance merely "serviceable". Though she felt her acting was a weak point, she compared her favorably to season two guest star Jake Zyrus and praised her vocals.{{Cite news|url=http://popcultureblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/09/tv-recap-glee---the-purple-pia.html|title=TV recap: "Glee" – 'The Purple Piano Project{{'-}}|date=September 21, 2011|first=Samantha|last=Urban|work=The Dallas Morning News|access-date=September 21, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003204910/http://popcultureblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/09/tv-recap-glee---the-purple-pia.html|archive-date=October 3, 2011|df=mdy-all}}

The day after The Glee Project finale aired, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Pearce had been cast to star as Snow White in El Portal Theatre's production of the musical A Snow White Christmas. Marina Sirtis co-starred as the Wicked Queen, and Neil Patrick Harris in the onscreen role of the Magic Mirror. The Lythgoe Family Productions show ran from November 30, 2011, through December 18, 2011.{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/glee-projects-lindsay-pearce-star-225976|title={{-'}}The Glee Project's' Lindsay Pearce to Star in 'A Snow White Christmas' (Exclusive) |first=Lesley|last=Goldberg|work=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=August 22, 2011|access-date=October 23, 2011}} Bobbie Whiteman of Variety wrote that Pearce as "a very sassy Snow [that] belts out Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' in true Broadway fashion", and that "her voice blends beautifully with Bergen's", the show's prince.{{cite journal|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117946689 |title=A Snow White Christmas |first=Bobbie|last=Whiteman|journal=Variety |publisher=Reed Elsevier|date=December 4, 2011|access-date=February 13, 2012}} TheaterMania{{'s}} Jonas Schwartz called the production "rather endearing, thanks mostly to The Glee Project{{'s}} Lindsay Pearce in the title role". He added, "Pearce has a wonderful presence, an earthy charm, and her belting voice is used to fine effect on Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' and Katy Perry's 'Fireworks'."{{cite news|url=http://www.theatermania.com/los-angeles/reviews/12-2011/a-snow-white-christmas_45918.html |title=A Snow White Christmas |first=Jonas|last=Schwartz|work=TheaterMania.com |date=December 4, 2011|access-date=February 13, 2012}}

She next starred in the role of Cathy in Jason Robert Brown's musical The Last Five Years at the Brauntex Theatre in New Braunfels, Texas. There were three performances, on January 6 and 7, 2012. Deborah Martin of the San Antonio Express-News wrote of Pearce and co-star Alex Trevino that they "give charismatic, vocally assured performances, fully capturing the relationship and their characters' inner lives. Highlights include Pearce's pain-drenched 'Still Hurting', tender 'I'm Part of That' and witty 'Audition Sequence{{' "}}. She also noted that "when they actively share the stage, Pearce and Trevino show off great chemistry".{{cite news|url=http://blog.mysanantonio.com/artbeat/2012/01/review-the-last-five-years/ |title=Review: 'The Last Five Years{{'-}} |first=Deborah|last=Martin|work=San Antonio Express-News |date=January 6, 2012|access-date=February 13, 2012}}

Ten days later, Pearce had been cast as Wendla Bergman, the female lead in the musical Spring Awakening, which was presented in Los Angeles by Over the Moon Productions. The show opened on March 16, 2012, and ended its run on April 22, 2012.

Between 2013 and 2017, Pearce appeared in various roles in the For the Record series in Los Angeles and on the Norwegian Cruise Lines alongside cast such as Janel Parrish, Rumer Willis, Barrett Foa, Shoshana Bean, and Ginifer King.{{Cite web |title=Lindsay Pearce |url=https://www.backstage.com/u/lindsaypearce/ |access-date=November 26, 2022 |website=BACKSTAGE}}{{Cite news |last=Peterson |first=Tyler |date=November 26, 2013 |title=FOR THE RECORD: BAZ LUHRMANN Extends at Rockwell: Table & Stage Through New Year; Lindsay Pearce, Nicole Parker & More Join Cast |work=Broadway World |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/FOR-THE-RECORD-BAZ-LUHRMANN-Extends-at-Rockwell-Table-Stage-Through-New-Year-Lindsay-Pearce-Nicole-Parker-More-Join-Cast-20131126}}{{Cite news |last=BWW News Desk |date=September 12, 2014 |title=Janel Parrish, Barrett Foa, Shoshana Bean and More Appear in FOR THE RECORD: BAZ LUHRMANN Tonight at DBA |work=Broadway World |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/Janel-Parrish-Barrett-Foa-Shoshana-Bean-and-More-to-Appear-in-FOR-THE-RECORD-BAZ-LUHRMANN-912-at-DBA-20140911}}{{Cite news |last=Lim |first=Lily |date=March 29, 2014 |title=Photo Coverage: FOR THE RECORD: TARANTINO IN CONCERT Opens In West Hollywood's DBA |work=Broadway World |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/Photo-Coverage-FOR-THE-RECORD-TARANTINO-IN-CONCERT-Opens-In-West-Hollywoods-DBA-20140329}} The For the Record series was created by Shane Scheel and Christopher Lloyd Bratten and reinvents cabaret with productions that blend movies and music.{{Cite news |last=Neri |first=Daizy |date=June 3, 2014 |title=Review: "For the Record: Tarantino," a Mind-Blowing Rock 'n' Roll Experience |work=Living Out Loud Los Angeles |url=https://www.lol-la.com/review-record-tarantino-mind-blowing-rock-n-roll-experience/}} Her roles in the series include Daisy Buchanan in For the Record: Baz Luhrmann in 2013 and 2014, O-Ren Ishii in For the Record: Tarantino in 2014, and Basketcase in For the Record: The Brat Pack in 2017.

It was announced in May 2013 that glory|struck productions would present the Los Angeles return of the Damon Intrabartolo-Jon Hartmere pop opera Bare at the Hayworth Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles from September 5 to 22, 2013.{{Cite news |last=Mancuso |first=Christina |date=May 7, 2013 |title=Glory{{!}}Struck Productions Presents LA Return of BARE, 9/5 |work=Broadway World |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/GloryStruck-Productions-Presents-LA-Return-of-BARE-95-20130507 |access-date=November 26, 2022}} Later in June, it was announced Pearce was set to play Ivy in the production alongside Payson Lewis and Jonah Platt.{{Cite news |last=Mancuso |first=Christina |date=June 18, 2013 |title=Lindsay Pearce, Payson Lewis, Jonah Platt and More Set to Star in L.A.'s BARE, 9/5 |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Lindsay-Pearce-Payson-Lewis-Jonah-Platt-and-More-Set-to-Star-in-LAs-BARE-95-20130618 |access-date=November 26, 2022}} Pearce subsequently won 2013 BroadwayWorld Los Angeles's Best Leading Actress in a Musical (Local Production) award for her performance as Ivy.{{Cite news |last=BWW Special Coverage |date=January 27, 2014 |title=2013 BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Awards Winners Announced - Ramin Karimloo, Lindsay Pearce & More! |work=Broadway World |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/2013-BroadwayWorld-Los-Angeles-Awards-Winners-Announced-Ramin-Karimloo-Lindsay-Pearce-More-20140127}}

On April 9, 2015, it was announced that Pearce would be playing a role in the immersive glory|struck production of American Idiot.{{cite web|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/James-Byous-Lindsay-Pearce-Briana-Cuoco-More-to-Lead-Immersive-AMERICAN-IDIOT-in-Los-Angeles-20150409|title=James Byous, Lindsay Pearce & More Lead Immersive AMERICAN IDIOT in L.A. – Briana Cuoco to Offer Exclusive Blog!|author=BWW News Desk|work=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=October 3, 2015}} It was later announced that she would play Whatshername.{{cite web|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/Photo-Flash-AMERICAN-IDIOT-20000101|title=Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of glory-struck's Immersive AMERICAN IDIOT in LA|author=BWW News Desk|work=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=October 3, 2015}} Performances began on May 15 and the show closed on June 7.

On February 25, 2020, Pearce made her Broadway debut as Elphaba in Wicked.{{cite web |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/198549/see-lindsay-pearce-sam-gravitte-and-alexandra-billings-in-their-first-wicked-photos/ |title=See Lindsay Pearce, Sam Gravitte and Alexandra Billings in Their First Wicked Photos |date=February 24, 2020 |access-date=February 26, 2020 |website=Broadway.com}} After her first week in the role, she sustained a hip injury that sidelined her for five shows. Shortly after returning from the injury, Broadway went dark. On September 14, 2021, she reopened Wicked on Broadway as Elphaba after the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.{{Cite web |title=Wicked Star Lindsay Pearce on Returning to the Role of Elphaba and Being Part of the 'Green Sisterhood' |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/201202/wicked-star-lindsay-pearce-on-returning-to-the-role-of-elphaba-and-being-part-of-the-green-sisterhood/ |access-date=2022-05-27 |website=Broadway.com |language=en}} Upon returning, she sustained another injury and was out of the show on medical leave from October 12 to December 11.{{Cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=December 7, 2021 |title=Wicked Resumes Performances at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre December 7 |url=https://playbill.com/article/wicked-resumes-performances-at-broadways-gershwin-theatre-december-7 |website=Playbill}}{{Cite web |last=Haber |first=Mike |date=November 2, 2021 |title=Lindsay Pearce expecting to return to WICKED on Broadway mid-December; DiNoia & Fox continue to fill in as "Elphaba" |url=https://newyorkbroadwaytours.com/lindsay-pearce-expecting-to-return-to-wicked-on-broadway-mid-december-dinoia-fox-continue-to-fill-in-as-elphaba/ |website=New York Broadway Tours}} After playing her final show on May 22, 2022, Pearce joined the first national tour of the musical Mean Girls as Janis Sarkisian.{{Cite web |title=Lindsay Heather Pearce & More Join the National Tour of Mean Girls |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/202161/lindsay-heather-pearce-more-join-the-national-tour-of-mean-girls/ |access-date=2022-05-27 |website=Broadway.com |language=en}} Afterwards Pearce starred as Fantine in the national tour of Les Misérables.

Pearce moved to Los Angeles, California, following The Glee Project in 2011 and resided there until she moved to New York in 2020 for her job in Wicked.

Pearce has been open about her alcoholism and sobriety. Her drinking and drug use escalated in the spring of 2013 and she made the decision to get clean and sober in February 2018.{{Cite podcast |url=https://open.spotify.com/show/72FYbh4lNhGFlmXN0XYTiH?si=fb8f3c1327944bc8 |title=Newly Sober 2: Lindsay Pearce |website=Newly Sober |publisher=Oasis Recovery Center |host=James Byous |date=May 2021}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Actresses from Modesto, California

Category:American television actresses

Category:American stage actresses

Category:Musicians from Modesto, California

Category:People from New Braunfels, Texas

Category:1991 births

Category:21st-century American actresses

Category:American adoptees

Category:Singers from California

Category:21st-century American singers

Category:21st-century American women singers