Lisa Brescia
{{short description|American musical theatre actress|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Lisa Brescia
| image = Lisa Brescia 2019.png
| caption = Brescia after a performance of Dear Evan Hansen in 2019 taken by Anthony E.Barone
| image_size =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|5|12}}
| birth_place = Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S.
| occupation = Actress
| spouse = Craig Carnelia
}}
Lisa Brescia (born May 12, 1970) is an American musical theatre actress who has performed as lead and understudy in several Broadway shows. Raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,Blank, Matthew. [http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/playbill.coms-cue-a-mamma-mia-star-lisa-brescia-175326# "Playbill.Com's Cue & A: 'Mamma Mia!' Star Lisa Brescia"] Playbill, January 18, 2011 she went on to pursue acting and graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She taught Acting I and IV at Missouri State University and is now set to be the head of the Musical Theatre department at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri.
On August 7, 2018, Brescia began a run as Heidi Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway.
Career
Brescia was lead singer in The New Mamas and The Papas from 1993 to 1998 with original members John Phillips and Denny Doherty.{{Cite web |last=Blank |first=Matthew |date=2011-01-18 |title=PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: Mamma Mia! Star Lisa Brescia |url=https://playbill.com/article/playbillcoms-cue-a-mamma-mia-star-lisa-brescia-com-175326 |website=Playbill}}{{Cite web |date=2002-11-22 |title=DISNEY’S ‘AIDA’ TO ROCK NORFOLK |url=https://www.dailypress.com/2002/11/22/disneys-aida-to-rock-norfolk/ |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=Daily Press |language=en-US}}
Brescia has played the role of "Amneris" in Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida in several productions. Brescia joined the first national touring production in 2002 as the standby for Kelli Fournier. She assumed the role of Amneris in September 2002 when Fournier left the production. Disney later moved her to the Broadway production as the standby for Mandy Gonzalez. Brescia assumed the role on January 4, 2004, upon Gonzalez's departure. She remained in the role until the musical's final performance on September 5, 2004.Simonson, Robert. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/disneys-aida-ends-its-elaborate-life-on-broadway-sept.-5-121697# "Disney's 'Aida' Ends Its Elaborate Life on Broadway Sept. 5"] Playbill, September 5, 2004 Brescia returned to the role for one week in 2006 at The Muny in St. Louis along with Simone and Will Chase, both of whom also appeared in the Broadway production.[http://www.broadwayworld.com/shows/backstage.php?showid=10725#content "'Aida', Muny, 2006"] broadwayworld.com, accessed September 13, 2015
On February 13, 2007, she assumed the role of standby for Elphaba in the Broadway production of Wicked, playing the role during the absence of Julia Murney and then Stephanie J. Block.[http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/90186/Lisa-Brescia "Lisa Brescia Broadway"] playbillvault.com, accessed September 13, 2015 She left the production on May 18, 2008, and transferred to the Chicago production from June 3, 2008, replacing Dee Roscioli in the lead role of Elphaba.Gans, Andrew. [https://www.playbill.com/article/brescia-ashford-and-cusick-will-join-chicagos-wicked-june-3-com-150603 "Brescia, Ashford and Cusick Will Join Chicago's 'Wicked' June 3"] Playbill, June 2, 2008 She gave her final performance in Chicago on August 24, 2008, after which Roscioli returned to the role.Gans, Andrew. [https://www.playbill.com/article/roscioli-returns-to-chicagos-wicked-aug-26-com-152780 "Roscioli Returns to Chicago's 'Wicked' Aug. 26"] Playbill, August 26, 2008
Brescia then starred in the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' Broadway: Three Generations, a three-act evening featuring condensed versions of Girl Crazy, Bye Bye Birdie, and Side Show. The show was presented at the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater October 2–5, 2008.Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/steggert-kritzer-snyder-and-more-join-kennedy-centers-three-generations-jon-153366# "Steggert, Kritzer, Snyder and More Join Kennedy Center's Three Generations; Jones to Host"] Playbill, September 16, 2008
She appeared in The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown as Mom in The Orange County Performing Arts center, Orange County, California in 2009. The "work-in-progress" was written by Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk.Smith, Christopher. [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/04/the-unauthorized-autobiography-of-samantha-brown.html "'Samantha Brown,' a musical in the making"] Los Angeles Times, April 22, 2009
She starred as Claire in the new musical, Ordinary Days which was presented at the Black Blox Theatre in Manhattan from October 2 to December 13, 2009.[http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Foster_Brescia_Gertner_And_Wetherhead_To_Star_In_Roundabouts_ORDINARY_DAYS_Runs_1021213_20090819 Ordinary Days] broadwayworld, August 19, 2009 She is featured on the Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording which was recorded on April 9, 2010, and was released in the summer of 2010.
Brescia replaced Beth Leavel as Donna Sheridan in the Broadway production of Mamma Mia!. Her first performance took place on October 22, 2010.Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/143272-Broadways-Mamma-Mia-to-Welcome-Lisa-Brescia-Liana-Hunt-and-Clarke-Thorell "Broadway's 'Mamma Mia!' to Welcome Lisa Brescia, Liana Hunt and Clarke Thorell"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925215556/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/143272-Broadways-Mamma-Mia-to-Welcome-Lisa-Brescia-Liana-Hunt-and-Clarke-Thorell |date=2010-09-25 }} Playbill, September 23, 2010 Her final performance took place on June 2, 2012.Staff, Broadway.com. [https://www.broadway.com/buzz/161721/judy-mclane-set-to-star-as-donna-sheridan-in-mamma-mia/ "Judy McLane Set to Star as Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia!"] Broadway.com, May 7, 2012
On July 16, 2018, it was announced that Brescia would return to Broadway in Dear Evan Hansen as Heidi Hansen on August 7. She succeeded Rachel Bay Jones, who played her final performance on August 5.Rickwald, Bethany [https://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/lisa-brescia-returns-broadway-dear-evan-hansen_85861.html Lisa Brescia Will Return to Broadway in Dear Evan Hansen] Theater Mania, July 16, 2018 Brescia starred in the show until November 24, 2019, and was replaced by Jessica Phillips.Gans, Andrew. [https://www.playbill.com/article/jessica-phillips-joins-cast-of-broadways-dear-evan-hansen-november-26 "Jessica Phillips Joins Cast of Broadway's Dear Evan Hansen November 26"] Playbill, November 26, 2019
Brescia is currently teaching for the Musical Theatre Department of Missouri State University.{{Cite web|url=https://theatreanddance.missouristate.edu/LBrescia.aspx|title = Lisa M. Brescia}}
Personal life
Theatre roles
=Broadway=
- Dear Evan Hansen (2018–19) as Heidi Hansen
- Mamma Mia! (2010–12) as Donna Sheridan
- Wicked (2007–08) as Standby for Elphaba
- The Times They Are a-Changin' (2006) as Cleo
- The Woman in White (2005) as Marian Halcombe
- Aida (2004) as Amneris
- Jesus Christ Superstar (2000) as Disciple
=Off-Broadway=
- Ordinary Days (2009) as Claire
=Chicago=
=Touring=
- Aida (2002) as Amneris
=Regional=
- Mary Poppins (2016) as Winifred Banks (Raleigh, NC)BWW News Desk. [http://www.broadwayworld.com/raleigh/article/Kara-Lindsay-and-Nicolas-Dromard-To-Star-in-MARY-POPPINS-at-North-Carolina-Theatre-20160609 "Kara Lindsay and Nicolas Dromard To Star in MARY POPPINS at North Carolina Theatre'"] broadwayworld.com, June 9, 2016
- A Comedy of Tenors (2015) as Tatiana (Cleveland, OH)BWW News Desk. [http://www.broadwayworld.com/new-jersey/article/McCarter-Theatre-Center-to-Stage-World-Premiere-of-Ken-Ludwigs-A-COMEDY-OF-TENORS-20151002 "McCarter Theatre Center to Stage World Premiere of Ken Ludwig's A COMEDY OF TENORS'"] broadwayworld.com, October 2, 2015
- Victor/Victoria (2015) as Victoria Grant/Count Victor Grazinski (Ogunquit, ME)BWW News Desk. [http://www.broadwayworld.com/maine/article/Ogunquit-Playhouses-VICTOR-VICTORIA-Starring-Lisa-Brescia-Hits-the-Stage-This-Month-20150623 "Ogunquit Playhouse's VICTOR / VICTORIA, Starring Lisa Brescia, Hits the Stage Tonight'"] broadwayworld.com, June 24, 2015
- Into the Woods (2014) as Witch (Chapel Hill, NC)McNeely, Robert. [http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2014/10/playmakers-opens-into-the-woods-to-rotate-wtih-midsummer# "PlayMakers opens 'Into the Woods' to rotate with 'Midsummer'"] dailytarheel.com, October 31, 2014
- Cabaret (2013) as Sally Bowles (Chapel Hill, NC, PlayMakers Repertory Company)[http://www.broadwayworld.com/raleigh/article/Photo-Flash-First-Look-at-Taylor-Mac-Lisa-Brescia-and-More-in-PlayMakers-Reps-CABARET-20130404 "Photo Flash: First Look at Taylor Mac, Lisa Brescia and More in PlayMakers Rep's 'Cabaret'"] broadwayworld.com, April 4, 2013
- August: Osage County (2012) as Ivy Weston (Raleigh, NC, Theatre Raleigh)Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/august-osage-county-starring-dorothy-lyman-lauren-kennedy-lisa-brescia-begi-200179# "'August: Osage County', Starring Dorothy Lyman, Lauren Kennedy, Lisa Brescia, Begins Raleigh Run Nov. 29"] Playbill, November 29, 2012
- Hamlet (2012) as Gertrude (Notre Dame, IN)[http://news.nd.edu/news/32530-notre-dame-shakespeare-festival-presents-hamlet/# "Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival presents 'Hamlet'"] August 10, 2012
- The Unauthorised Autobiography of Samantha Brown (2009) as Mom (Orange County, CA)
- Aida (2006) as Amneris (St Louis, MO, The Muny)
- Evita (2005) as Eva Perón (Bellport, NY, Gateway Playhouse)[http://www.gatewayproductionarchives.com/2005/evitareviews.html "'Evita' Reviews"] gatewayproductionarchives.com, accessed September 13, 2015
- The Last Five Years (2005) as Cathy (Milwaukee, WI, Skylight Opera Theater)[http://www.totaltheater.com/?q=node/2446 "Review. 'Last Five Years, The'"] totaltheater.com, March 2005
- Actor, Lawyer, and Indian Chief (2002) as Jenny (Chester, CT, Goodspeed Musicals)Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/craig-carnelia-featured-in-goodspeeds-actor-lawyer-indian-chief-may-15-june-105281# "Craig Carnelia Featured in Goodspeed's 'Actor, Lawyer, Indian Chief' May 15 – June 9"] Playbill, April 23, 2002
- A Little Night Music (2001) as Petra (East Haddam, CT, Goodspeed Musicals)Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/the-waltzes-wane-dec.-16-as-goodspeed-puts-night-music-to-bed-100338/ "The Waltzes Wane Dec. 16, as Goodspeed Puts Night Music to Bed"] Playbill, December 16, 2001
- Brigadoon (2001) as Meg (East Haddam, CT, Goodspeed Musicals)Jones, Kenneth and Lefkowitz, David. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/goodspeed-musicals-brigadoon-fades-in-the-mist-june-23-97404/ "Goodspeed Musicals' 'Brigadoon' Fades in the Mist June 23"] Playbill, June 23, 2001
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.lisabrescia.com/ Official site]
- {{IBDB name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brescia, Lisa}}
Category:American musical theatre actresses
Category:Actors from Sioux Falls, South Dakota