Rachel John
{{short description|British actress (born 1980)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rachel John
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|12 October 1980}}
| birth_place = Hackney, East London
| other_names =
|alma_mater = University of Roehampton
| occupation = Actress, singer
| years_active =
| children =
| website = http://www.rachel-john.com
| module =
}}
Rachel John (born 12 October 1980) is a British actress, best known for her work in musical theatre, notably for originating the role of Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton in the West End.
Personal life and education
John was born in Hackney, East London, in 1980 and grew up in Walthamstow.{{Cite web |title=Rachel John : Home |url=http://rachel-john.com/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Rachel John}} She is of Trinidadian descent; her mother arrived in England in her 20s to work for the NHS.
She is a graduate of the University of Roehampton.
Career
= Musical theatre =
John made her West End debut in 2005 in The Lion King as a swing and understudy for Shenzi.{{Cite web |last=Darvill |first=Josh |date=2022-03-07 |title=Hamilton star Rachel John to release debut album in April |url=https://stagechat.co.uk/news/35158-hamilton-star-rachel-john-to-release-debut-album-in-april.html |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Stage Chat |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=The Lion King - Theatreland Memorabilia |url=http://www.theatrelandmemorabilia.co.uk/shows/thelionking.html |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=www.theatrelandmemorabilia.co.uk |archive-date=2 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202004212/https://theatrelandmemorabilia.co.uk/shows/thelionking.html |url-status=dead }}
In 2014 she joined the cast of Memphis as the alternate Felicia.{{Cite news| last = Millward| first = Tom | date=10 June 2014|url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/full-cast-announced-for-west-end-premiere-of-memphis|title=Full cast announced for West End premiere of Memphis|website=londontheatre.co.uk|access-date=2017-03-31}} She took over the role full-time for a whole two weeks of the run.{{Cite news|last=Hewis|first=Ben|date=8 October 2015|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/rachel-john-singing-memphis-video_38905.html|title=IExclusive video: Rachel John performs "Love Will Stand When All Else Falls"|website=Whatsonstage.com|access-date=2017-03-31|archive-date=28 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728045047/https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/rachel-john-singing-memphis-video_38905.html/|url-status=live}}
In 2016, she played the role of Nicki Marron in The Bodyguard during its limited return West End engagement, alongside Beverley Knight as Rachel Marron. John also played the role of Rachel Marron at certain performances, despite not being listed as an official understudy.{{Cite news|last=Hewis|first=Ben|date=5 February 2016|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/beverley-knight-bodyguard-dominion_39656.html|title=Beverley Knight returns to West End in The Bodyguard|website=Whatsonstage.com|access-date=2017-03-31|archive-date=10 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610131657/http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/beverley-knight-bodyguard-dominion_39656.html|url-status=live}} She then moved with the production to the Ed Mirvish Theatre, Toronto for a limited season.{{Cite news|last=Fricker|first=Karen|date=17 February 2017|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/2017/02/17/the-bodyguards-delicious-excess-world-class-singing-overcome-plot-issues-review.html|title=The Bodyguard's delicious excess, world-class singing overcome plot issues: review|website=The Star|access-date=2017-03-31|archive-date=31 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331210642/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/2017/02/17/the-bodyguards-delicious-excess-world-class-singing-overcome-plot-issues-review.html|url-status=live}}
From November 2017 until she left{{Cite news|last=Vassell|first=Nicole|date=27 January 2020|url=https://www.pridemagazine.com/rachel-john-impostor-syndrome-is-real-in-theatre/amp/|title=Rachel John: 'Impostor Syndrome Is Real In Theatre'|website=pridemagazine.com|access-date=2021-08-12|archive-date=12 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812224927/https://www.pridemagazine.com/rachel-john-impostor-syndrome-is-real-in-theatre/amp/|url-status=dead}} in December 2018, she played Angelica Schuyler in the West End production of Hamilton, role which she originated in the UK.{{Cite news|last=Hewis|first=Ben|date=27 January 2017|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/casting-hamilton-west-end-giles-terera_42746.html|title=Initial casting announced for West End transfer of Hamilton|website=Whatsonstage.com|access-date=2017-03-31|archive-date=31 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331211315/http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/casting-hamilton-west-end-giles-terera_42746.html|url-status=live}}{{CN|date=June 2020}} For this role she was nominated for an Olivier Award and a Black British Theatre Award.
John then joined the cast of Girl From the North Country in 2019, when the show moved to the Gielgud Theatre for a limited 8-week run.{{Cite web |date=2020-01-07 |title=5 Questions from Over the Pond: Girl from the North Country's Rachel John & Jeannette Bayerdelle |url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/5-questions-from-over-the-pond-girl-from-the-north-countrys-rachel |access-date=2023-07-08 |website=London Theatre |first=Tom|last=Millward|language=en |archive-date=28 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728045047/https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/5-questions-from-over-the-pond-girl-from-the-north-countrys-rachel |url-status=live }} She played the character of Mrs Nielsen in the show.
= Music =
In March 2022 John released a gospel album titled "From My Lips to God's Ear". The album was produced by Mercy Productions, owned by Ramin Karimloo.{{Cite web |last=Wild |first=Stephi |title=HAMILTON Star Rachel John Announces Debut Album |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/HAMILTON-Star-Rachel-John-Announces-Debut-Album-20220307 |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}
In May 2022 it was announced that John will be the opening act for the UK Tour dates of Dionne Warwick.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Stage Chat |date=2022-05-23 |title=West End star Rachel John to support Dionne Warwick on UK Tour |url=https://stagechat.co.uk/news/38778-west-end-star-rachel-john-to-support-dionne-warwick-on-uk-tour.html |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=Stage Chat |language=en |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707222325/https://stagechat.co.uk/news/38778-west-end-star-rachel-john-to-support-dionne-warwick-on-uk-tour.html |url-status=live }}
Theatre credits
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Title !Role !Theatre |
| 2005
|Swing and understudy Shenzi |
| 2010
|Ensemble |
| 2010-2012
|Meat |
| 2014-2015
|Felicia (alternate) |
| 2016
|Nicki Marron |Dominion Theatre and Ed Mirvish Theatre (Toronto) |
| 2017-2018
|Angelica Schuyler |
| 2019-2020
|Mrs Nielsen |
| 2023
|The Secret Life of Bees |August |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Work !Award !Category !Result |
| 2018
| rowspan="2" |Hamilton |Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical | {{nominated}} |
| 2019
|Best Female Actor in a Musical | {{nominated}} |
Personal life
John is a Christian. Having grown up in the church, she made the decision to be baptised at the age of 16.{{cite web |title=Rachel John: "I want to be a conduit for making God famous" |url=https://premiergospel.org.uk/shows/saturday/pg-saturday-breakfast/interviews-pg-saturday-breakfast/rachel-john-i-want-to-be-a-conduit-for-making-god-famous/ |website=Premier Gospel |date=25 May 2019 |access-date=29 January 2023 |archive-date=29 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129211205/https://premiergospel.org.uk/shows/saturday/pg-saturday-breakfast/interviews-pg-saturday-breakfast/rachel-john-i-want-to-be-a-conduit-for-making-god-famous/ |url-status=live }}
References
{{reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:John, Rachel}}
External links
- [http://rachel-john.com Rachel John's website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:John, Rachel}}
Category:Actors from the London Borough of Hackney
Category:Actors from the London Borough of Waltham Forest
Category:Alumni of the University of Roehampton
Category:Black British actresses
Category:English musical theatre actresses
Category:English people of Trinidad and Tobago descent
Category:English stage actresses