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Shoshana Bean

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Shoshana Bean
Shoshana Bean
Bean in 2008
Born (1977-09-01) September 1, 1977 (age 48)
Olympia, Washington, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Cincinnati (BFA)
OccupationsActress, singer, songwriter
Years active2000–present
Websiteshoshanabean.com

Shoshana E. Bean (born September 1, 1977)[1] is an American actress, singer and songwriter.[2][3] Performing in major Off-Broadway and Broadway productions, she has received a Tony Award and a Grammy Award.[4]

Rising in fame for her debut on Broadway original cast of Hairspray (2002) and as Elphaba in Wicked (2004-2006), in 2017, she won the IRNE Award for Best Actress as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. In the 2020s, Bean received three nominations at the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performances in Mr. Saturday Night (2022), in Hell's Kitchen (2024), and won the award for her performance as Lucy Emerson in The Lost Boys (2026). She also received two nominations for the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album for the musicals' cast recordings, winning for Hell's Kitchen.

Bean has released three albums and has appeared on many theater cast recordings. She won a AIM Independent Music Award for Best R&B Song with her single "Superhero".

Early life and education

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Shoshana Bean was born in Olympia, Washington to Jeff Bean and Felice Moskowitz, a dance teacher.[5] She is Jewish; her father is an Ashkenazi Jew and her mother is a Sephardic Jew, whose family was from Greece.[6] When she was 9 years old, her parents divorced and she moved to the Portland, Oregon area.[7][8]

In 1995, Bean graduated from Beaverton High School.[8][9] In 1999, Bean received a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).[10]

Career

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Theater

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Shortly after moving to New York City in 2000, Bean was cast in the 2000 Off-Broadway revival of Godspell at the York Theatre at Saint Peter's Church in Midtown Manhattan.[11][12] In 2001, Bean performed in the national tour of Leader of the Pack. In 2002, Bean made her Broadway debut as an original cast member in the role of Shelley, Denizen of Baltimore, which she originated, in the Tony Award-winning production of Hairspray. She was also an understudy for the roles of Tracy Turnblad, Velma Von Tussle, and Prudy Pingleton.[13]

In 2004, Bean joined the Broadway production of the musical Wicked as a replacement standby for Elphaba Thropp, who was played by Idina Menzel. On January 8, 2005, a day before Menzel's scheduled end of her run as Elphaba, Menzel fell through a trap door and cracked a lower rib. Bean went on to perform that show.[14] On January 11, 2005, Bean took over as Elphaba full-time, where she performed opposite Jennifer Laura Thompson and then Megan Hilty as Glinda Upland, until her last show on January 8, 2006.[15] On January 10, she was replaced by Eden Espinosa as Elphaba.

In 2006, Bean reprised the role of Elphaba in the first national tour of Wicked.[16] Her limited engagement ended on December 31. In 2009, Bean joined the new production of Peepshow in Las Vegas in the role of Peep Diva alongside Holly Madison.[17] She replaced Spice Girls singer Mel B.[18] In 2011, Bean wrote and starred in the musical Dear John Mayer, with music and lyrics by Bean and book by fellow CCM graduate Eydie Faye.[19][20]

In 2015, Bean portrayed the role of CeeCee Bloom in the musical adaptation of the book and movie Beaches at the Drury Lane Theater in Chicago.[21] In June 2016, Bean played Fanny Brice in North Shore Music Theatre's production of Funny Girl.[22] In 2018, Bean performed in the New York City Center Encores! Off-Center production of Songs for a New World.[23] On March 18, 2019, Bean returned to Broadway in the role of Jenna Hunterson in the production of Waitress for a limited engagement through May 2019.[24] On May 13, 2019, it was announced that Bean's run was extended through July 21, 2019.[25]

Starting in March 2022, she returned to Broadway in Mr. Saturday Night at the Nederlander Theatre starring Billy Crystal. For her performance, she received nominations for the Distinguished Performer Award at the Drama League Awards, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical at the 71st Outer Critics Circle Awards,[26] and the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical at the 75th Tony Awards.[27] At the 65th Annual Grammy Awards Bean was nominated for Best Musical Theater Album as a cast singer.

Between October 2023 to January 2024 Bean starred as Jersey in Alicia Keys' Off-Broadway jukebox musical Hell's Kitchen at The Public Theater.[28] She was confirmed for the Broadway production at the Shubert Theatre, which opened on April 20, 2024.[29] For her performance on and Off-Broadway, she received nominations from the Tony Awards (with her second nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical at the 77th Tony Awards), Drama Desk Awards, Drama League Awards, and Lucille Lortel Awards.[30]

In December 2025, it was announced that Bean would star as Lucy Emerson in a musical adaptation of The Lost Boys, replacing Caissie Levy after she left the production due to her commitment to the Broadway revival of Ragtime and to spend more time with her family.[31] The show would begin previews in March 2026 at the Palace Theatre, with opening night on April 26.[32] Bean received another nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance, for which she garnered her first win.[33]

Singer

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On December 2, 2008, Bean released her debut solo album, Superhero, on her own label Shotime Records.[2][34] The record has been described as pop rock.[3] In February 2013, Bean's second album, O'Farrell Street, was released. It was produced by Tim K (Madonna, Celine Dion, Brandy), and incorporates 1960s-era soul.[3] The record reached No. 3 on the iTunes R&B charts.

In December 2014, Bean released an EP album of blues called Shadows to Light.[35] The record was produced by Bean and Jake Schaefer. It reached No. 1 on the iTunes Blues charts. She performed her single "Runaway Train" on The Queen Latifah Show.[36] Beginning in 2015, Bean has performed with Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox (PMJ),[37] performing Justin Bieber's "Sorry" and Backstreet Boys' “I Want It That Way,” among others. In the spring of 2016, she joined the PMJ European Tour.[38]

In February 2018, Bean's third album, Spectrum, was released. The songs are in the genre of rhythm and blues.[3] The record release was accompanied by a tour, which included concerts at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, which featured an 18-piece orchestra, as well as a string of other dates including in London at Cadogan Hall, Las Vegas and Dallas.[39] Bean has said that inspirations for the record were the music of Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, and Frank Sinatra.[39] In August and September 2019, Bean performed selected songs at a series of residency concerts at Feinstein's/54 Below.[40]

Bean's music has been featured on MTV's The Hills, Mercy, Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce, Bad Girls Club and Showtime's The Big C, and she arranged the vocals for Jennifer Lopez's performance of her 2014 song "I Luh Ya Papi" on American Idol.[41] Bean has appeared on film soundtracks to Hairspray, Enchanted, the Wayans Brothers' Dance Flick, and the 2016 animated musical Sing. Bean has performed around the world in cabarets and concerts. She has sung with artists such as BeBe Winans, Brian McKnight,[42] Ariana Grande, David Foster, Jason Robert Brown and Michael Jackson, among others.[39][43][44]

Theater credits

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Year Production Role Venue Dates Notes
2000 Godspell Ensemble York Theatre at Saint Peter's Church, New York N/A
2001 Leader of the Pack Performer U.S. National Tour Mar 13, 2001 - Jun 03, 2001
2002 Hairspray Shelly/
Denizen of Baltimore/
Tracy Turnblad (understudy)/
Velma Von Tussle (understudy)/
Gym Teacher (understudy - replacement)/
Prudy Pingleton (understudy - replacement)/
Matron (understudy - replacement) 		Neil Simon Theatre, New York Jul 18, 2002 - Apr 18, 2004
2004 Wicked Elphaba (standby - replacement) Gershwin Theatre, New York Sep 7, 2004 - Jan 9, 2005
2005 Elphaba (replacement) Jan 11, 2005 - Jan 8, 2006
2006 Elphaba (replacement) U.S. National Tour Sep 6, 2006 - Dec 31, 2006
2009 Peepshow Peep Diva Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, Paradise, Nevada N/A
2011 Dear John Mayer N/A Open Fist Theatre, Hollywood, California N/A also Music and Lyric credits
2015 Beaches CeeCee Bloom Drury Lane Theater, Chicago Jun 24, 2015 - Aug 16 2015
2017 Funny Girl Fanny Brice North Shore Music Theatre, Beverly, Massachusetts N/A
2018 Songs for a New World Woman #2 New York City Center Encores! Off-Center, New York Jun 27, 2018 - Jun 30 2018
2019 Waitress Jenna Hunterson Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York Mar 18, 2019 - Jul 21, 2019
2022 Mr. Saturday Night Susan Young Nederlander Theatre, New York Mar 29, 2022 - Sep 4, 2022 Nomination: Tony Award, Drama League Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award
2023 Hell's Kitchen Jersey The Public Theater, New York October 24, 2023 - Jan 14, 2024
2024 Gutenberg! The Musical! Producer James Earl Jones Theatre, New York Jan 24, 2024 One night only
Hell's Kitchen Jersey Shubert Theatre, New York March 28 - December 1, 2024 Nomination: Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Lucille Lortel Award, and Drama League Award.
2025 Songs for a New World Woman #2 Hammersmith Apollo September 21 30th Anniversary Concert
2026 The Lost Boys Lucy Emerson Palace Theatre March 27, 2026 - present

Benefits

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Year Title Venue Dates Notes
2000 First You Dream: A Tribute to Courage New Amsterdam Theatre, New York June 12, 2000 Benefit for Actors' Fund of America and the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation in honor of Christopher Reeve and Bran Pace
2001 Dreamgirls 20th Anniversary Benefit Concert Ford Center for the Performing Arts Sep 24, 2001 Benefit for Actors' Fund of America
2004 Hair New Amsterdam Theatre, New York Sep 20, 2004 Benefit for the Actors' Fund of America
2008 The Yellow Brick Road Not Taken[45] Gershwin Theatre, New York Oct 27, 2008 Benefit for New York Restoration Project

Discography

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LPs

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  • 2008: Superhero (Shotime Records)
  • 2013: O' Farrell Street (Shotime Records)
  • 2018: Spectrum (Shotime Records)
  • 2025: Only Smoke (Shotime Records)

EPs

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  • 2014: Shadows to Light - EP (Shotime Records)
  • 2020: Selah - EP
  • 2022: She Is Risen: Jesus Christ Superstar All-Female Cast - EP [46]

Singles

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  • 2011: "A Little Hope" (Billy-Boo)
  • 2012: "O Holy Night" (Shotime Records)
  • 2012: "Runnin' Out Of Days" (Shotime Records)
  • 2013: "Skywriter" (Shotime Records)
  • 2014: "Runaway Train" (Shotime Records)
  • 2015: "Jealous" (Shotime Records) – cover of the Labrinth song
  • 2015: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Shotime Records)
  • 2017: "One Way to Go" (Shotime Records) – written by Bean and Britten Newbill.[43]

Soundtracks and cast recordings

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Selected other recordings

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Filmography

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  • 2009: The Battery's Down (TV Series) as Dr. Mary Jane Essajay in 1 episode: "I Think I'm Gonna Like it Here"
  • 2009: The Girls Next Door (TV Series) as Peep Diva in 1 episode: "Look Before You Peep"
  • 2009: Schoolhouse Rock! (TV Series short) vocals in 1 episode: "A Tiny Urban Zoo"
  • 2017: Bloodline (TV Series) as Shayna in 1 episode: "Part 30"
  • 2020: Bill & Ted Face the Music as First Noble
  • 2024: The Boys as Queen Maeve (voice)[48]

Awards and honors

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Year Award Work Category Result Ref.
2010 AIM Independent Music Awards "Superhero" Best R&B Song Won [49]
2015 Jeff Award Beaches Best Lead Actress in a Musical Nominated [50]
2017 IRNE Award Funny Girl Best Actress Won [22]
2022 Tony Award Mr. Saturday Night Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Nominated [51]
Drama League Awards Distinguished Performer Award Nominated [52]
Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Nominated
2023 Grammy Awards Best Musical Theater Album Nominated [53]
2024 Lucille Lortel Awards Hell's Kitchen Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical Nominated [54]
Drama League Awards Distinguished Performance Nominated [55]
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical Nominated [56]
Tony Awards Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Nominated [57]
Broadway.com Audience Awards Favorite Featured Actress in a Musical Nominated [58]
Favorite Diva Performance Nominated
2025 Grammy Awards Best Musical Theater Album Won [53]
2026 Tony Awards The Lost Boys Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Won [59]
Drama League Awards Distinguished Performer Award Nominated [60]
Broadway.com Audience Awards Favorite Featured Actress in a Musical Won
Favorite Diva Performance Nominated
Favorite Onstage Pair (shared with Paul Alexander Nolan) Nominated
Dorian Award Outstanding Featured Performance in a Broadway Musical Nominated [61]

References

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  1. ^ "Shoshana E Bean, United States Public Records, 1970-2009". FamilySearch. December 10, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Gans, Andrew (2009). "Diva Talk: Chatting with Wicked's Shoshana Bean Plus News of Neuwirth and Ripley". Playbill.
  3. ^ a b c d Wong, Curtis M. (August 6, 2018). "With 'Spectrum,' Singer Shoshana Bean Defies Gravity — And Musical Convention, Too". HuffPost.
  4. ^ Kellman, Andy. "Shoshana Bean: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  5. ^ Bartels, Eric (September 4, 2006). "Wicked actors big break: Just doing my job, really". Portland Tribune.
  6. ^ Atkins, Riley (April 5, 2021). "Shoshana Bean and the Moskowitz Family: From CNS to Broadway and Back". nevehshalom. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  7. ^ Leeds, Ryan (July 11, 2018). "Exclusive Interview: Shoshana Bean". The BroadwayBlog.
  8. ^ a b Haynes, Dana (March 7, 2018). "Beaverton High to Broadway - and then back again". Beaverton Valley Times. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018.
  9. ^ Jones, Velena (April 26, 2019). "Broadway star sings to save Beaverton HS arts". KOIN.
  10. ^ "University of Cincinnati alumni on Broadway: Shoshana Bean, CCM '99". UC Magazine. University of Cincinnati.
  11. ^ "Godspell – York Theatre at St. Peter's". Lortel Archives. August 2, 2000.
  12. ^ Weber, Bruce (August 9, 2000). "Theater Review; A 70's Musical Revival Sheds Flower Children But Keeps the Faith". The New York Times.
  13. ^ Glazier, Jenna (March 8, 2019). "9 Things You Need to Know About Shoshana Bean, the Next Star of 'Waitress'". Alma.
  14. ^ McKinley, Jesse (January 10, 2005). "Ding Dong, a Witch Is Hurt, but She Takes Her Final Bow". The New York Times.
  15. ^ Gans, Andrew (December 12, 2004). "Shoshana Bean to Replace Idina Menzel in Wicked". Playbill.
  16. ^ Gans, Andrew (June 14, 2006). "Wicked's Bean and Hilty to Reunite for Wicked Tour". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012.
  17. ^ "Photo Flash: Shoshana Bean Joins Jerry Mitchell's Las Vegas PEEP SHOW". BroadwayWorld. June 26, 2009.
  18. ^ Hetrick, Adam (2009). "Shoshana Bean to Join Cast of Mitchell's Vegas Peepshow". Playbill.
  19. ^ Hetrick, Adam (June 16, 2011). "Dear John Mayer, Scored by Shoshana Bean, to Play Los Angeles". Playbill.
  20. ^ Demaline, Jackie (June 24, 2011). "CCM grads Bean and Faye debut new musical". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on September 6, 2011.
  21. ^ Gioia, Michael (July 2, 2015). "Broadway-Bound 'Beaches', Starring Shoshana Bean and Whitney Bashor, Opens Tonight". Playbill.
  22. ^ a b Gans, Andrew (April 25, 2017). "Shoshana Bean and Mark Rylance Among IRNE Winners". Playbill.
  23. ^ Collins-Hughes, Laura (June 30, 2018). "Review: Joyously Rediscovering 'Songs for a New World'". The New York Times.
  24. ^ BWW News Desk (February 21, 2019). "Shoshana Bean Will Take Over the Role of Jenna in WAITRESS". BroadwayWorld.
  25. ^ McPhee, Ryan (May 13, 2019). "Shoshana Bean Extends Run in Broadway's Waitress Into July". Playbill.
  26. ^ "71st Outer Critics Circle Awards". Outer Critics Circle Awards. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  27. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 11, 2022). "2022 Tony Award Nominations: A Strange Loop, MJ, Paradise Square Lead the Pack". Playbill. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  28. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (October 12, 2023). "Alicia Keys' Hell's Kitchen Extends Upcoming World Premiere at The Public". Playbill. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  29. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (February 26, 2024). "Alicia Keys Musical Hell's Kitchen Finds Full Broadway Cast". Playbill. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  30. ^ Higgins, Molly (April 4, 2024). "Wet Brain Leads 2024 Lucille Lortel Award Nominations; Read the Complete List". Playbill. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  31. ^ Major, Michael Caissie Levy Departs THE LOST BOYS Musical Broadway Premiere Broadway World, November 6, 2025
  32. ^ Evans, Greg (December 8, 2025). "Tony Nominee Shoshana Bean Joins Broadway's 'Lost Boys' Musical". Deadline. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  33. ^ Evans, Greg (May 5, 2026). "'The Lost Boys' And 'Schmigadoon!' Lead Tony Awards Nominations – Complete List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  34. ^ "Shoshana Bean's Solo Debut 'Superhero' to Be Released 12/2". BroadwayWorld. August 22, 2008.
  35. ^ Gioia, Michael (2015). "'I Feel Like There's More to Do,' Says Shoshana Bean On Leaving New York for the Freedom of Expression". Playbill.
  36. ^ "Shoshana Bean performs "Runaway Train" on The Queen Latifah Show". The Queen Latifah Show. February 7, 2015. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021 – via YouTube.
  37. ^ Gonzalez, Juan-Jose (April 14, 2016). "BWW Interview: Shoshana Bean - on PMJukebox, Wicked, Hairspray and more!". BroadwayWorld.
  38. ^ Quintos, Michael Lawrence (January 30, 2015). "BWW Reviews: Postmodern Jukebox Entertains in their O.C. Debut Concert". BroadwayWorld.
  39. ^ a b c Bean, Shoshana; Kenney, Kevan (July 24, 2018). "Shoshana Bean On Her Album, "Spectrum," And Her Upcoming Apollo Theater Show" (Video interview). BUILD Series – via YouTube.
  40. ^ McPhee, Ryan (August 27, 2019). "Shoshana Bean Extends Feinstein's/54 Below Debut". Playbill.
  41. ^ "Beaverton's Shoshana Bean returns for Neveh Shalom performance, talk". Beaverton Valley Times. November 30, 2015. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017.
  42. ^ Shapiro, Ari (November 22, 2018). "4 Musicians Pay Their Gratitude Forward On Thanksgiving". All Things Considered. NPR.
  43. ^ a b Viagas, Robert (March 29, 2017). "Broadway's Shoshana Bean Commands the Mike at April Jazz Concert". Playbill.
  44. ^ BWW News Desk (January 7, 2016). "Jason Robert Brown, Shoshana Bean, and Ariana Grande Take Hollywood!". BroadwayWorld.
  45. ^ Gans, Andrew (October 28, 2008). "Diva Talk Special: The Yellow Brick Road Not Taken". Playbill.
  46. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 20, 2022). "Final Release Set for All-Female Jesus Christ Superstar Album Starring Cynthia Erivo, Shoshana Bean, Ledisi, More". Playbill. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  47. ^ "WATCH: Broadway's Shoshana Bean sings 'Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw'". ABS-CBN News. March 14, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  48. ^ "Video: Shoshana Bean, Andrew Rannells, and James Monroe Iglehart Sing on THE BOYS".
  49. ^ "9th IMA Winners Announced – Independent Music Awards" (Press release). January 26, 2010.
  50. ^ "Jeff Awards Equity nominations honor outstanding 2014-2015 productions" (PDF). Jeff Award. August 21, 2015.
  51. ^ Gans, Andrew (June 12, 2022). "2022 Tony Award Winners: A Strange Loop, The Lehman Trilogy, Company, Take Me Out Win Top Honors". Playbill. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  52. ^ "Some Like It Hot, Annaleigh Ashford, Leopoldstadt, More Win 2023 Drama League Awards". Playbill. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  53. ^ a b "Shoshana Bean | Artist". Grammy Awards. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  54. ^ Russo, Gillian (April 4, 2024). "2024 Lucille Lortel Award nominations announced". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  55. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 22, 2024). "2024 Drama League Awards Nominations Are Out; Read the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  56. ^ Rosky, Nicole (April 29, 2024). "2024 Drama Desk Awards Nominations- The Full List". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  57. ^ Huston, Caitlin (April 30, 2024). "'Stereophonic,' Alicia Keys' 'Hell's Kitchen' Lead Tony Award Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  58. ^ "The Great Gatsby, The Notebook and Back to the Future Lead Nominations for Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards". Broadway.com. May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  59. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 5, 2026). "Tony Nominations 2026, Read the Complete List; The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! Lead". Playbill. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  60. ^ Cite error: The named reference Drama Desk Award was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  61. ^ Mandell, Jonathan (June 1, 2026). "2026 Dorian Theater Award winners: Schmigadoon. Prince Faggot. Ragtime: Joshua. Junior. Quincy. Qween". New York Theater. Retrieved June 1, 2026.

Further reading

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