Lorna Courtney
Born (1998-10-12) October 12, 1998 (age 25)
New York City, New York, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Michigan (BFA)
OccupationActress
Years active2019–present

Lorna Courtney (born October 12, 1998)[1] is an American actress and singer. She is best known for playing the title role of Juliet on Broadway in the musical & Juliet, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

Early life and education

Courtney grew up in the South Ozone Park neighborhood of Queens, New York.[2] Courtney began singing at an early age, performing in gospel choirs as a way to overcome her shyness.[3]

Courtney attended LaGuardia High School, a public high school specializing in the performing arts, where she studied opera.[4][5] She obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan, where she majored in musical theatre.[4] She graduated in three years by completing additional summer courses at Washtenaw Community College, and worked at a youth center near the university.[2]

Career

After graduating from the University of Michigan, Courtney made her Broadway debut in the Pasek and Paul musical Dear Evan Hansen.[6] She joined the cast in May 2019 as an understudy for the lead roles of Alana Beck and Zoe Murphy.[7] Lorna was then cast in West Side Story in the role of Rosalia and the u/s for Maria. She performed in the show until theaters were mandated to shut down by Governor Andrew Cuomo on March 12, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In May 2022, Courtney was cast in her first professional leading role as Juliet in the North American premiere of & Juliet (a jukebox reimagining of the Shakespeare play featuring pop songs by Max Martin in which Juliet does not die).[8] The musical played a pre-Broadway engagement at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, Ontario, between June 22 and August 14, 2022. Courtney debuted the role on Broadway when the show transferred to the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on November 17, 2022.[9] She received critical acclaim; The New York Times theater critic Jesse Green noted Courtney's "blow-you-away performance".[10] As part of the original Broadway cast recording, Courtney recorded a duet of "Since U Been Gone" with the song's original recording artist, Kelly Clarkson.[11] At the 76th Tony Awards, she was nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for & Juliet.[12]

Stage credits

Year(s) Production Role Location Category Ref.
2014 We Are! Mama Foundation for the Arts Regional [13]
2019 Mamma Mia! Lisa, chorus Connecticut Repertory Theatre Regional [14]
2019–2020 Dear Evan Hansen u/s Alana Beck, Zoe Murphy Music Box Theatre Broadway
2020 West Side Story Rosalia, u/s Maria Broadway Theatre Broadway [15]
2022 & Juliet Juliet Princess of Wales Theatre Pre-Broadway engagement: Toronto, Ontario [16]
2022–present Stephen Sondheim Theatre Broadway [17]

Awards and nominations

List of awards and nominations
Year Work Award Category Result Ref.
2022 & Juliet Dora Award Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role Nominated [18]
2023 Tony Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical Nominated [12]
Drama League Awards Distinguished Performance Nominated [19]
Clive Barnes Awards Theatre Artist Award Won [20][21]

References

  1. ^ Reed, Sam (October 25, 2022). "Broadway Breakout Lorna Courtney Is Grateful to Be Here". Glamour. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Dodge, Samuel (January 30, 2023). "Broadway smash '& Juliet' stars pair of University of Michigan alums". Michigan Live. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  3. ^ "The Broadway Show: & Juliet's Lorna Courtney on Raising Her Voice & Encouraging Others". Broadway.com. YouTube. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Nordstrom, Leigh (November 23, 2022). "Meet the Star of Broadway's Buzziest New Show". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  5. ^ Reed, Sam (October 25, 2022). "Broadway Breakout Lorna Courtney Is Grateful to Be Here". Glamour. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  6. ^ Hall, Margaret (May 4, 2023). "How Lorna Courtney is Coming Into Her Power In & Juliet". Playbill. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  7. ^ Courtney, Lorna (May 24, 2019). "So excited to have joined the amazing cast of Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway as Alana/Zoe Understudy!!! Thank you to all the people that helped me along the way. My journey has begun!!! #Alanabeck #Zoemurphy #DEH #Broadway #lisabrescia #broadwaymusical #musical #musicaltheatre #bway #theatre #nyc #soexcited #photooftheday #instagood #life #lifeisgood #dreamcometrue". Instagram. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  8. ^ Chapman, Wilson (May 6, 2022). "Lorna Courtney, Paulo Szot, Betsy Wolfe, Stark Sands Cast in New Musical '& Juliet'". Variety. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  9. ^ Hall, Margaret (October 11, 2022). "& Juliet Announces Complete Broadway Cast". Playbill. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  10. ^ Green, Jesse (November 17, 2022). "Review: On Broadway, '& Juliet' (& Britney & Katy & Pink)". The New York Times. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  11. ^ Aniftos, Rania (October 28, 2022). "Kelly Clarkson Teams Up With '& Juliet' Star Lorna Courtney for 'Since U Been Gone' Duet". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Sherman, Rachel; Cohn, Gabe (May 2, 2023). "Tony Awards Nominations 2023: The Complete List". The New York Times. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  13. ^ "Mama Foundation Stages We Are! in Rep with Alive!, Beginning Tonight". BroadwayWorld. October 11, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  14. ^ Wild, Stephi (June 2, 2019). "CT Rep Begins Mamma Mia! On June 6". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  15. ^ Skethway, Nathan (February 21, 2020). "Go Inside the Broadway Opening of Ivo van Hove's West Side Story Revival". Playbill. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  16. ^ Putnam, Leah (May 6, 2022). "Broadway-Aimed & Juliet Announces Cast for North American Premiere". Playbill. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  17. ^ Hall, Margaret (October 11, 2022). "& Juliet Announces Complete Broadway Cast". Playbill. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  18. ^ "Nominations Announced for 42nd Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards". Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts. August 29, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  19. ^ BWW, Team. "Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, A Doll's House & More Lead in Nominations for 2023 Drama League Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  20. ^ Rabinowitz, Chloe. "Lorna Courtney, Solea Pfeiffer & More Named 13th Annual Clive Barnes Award Finalists". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  21. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 23, 2023). "& Juliet's Lorna Courtney Wins Clive Barnes Award". Playbill. Retrieved June 13, 2023.

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