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Also Check out Who's the Diva?? Hmmmmm....
That's right! It's ME!!!!!
RUTHIE HENSHALL'S BIO
Born March 7 1967, in Bromely, Kent, England. A singer, dancer, actress, with a strong mezzo-soprano voice, in the 90s Henshall established herself as one of the brightest stars of the London musical stage.
The daughter of a journalist father, and a mother who taught English and drama, Henshall's early ambition was to be a ballet dancer, but her physique was not suitable. She also failed to meet the criteria for a part in the musical, ANNIE, when she was 13, being half an inch too tall.
At the age of 19, after studying at the Laine Theatre Arts drama school in Epsom, she got her first big break, winning the role of Maggie in a provincial production of A CHORUS LINE. In the late 80s, Henshall took over as Grizabella in Andrew Lloyd Webber's record-breaking CATS, and was in the chorus of the original London production of MISS SAIGON, subsequently taking over for the part of Ellen from Claire Moore.
In 1991, her career suffered a temporary setback, although she personally emerged unscathed from the 10-week 'silly and sentimental' flop, CHILDREN OF EDEN. In any case, it hardly mattered, as by now Henshall was on the brink of real success. After a spell in LES MISERABLES as Fantine, in 1993 she played her first leading role, opposite American Kirby Ward, in 'the new [George and Ira] Gershwin Musical', CRAZY FOR YOU. The show opened at the Prince Edward Theatre, a fact which fascinated sections of the British press, who were currently obsessed by Henshall's relationship with her 'very good friend', Prince Edward ('the Prince and the '), the Queen's youngest son, whom she met when he was production assistant for Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Company.
Henshall's private life provided good copy again in 1994 when she and co-star John Gordon Sinclair announced their engagement during the West End run of SHE LOVES ME. The show proved to be the highlight of Henshall's career so far, and she and Sinclair, who first came to notice in the 1981 film comedy GREGORY'S , won them Laurence Olivier Awards for their delightful performances. Also in 1994, Henshall gave a concert of Gershwin songs at London's Royal Festival Hall, supported only by tenor Michael Strassen and six boy dancers. In January 1996 she returned from appearing in the Toronto production of CRAZY FOR YOU, to succeed Sally Dexter in the role of Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh's smash hit revival of OLIVER! at the London Palladium. Later that year, accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra, she recorded a radio programme consisting mostly of classic show songs as a tribute to female singers she admires, such as Barbara Streisand, Ethel Merman, and Julie Andrews. This was later released on CD, although for some reason the applause was removed. However, none of the estatic audience reaction was deleted from either the album or video of the lavish 10th Anniversary Concert performance of LES MISERABLES, which took place in October 1995 at the Royal Albert Hall.
Henshall once again played Fantine, and her continual affection for that role led her to being involved in an amusing incident towards the end of 1996. Owing to illness in the London Cast, she had taken over the part again at short notice, but was also committed to switch on the Evening Standard Christmas Lights in Covent Garden.
Crowds at the ceremony were unaware that, shortly before Henshall made a brief appearance, she had been 'murdered' on stage during the matinee performance of LES MISERBALES, and was dashing back to reappear as a ghost in the finale.
From 1997-98, Henshall took the starring role as Roxie Hart in the triumphant West End revival of CHICAGO.
-Colin Larkin from The Encyclopedia of Popular Music.
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WHAT A CRITIC HAD TO SAY ABOUT RUTHIE'S FIRST U.S. APPEARANCE IN
ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF 1936
"The unforgettable revelation was Britain's Ruthie Henshall in the Gertrude Niesen
roles. A performer of pleasing but not sensational aspect, she entered from the
wings, took a few steps centerward, and stopped (along with the spectators' hearts),
making the stage and auditorium her private property. Like some sort of human
vortex, she drew us all into herself. Then she sang that great, underappreciated
Gershwin-Duke song "Words Without Music," and went from heart-stopper to
showstopper as voice, stance, and expression merged into pure triple crème."
-John Simon of Newyork.com
*THE LATEST NEWS ON RUTHIE HENSHALL*
Check out the amazing RUTHIE HENSHALL WEBSITE at
www.ruthie.org
or
www.ruthiehenshall.co.uk
for all info on this DIVA triple threat.
The Ruthie Henshall Fan Site
for up to date pics & info !
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"Ooooooooh! I'm A Star!" -- Roxie Hart
SUGGESTIONS BY RUTHIE FANS!
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS...............................................................Audrey
CALAMITY JANE.........................................................................Jane
ANNIE....................................................Miss Aggie Hannigan
Email me if you wanna see Ruthie perform in a show!
