Amra-Faye Wright (born 22 August 1960) is a South African stage actress best known for portraying Velma Kelly in the musical Chicago, both on Broadway and in international tours. In 2010, she became the first actress to have performed the role both in English and in Japanese.[1]
Wright has played the role of Velma Kelly frequently, first heading the 2001 UK national tour and later, the European tour and in productions of the musical every year since 2001 world-wide. Recipient of the Naledi[2] and Fleur du Cap[3] Awards for her performances in the South African production.
Wright began her professional career as a dancer in Sun City South Africa, appearing in several musical extravaganzas. In 1992, she played the role of "Sheila" in A Chorus Line at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre. Thereafter she starred in musical revues around the world working through agencies in Paris, Monte Carlo, and London.
Wright returned to South Africa in 1999 to create the principal role in Elvis Las Vegas, (director Andrew Botha) winning a Vita Award[citation needed] for most outstanding performance in Musical Theatre. In 2000 she played Sandy in Grease in the Johannesburg Stadium Spectacular, directed by David Gilmore.
She created the first of three one-woman shows, Rouge Pulp, in 2000 and won the Vita Award for Best Musical Performance.[citation needed]Drinks on Me followed in 2001 (Vita Award for Best Musical Performance,[citation needed] directed by Mark Hawkins) and It’s not Where I Start, in 2002.
Wright continues to perform as a stage actress, cabaret singer, and soloist at events around the world.
Personal lifeedit
Wright was born in East London, South Africa. Her father, John Ball, was a long-distance runner, who held the record for running from Los Angeles to New York in 1972. Wright's early ambition was to be a ballet dancer and she trained for 16 years.
Wright has married twice, and has a daughter from each marriage. She is presently married to Heinrich Kruse, a South African drummer; they live in New York.
Awards and nominationsedit
The Elvis Las Vegas Extravaganza: FNB Vita Award for Best Actress in Musical Theatre - 2000
Rouge Pulp: FNB Vita Award for Best Performance in a Musical Revue - 2000
Drinks on Me: FNB Vita Award for Best Performance in a Musical Revue - 2001
It's Not Where I Start: FNB Vita Award nomination for Best Performance - 2002
Nunsense: Durban Theatre Award for Best Actress In Musical Theatre - 2004
Chicago: Naledi Theatre Award and Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for Best Actress in Musical Theatre - 2005
Referencesedit
^ Lee, Felicia R. (30 April 2010). "For Her Next Act, Velma Is Japanese". The New York Times.
^ . Naledi Theatre Awards. Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
^ "Fleur du Cap winners share their thoughts". 9 March 2006. Retrieved 5 July 2012.[permanent dead link]
amra, faye, wright, born, august, 1960, south, african, stage, actress, best, known, portraying, velma, kelly, musical, chicago, both, broadway, international, tours, 2010, became, first, actress, have, performed, role, both, english, japanese, born22, august,. Amra Faye Wright born 22 August 1960 is a South African stage actress best known for portraying Velma Kelly in the musical Chicago both on Broadway and in international tours In 2010 she became the first actress to have performed the role both in English and in Japanese 1 Amra Faye WrightBorn22 August 1960 1960 08 22 age 63 NationalitySouth AfricanOccupationStage actressKnown forVelma KellySpouseHeinrich KruseChildren2 Contents 1 Career 2 Personal life 3 Awards and nominations 4 References 5 External linksCareer editWright has played the role of Velma Kelly frequently first heading the 2001 UK national tour and later the European tour and in productions of the musical every year since 2001 world wide Recipient of the Naledi 2 and Fleur du Cap 3 Awards for her performances in the South African production She continues to play this role alternating between London s West End and Broadway Wright began her professional career as a dancer in Sun City South Africa appearing in several musical extravaganzas In 1992 she played the role of Sheila in A Chorus Line at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre Thereafter she starred in musical revues around the world working through agencies in Paris Monte Carlo and London In 1993 she performed at the Le Sporting in Monaco dancing in shows for Whitney Houston MC Hammer Paul Anka and Donna Summer In 1994 she returned to Monaco for two years to perform as a featured performer in the Cabaret at the Monte Carlo Casino Wright returned to South Africa in 1999 to create the principal role in Elvis Las Vegas director Andrew Botha winning a Vita Award citation needed for most outstanding performance in Musical Theatre In 2000 she played Sandy in Grease in the Johannesburg Stadium Spectacular directed by David Gilmore She created the first of three one woman shows Rouge Pulp in 2000 and won the Vita Award for Best Musical Performance citation needed Drinks on Me followed in 2001 Vita Award for Best Musical Performance citation needed directed by Mark Hawkins and It s not Where I Start in 2002 Wright continues to perform as a stage actress cabaret singer and soloist at events around the world Personal life editWright was born in East London South Africa Her father John Ball was a long distance runner who held the record for running from Los Angeles to New York in 1972 Wright s early ambition was to be a ballet dancer and she trained for 16 years Wright has married twice and has a daughter from each marriage She is presently married to Heinrich Kruse a South African drummer they live in New York Awards and nominations editThe Elvis Las Vegas Extravaganza FNB Vita Award for Best Actress in Musical Theatre 2000 Rouge Pulp FNB Vita Award for Best Performance in a Musical Revue 2000 Drinks on Me FNB Vita Award for Best Performance in a Musical Revue 2001 It s Not Where I Start FNB Vita Award nomination for Best Performance 2002 Nunsense Durban Theatre Award for Best Actress In Musical Theatre 2004 Chicago Naledi Theatre Award and Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for Best Actress in Musical Theatre 2005References edit Lee Felicia R 30 April 2010 For Her Next Act Velma Is Japanese The New York Times Naledi Theatre Award Winners for 2005 Naledi Theatre Awards Archived from the original on 26 February 2012 Retrieved 5 July 2012 Fleur du Cap winners share their thoughts 9 March 2006 Retrieved 5 July 2012 permanent dead link External links editOfficial website Amra Faye Wright at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Amra Faye Wright amp oldid 1150470855, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
