Krysten Cummings (born ) is a stage and film actress. She is also a musician. She appeared as Tina in the 1997 production of The Fix, and as Mimi in the 1998 version of the musical Rent for which she was a 1999 Olivier Award nominee.

Background Cummings is originally from Pennsauken Township, New Jersey.Sky News, Sunday 14 June 2020 - Krysten Cummings: 'No one was interested in a black girl with a guitar' - Gemma Peplow As a stage actress, she got her start at age 17 at the Ritz Theatre in Haddon Township, New Jersey.Courier-Post, November 12, 2015 - With 'Rent,' theater and medicine form an unlikely alliance Shannon Eblen She graduated in 1992 from Camden Catholic High School.Graham, Kristen A. "Pennsauken native wins leading role on London stage", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 28, 1998. Accessed April 9, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Krysten Cummings, 23, rehearses in London.... Lynn remembers that Krysten, when growing up, was upset by the fact that people didn't know where Pennsauken is.... A 1992 Camden Catholic graduate, Krysten received her acting training at the Ritz Theatre in Oaklyn." By 2014, she had been in more than 20 theatrical productions, and musically performed in more than 30 countries. Her career has taken her from Broadway to the West End in London.All Around Pennsauken, December 2, 2014 - Pennsauken’s Own Krysten Cummings Performs Benefit For Build Jake’s Place

She had a co-starring role in the 2009 horror, The Descent Part 2.The Los Angeles Times, MAY 8, 2020 - Movies on TV this week: Sunday, May 10, 2020 - BY ED STOCKLY

While she was in London, she came in to contact with Richard Archer, who fronted the rock band Hard-Fi. Certain recent-then events in the media put them both in a musical collaboration.

Stage Cummings played the original part of Tina in See Jane Run which premiered at London's Donmar Warehouse in 1997.Broadway World, Feb. 15, 2023 - Creative Team Behind THE FIX Reunite For SEE JANE RUN at Helmerich Theater by Blair Ingenthron

She was part of the ensemble of the Jesus Christ Superstar Arena Tour, and was a soul girl on the song "Superstar", sang by Tim Minchin.

In 2014, she performed a one-woman show at the Ritz Theatre for the "Build Jake's Place" project.

In 2015, she played the part of Mimi Marquez, a woman with HIV positive in the production of Rent which played at the Ritz Theater in Haddon Township NJ.Courier Post, November 12, 2015 - With 'Rent,' theater and medicine form an unlikely alliance Shannon Eblen In late 2015, it was announced that Cummings along with Debbie Kurup and Damien Flood would be appearing in the Seasons of Larson concert, a celebration of the life of Broadway composer Jonathan Larson. The concert was to be held at London's Lyric Theatre.London1 Theatre, DECEMBER 8, 2015 - Debbie Kurup, Krysten Cummings and Damien Flood cast in SEASONS OF LARSON - NEIL CHEESEMAN

In late 2017, she played the Fairy Godmother in the Cinderella at the Hackney Empire Theatre.British Theatre, 24th November 2017 - FIRST LOOK: Cinderella at Hackney Empire - Christmas 2017 - Douglas Mayo

She is a co-creator of The Bisley Boy, a gothic musical fantasy that follows the private life of Bram Stoker, which was to run at the Ritz Theatre from September 16 to October 2, 2022.Broadway World, Sep. 07, 2022 - South Jersey Trio To Unveil THE BISLEY BOY, A New Gothic Musical Fantasy, At The RitzThe show had its world premiere at the Ritz Theatre Company. by A.A. CristiIssue Wire - The Bisley Boy, A Musical Has World Premiere At The Ritz Theatre]

Film work Cummings provided the voice for Submerge in the 2009 sci-fi film, Ghost Machine which was directed by Chris Hartwill.Sci-Fi Movies - GHOST MACHINE, Main Cast

She played the role of Deputy Elen Rios in The Descent Part 2, a horror film about cave crawling creatures. It was the sequel to the 2005 film, The Descent.British Film Institute - The Descent: Part 2 (2009)SBS - 2009, The Descent: Part 2 Cummings' character Rios was the only one to survive the ordeal following Shauna Macdonald's character Sarah sacrificing herself to let her escape.What Culture - 8 Final Horror Movie Girls Who Ended Up Dying Anyway, 5. Sarah Carter - The Descent

Music In 2009, the single, "Sunrise" by Hoxton Whores feat. Krysten Cummings was released.Who Sampled - Sunrise (Lauer & Canard Vocal Remix) by Hoxton Whores feat. Krysten Cummings

In 2013, she backed Bonnie Tyler on her song, "Believe in Me at the Eurovision Song Contest that year.Six on Stage - Believe In Me She later backed Elnur Huseynov on his song, "Hour of the Wolf" at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest.Six on Stage - Hour Of The Wolf

In 2020, Cummings was a member of the band OffWorld which was made up of Richard Archer, herself, Wolsey White, Smiley Barnard and Dale Davis. Playing a mixture of blues, gospel and soul, on April 9 they released their EP, Brave to Be Alive. Later that month they released a single, "Burnt Out Star".NME, 21st April 2020 - FEATURES > MUSIC INTERVIEWS, Richard Archer on new political band OffWorld and Hard-Fi’s “unfinished business”The Hard-Fi singer is back with a new set of songs that put the state of the world to rights By Nick ReillyScottish Music Network, 22nd April 2020 - Music collective OffWorld featuring acclaimed musicians Richard Archer, Krysten Cummings and more release music video for new single ‘Burnt Out Star’ Also that month Cummings and Richard Archer performed a set of songs from his home which included songs from the EP and some Hard-Fi songs. It was part of the Royal Albert Home sessions. The songs were transmitted from the homes of the artists while the Royal Albert Hall was closed.Royal Albert Hall, Monday 13 April 2020 - Watch Richard Archer and Krysten Cummings perform an exclusive set for Royal Albert Home by Joanna HouldenRoyal Albert Hall - ROYAL ALBERT HALL PRESENTS ROYAL ALBERT HOME

References

Further reading Dread Central, Nov 30, 1999 - Cummings, Krysten (The Descent 2) - Johnny Butane Sky News, Sunday 14 June 2020 - Krysten Cummings: 'No one was interested in a black girl with a guitar' - Gemma Peplow New Jersey Stage, 09/07/2022 - Ritz Theatre presents World Premiere of "The Bisley Boy

External links Broadway world - Krysten Cummings bio Imdb - Krysten Cummings Discogs - Krysten Cummings AllMusic - Song Highlights Krysten Cummings Soul Avengerz - Topic - Heard It All Before (feat. Krysten Cummings) Dancers Inc. - Singers Inc. Sessions Volume 1 - Krysten Cummings 'Paris'