Alysha Umphress is an American actor and vocalist best known for her work in Broadway musicals. Notable roles include Hildy in On The Town, Patti in Smokey Joe's Cafe, Shirley in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and Paula in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
Career Umphress graduated from the San Francisco School of the Arts and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Boston Conservatory before moving to New York City in 2004.
Umphress made her Broadway debut in 2010 as an ensemble member of American Idiot and has performed in venues around the country. She has performed in concerts and cabarets at such venues as 54 Below, Green Room 42, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Classic Stage Company, and more. Her recordings include On the Town, American Idiot, Bring it On!, Fugitive Songs, Alysha Umphress Live at the Laurie Beechman, and I've Been Played: Alysha Umphress Swings Jeff Blumenkrantz.
In 2015, Umphress was nominated for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical (HAYES Production) Helen Hayes Award for her performance in Beaches at Signature Theatre. In 2019, she was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance in Smokey Joe's Cafe at Stage 42. In 2023, Umphress was the grand prize winner of the American Traditions Vocal Collection Competition. She has been announced as a vocalist on the upcoming concept album of the new musical The Fitzgeralds of St. Paul.
In 2018, New York Times critic Laura Collins-Hughes mentioned Alysha's body size in her review of Smokey Joe's Cafe, which many described as body-shaming. Collins-Hughes received pushback from the theatre community for her review. Alysha responded on Twitter by calling Collins-Hughes' writing "full on mean girl" and calling for a celebration of diversity in the arts.
Umphress met Cody Williams while working on a workshop of On The Town and they started dating in 2013. They were married in November 2017.
Theatrical credits + Broadway Production Role Year(s)American Idiot Ensemble 2010–2011 On a Clear Day You Can See Forever Paula (understudy for Muriel Bunson, Melinda Wells) 2011–2012Priscilla Queen of the Desert Shirley 2012 Bring It On: The Musical "Legendary" Soloist 2012 On The Town Hildy 2014–2015
+ Off-Broadway/National Tour /Regional Production Role Year(s) TheatreBring It On: The Musical "Legendary" Soloist 2011–2012 National tourBeaches Cecilia Carol "C.C." Bloom 2014 Signature TheatrePump Boys and Dinettes Rhetta 2016 Paper Mill PlayhouseHood: The Robin Hood Musical Adventure Meg 2017 Dallas Theatre CenterSmokey Joe's Cafe Ensemble 2018 Stage 42Scotland, PA Jessie 2019 Roundabout Theatre CompanyMr. Saturday Night Susan 2021 Barrington Stage CompanyThe Bedwetter Mrs. Dembo 2025 Arena StageDamn Yankees Gloria Thorpe 2025 Arena Stage
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