"[8][11] Although she had not discovered her vocal ability until she was at college and had started working, Ellis cites her early influences as Liza Minnelli, Elaine Paige and Barbra Streisand; their music she would sing in her bedroom much to the disturbance of her older brother Andrew, now a keen fisherman. In August, she kicked off the 20th English Premier League for the FA Community Shield by performing the British national anthem at Wembley Stadium and also became a patron to Emil Dale's School of Performing Arts in Hitchin while September saw her performing at the opening launch concert of the new Diamond Theatre in Slovenia and returning to London's Savoy to sing at the 65th birthday celebrations of Freddie Mercury. In August, Ellis was made the official patron of St. George's Youth Theatre in Great Yarmouth, the Vice President of the Newmarket Operatic Musical and Dramatic Society (later their patron) and the first official patron of West End Stage, a London-based theatrical summer school, in addition to chatting with David Bedella at the After Show with David Bedella at the Alleycat in London's Soho. "We Will Rock YouWith Our Show Tunes". Kerry Jane Ellis is an English actress and singer who is best known for her work in musical theatre and subsequent crossover into music. After attending Anthems: The Concert, critic Mark Shenton of The Stage hailed Ellis, a "small but fierce and fiery performer," as "this generation's Elaine Paige, with a similarly soaring, scorching voice." Ellis also performed the role of Mimi alongside Superstar finalist Rory Taylor in the 20th anniversary concert production of the musical RENT that toured the UK, opening on 25 April 2013 at The Opera House in Manchester before playing theatres in London, Liverpool, Newcastle, Cardiff, Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Glasgow and Leeds. [7][8][9] After a successful audition, she also spent the summer of 1990 with the National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT). Kathleen Hartington Kennedy Townsend (1951-Present) Daughter of: Bobby Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy; Married to: David Lee Townsend; Children: Meaghan, Maeve, Rose, and Kerry; Kathleen Kennedy is the eldest child of Bobby and Ethel Kennedy. She sang "Son of a Preacher Man" but it failed to progress her further after none of the coaches turned round to select her to be in their groups. Like many celebrities and famous people, Kerry keeps her personal and love life private. 39. She was born on Sunday, May 6, 1979. 1.5M ratings . They are creative thinkers and appreciate the arts. Born and raised in Suffolk, Ellis began performing at an early age before attending Laine Theatre Arts from the age of 16. She played Eliza Doolitte on a total of five occasions and departed from the company in July 2002. A DVD of the tour will also be available by Christmas 2013. Space-X continues to reach for the stars. She also continued to perform in various concerts throughout 2011, including her return to the leisure resort where she first started working, Potters Leisure Resort, to perform in the One Night Musicals Spectacular, which saw Ellis in combination with "musical variety from Potters Theatre Company and other leading West End singers" in February. Kerry Ellis Net Worth Net Worth List After successful audition, she also spent the summer of 1990 with the National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT). [It has] big orchestras and big ballad-y vocals." 185.222.158.33 She has released three studio albums Anthems (2010), which reached number 15 on the UK Albums Chart, the self-titled Kerry Ellis (2014) and "Golden Days" as well as an extended play Wicked in Rock (2008) and a live album Acoustic by Candlelight (2013). The Married At First Sight star, 27, showed off her ample cleavage and slender legs in the emerald strapless . Following her departure from Wicked, she recorded material with Brian May for her debut album and performed at various live events including her first set of solo musical showcase concerts entitled Kerry Ellis Sings the Great British Songbook at the Shaw Theatre on Euston Road in London. According to our records, she has no children. Ellis also represented the musical at the annual Royal Variety Performance in 2008 where she performed her rock version of the Wicked song "Defying Gravity" alongside Brian May on guitar at the London Palladium. Kerry Ellis - Age, Bio, Faces and Birthday The show saw Ellis giving a blind audition in front of its four coaches. [21][34] Ellis played Fantine for almost a year and ended her time with the company on 24 June 2006. Bi for Blanchett Ellis-Townsend Baby #2 She is the daughter of Terry John Ellis (father) and Sandra Ann Reed (mother). Age. [75], In January 2012, Ellis auditioned for the debut series of The Voice UK, a reality television singing competition. Kerry Jane Ellis was born on 6 May 1979 in Haughley near Stowmarket in Suffolk, the daughter of Sandra Ann Reed and Terry John Ellis. She continued the role at the Apollo Victoria Theatre until 7 June 2008, being succeeded by Alexia Khadime. The following October, she led a week of solo concerts at the Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square with a small band and a number of special guests in addition to singing at an event entitled A Night at the Musicals at the Wales Millennium Centre, part of the 2012 Cardiff Music Festival. She has also worked sporadically in film and television. Children: Daniel Townsend+ b. c 1698. Ellis will also perform at A Night at the Musicals when it returns to the Wales Millennium Centre as well as appearing as a special guest in a Christmas Spectacular at the Royal Albert Hall in December. She gave birth to her second child, a boy called Freddie, on 30 November 2015. [59] She was the second and final actress to play Nancy in the London revival, continuing the role until the end of the show's run on 8 January 2011. Kerry Ellis - Wikipedia Kerry Jane Ellis attended Laine Theatre Arts. Whilst still in WWRY, Ellis also performed in one-off intimate gigs accompanied by guitarist Peter Johansson who performed with Ellis in the WWRY ensemble at London clubs Monto Water Rats and Chapel Bar on 9 November 2003 and 28 March 2004 respectively. Ellis gave birth to a baby boy, Alfie Ellis-Townsend, on 25 October 2013.[90]. ", "Khadime Plays Wicked Elphaba, Ellis Back 1 Dec", "Full List: Your Theatregoers' Choice Award Winners", "London's Kerry Ellis Will Join Broadway's, "The Fans Have Spoken! Kerry Ellis salary income and net worth data provided by People Ai provides an estimation for any internet celebrity's real salary income and net worth like Kerry Ellis based on real numbers. [66] In March, she duetted with performer Barry Manilow on the Finian's Rainbow song "Look to the Rainbow" at the 2011 Laurence Olivier Awards in addition to returning to London nightclub G-A-Y, performing "Love It When You Call", "I Know Him So Well", "Diamonds are Forever" and the remixed version of her rock version of the song "Defying Gravity". "[35], In July 2006, Ellis joined the original London cast of the musical Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre to play Elphaba. [28] In 2002, they recorded an orchestral version of the song "No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)". In February 2015, Ellis took over from Nicole Scherzinger as Grizabella in Cats at the London Palladium. The tour was met with mostly positive reviews with critics praising the meshing of May's sound with Ellis' voice. The same month, she flew to Shanghai to participate in a string of concerts entitled Ultimate Broadway at the city's Culture Square Theatre. Ellis also appears as a featured artist on a version of "Somebody to Love" on Only Men Aloud! So when we went to Moscow to do the candlelight concerts there with Brian, Alfie had more people with him than either Brian or I did. Last year she also cast in the 20th anniversary production of Rent and realised a personal ambition by staging a sold-out solo show at the London Palladium. at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Block; making the first British actress to play Elphaba on Broadway and the first to transfer from the West End to Broadway mirroring original cast member Idina Menzel who transferred from Broadway to London to open the production. James Townsend (m. 2011) Sibling: Not Available: Children: Alfie Ellis-Townsend (25/10/2013) Freddie Ellis-Townsend (30/11/2015) She was also named an official patron of the Academy for Theatre Arts in Newcastle-under-Lyme in the same month. The same month, she closed the 2012 Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards with May and also performed with him at the launch of Pride of Cape Town in South Africa in March. Born and raised in Suffolk, Ellis began performing at an early age before training at Laine Theatre Arts from the age of 16. She has continued to perform, appearing at a charity concert of Children of Eden alongside other West End performers at London's Prince of Wales Theatre in January which provoked Mark Shenton to label Ellis and Louise Dearman as "the twin goddesses of West End musical voices. Kerry Ellis has not been previously engaged. She also performed with John Barrowman at the 2009 Henley Festival (which was later broadcast on BBC Radio 2's Friday Night is Music Night), at the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and at Thank You for the Music a special concert in Hyde Park celebrating the music of Benny Andersson and Bjrn Ulvaeus (of ABBA) in September 2009 where she delivered the first UK performance of "You Have to Be There", a song from the pair's musical Kristina frn Duvemla. Kerry Jane Ellis (born 6 May 1979) is an English actress and singer who is best known for her work in musical theatre and subsequent crossover into music. Ellis also appears as a featured artist on several other albums. She probably showed me up" while Ellis concluded, "I was nervous but once I was on stage the nerves disappeared and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Kerry Ellis Grimes - Turrentine Jackson Morrow Funeral Home With Brian May, she accepted an invitation to fly a training sortie with the Red Arrows on 16 June: Ellis on Red 1 with Squadron Leader Ben Murphy (the leader of the Red Arrows) while May flew on Red 7 with Flight Lieutenant Ben Plank. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. Furthermore, Ellis and Dianne Pilkington (who played as Glinda alongside her) were the show's longest serving leads. Learn How rich is She in this year and how She spends money? She married James Townsend in 2011. [56] Ironically, Ellis had appeared in the BBC talent show I'd Do Anything (2009), mentoring potential Nancys (including Jodie Prenger) in the fore-running to the opening of this London revival. There, she also shot a documentary to highlight her charity work with the Born Free Foundation. Ellis left the Broadway company on 9 November 2008 and was replaced by Marcie Dodd. "From the moment I first heard Kerry sing, I was entranced, and felt the conviction that I would one day make an album for her. She continued the role at the Apollo Victoria Theatre until 7 June 2008. James Townsend's current age falls around his mid-30s, according to our close sources. News | Kerry Ellis Web", "Kerry Ellis returns to 20th anniversary concert tour of RENT! and Wicked. "[14], Whilst attending Stowmarket High School, she completed work experience with Starmakers, a company of holiday entertainers, at Potters Leisure Resort in Hopton-on-Sea. Find out about James Townsend & Kerry Ellis Married, children, joint family tree & history, ancestors and ancestry. It was digitally released three years later. [37] For her portrayal, Ellis won the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Award for Best Takeover in a Role in and a nomination for Favourite Theatre Actress at the Lastminute.com People's Choice Theatre Awards. Kerry Jane Ellis (born 6 May 1979) is an English actress and singer who is best known for her work in musical theatre and subsequent crossover into music. But I think we will be all right because we know the material, the arrangements have all been worked out, so it should be fine.. Earlier this year Alfie was with her when she and Brian took their Born Free tour to Russia and then came back via Malta. Actress: Les Misrables. Ellis gave birth to a baby boy Alfie Ellis-Townsend on 25 October 2013. [12][13] She has explained that fellow musical theatre actress Ruthie Henshall inspired her growing up: "[Henshall] was a success story from Suffolk I think I identified with her because it was an actual story that I saw happen and was achievable. James Townsend for 12 years. "Kerry [had] been in rehearsals throughout the run but she didn't find out until late afternoon that she was going on. Polls 5 Aug 2013", "Kerry Ellis joins all-star line up at Royal Variety Performance 2008", "London Wicked Star Kerry Ellis Will Sing "Great British Songbook", "Wicked's Kerry Ellis talks about performing the Great British Songbook at the Shaw theatre", "Theatre review: Kerry Ellis Celebrates the Great British Song Book", "Perfect Pitch Returns to West End, Ellis at Fringe", "Thank You for the Music: A Celebration of the Music of Abba, review", "Broadway & West End Star Kerry Ellis to play 'Nancy', "Kerry Ellis and Brian May perform spine-tingling rendition of Anthem", "Sir Terry Wogan presents West End phenomenon Kerry Ellis and legendary Queen guitarist Brian May", "Festival of Remembrance 2010 The Royal British Legion", "Voices Sing for Sondheim, New York Xmas Cast", "West End Theatre Folk Release "It Gets Better" Video", "NT Scoops Seven Oliviers, Blonde & Sondheim", "Kerry Ellis lined up to judge Stephen Sondheim Society award", "BBC Concert Orchestra Friday Night is Music Night", "What's On? Following her graduation, Ellis became first understudy to Marti Webb in a UK concert tour of The Magic of the Musicals in 1998, required on several occasions in Webb's absence, yet took a hiatus in 1999 to board cruise ship MS Voyager of the Seas, employed as lead vocalist in the ship's entertainment staff. Dec 1st, 2015. She was only a couple of years ahead of me and I could relate to her. She is not dating anyone currently. The musical initially played at the Lyttelton Theatre at the Royal National Theatre from 6 March 2001 to 20 June 2001 but later transferred to Theatre Royal, Drury Lane with shows beginning 21 July 2001. She also mentored potential candidates in Over the Rainbow (2010), BBC's subsequent talent show that searched for a Dorothy Gale for the 2011 musical adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. Other performances in 2013 include her leading a week of cabaret shows at The Pheasantry in London in February and at Tiger Tracks, a three-week tiger conservation event, performing a free outdoor charity gig at St Pancras railway station with Brian May in March. Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. Ellis-Townsend Baby #2 - Alfie has a little brother named FREDDIE. "From the moment I first heard Kerry sing, I was entranced, and felt the conviction that I would one day make an album for her. The school now offers annual scholarships in both Ellis' and Langford's names. HP10 9TY. Ellis, who ended her run as Meat on 17 April 2004, is also featured on the original London cast recording of We Will Rock You. Actresses; . Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Award, Kerry Ellis Sings the Great British Songbook, The War of the Worlds The New Generation, "Kerry Ellis, Daniel Boys Set for GODSPELL Concert Tonight", "Nik Kershaw among University of Suffolk's 2019 honorary graduates", "Big Interview: Kerry Ellis 'I've never been out of work to have the door closed was quite a moment', "Kerry's homecoming gig will benefit arts centre", "GaydarNation: Entertainment: Culture: Interviews: Kerry Ellis", "Suffolk West End star is having a Wicked time", "I'd do anythingKerry Ellis goes from stage to studio", "The UK Guide to Accredited Education and Training in Dance and Musical Theatre 2010/11", "Big Interview: Kerry Ellis and Louise Dearman", "Personal recounts of Ellis' career in theatre", "Cumming Back, Brian May Backs Ellis Anthem", "Owen-Jones & John Headline Les Mis from 27 Jun", "Kerry Ellis will be new 'Nancy' in smash hit musical OLIVER! She sang "Son of a Preacher Man" but it failed to progress her further after none of the coaches turned round to select her to be in their groups. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. She also continued to perform in various concerts throughout 2011, including her return to the leisure resort where she first started working, Potters Leisure Resort, to perform in the One Night Musicals Spectacular, which saw Ellis in combination with "musical variety from Potters Theatre Company and other leading West End singers" in February. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 6 May. Furthermore, Ellis and Dianne Pilkington (who played as Glinda alongside her) remain the show's longest serving leads. Bookmark this page and come back for updates. Kerry Ellis Boyfriend 2023: Dating History & Exes - CelebsCouples Photos & Headshots . All Rights Reserved. and Cats as well as appearing in national tours and concert productions of musicals like Miss Saigon, Chess, The War of the Worlds and RENT. Her first stage role was in The Wizard of Oz at the Wolsey Theatre in nearby Ipswich where she played a Munchkin at the age of 9. (Vegetarians International Voice for Animals), which will be released in time for Christmas 2013. Ellis has performed in concerts across the world in addition to headlining solo concert tours like Anthems: The Tour and The Born Free Tour. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that information you receive from this page is correct. In an interview in retrospect, Les Misrables producer Cameron Mackintosh professed that Ellis made an "outstanding" Fantine in addition to admitting his pleasure at seeing Ellis' career grow through roles in three of his productions and naming her a "great talent.". James Townsend's wife is Kerry Ellis. This was made available as a deluxe 2-CD set and to download. Joined by May once again, Ellis performed at The Royal British Legion's Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in the presence of the British Royal Family including Queen Elizabeth II. Between visits, a lot has changed however. These concerts featured other performers from the West End and celebrate both classical and contemporary Broadway hits. She came back to London to perform alongside many other musicians at the Royal Albert Hall in November at Women of Rock, a performance dedicated to breast cancer research. Ellis returned to the Hippodrome Casino in September, as a special guest at Christina Biancos Diva Moments concert. Throughout July, Ellis appeared in an interview-and-song series, These Are A Few of My Favourite Songs, at London's Soho Theatre, performed with the winners at the live final of #searchforatwitterstar an online Twitter talent competition, sang as a special guest at musical concert West End Men with Lee Mead in both Jersey, Guildford and Guernsey, and sat on the judging panel for the gala finale of Talent 2012 at the Garrick Theatre a competition on the search for the next West End musical theatre star. It finished at The Cliffs Pavilion in Southend-on-Sea on 5 May 2013. The same month, the pair performed "Born Free" at the 2011 Born Free Foundation Gala Dinner at the Savoy Hotel to celebrate the 80th birthday of its founder Virginia McKenna and teamed up again to perform at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed in July. Its intimate, the response from the audience is great, everyone can see you and the acoustics are superb. Like every mum with a new baby, Suffolk-born West End star Kerry Ellis, had to deal with the big question: whens the right time to go back to work? Kerry Ellis' husband James Townsend with their son Alfie. She married James Townsend in 2011. Kerry Ellis: Top 10 Facts You Need to Know - FamousDetails She played Beth in the theater production of The War of the Worlds, which initially starred Richard Burton. She also appeared in TransAtlantic, a concert mix of new musical theatre at St James Theatre, London, singing a duet with Rory Taylor in September. After leaving the show, she performed in a concert version of Jesus Christ Superstar as the female lead, Mary Magdalene, at Porchester Castle in June 2004 alongside other West End performers and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. "It was an incredible three years where I learnt a great deal about myself, the industry and came away feeling part of something special," she remembers. Ellis was also in the same year as fellow musical theatre actress Louise Dearman. Kerry Ellis - Biography - IMDb Ellis sang "Defying Gravity" as the finale of Musicals: The Greatest Show, a socially distanced show with no audience, performed at the London Palladium, broadcast on BBC1 on 7 February 2021. The same month, she also performed with Michael Ball and Gina Beck in Summertime, a musical theatre event celebrating the music of George Gershwin, at London's Kenwood House,[85] in addition to talking to Edward Seckerson in his Singular Sensations series at Charing Cross Theatre, London, and playing an acoustic set with Brian May at the Hope 4 Apes charity ball, hosted by Sir David Attenborough, at The Savoy, London.