Andrea McArdle was born November 5, 1963 in Philadelphia, PA and established herself as one of the premiere voices of the American stage at an early age. After a two and a half year stint on the soap "Search for Tomorrow," Andrea made her Broadway debut in the legendary musical "Annie." For her performance as the lovable red-headed moppet, Andrea won the Theater Circle and Outer Critics Circle Awards and became the youngest actress to date to be nominated for Best Actress in a Musical at the Tonys. After opening "Annie" in London, Andrea returned to the US to star as Judy Garland in the made-for-TV movie "Rainbow," a biopic of the actress-singer up until "The Wizard of Oz." She spent her teen and early adult years touring with Liberace and starring in a slew of musicals across the country. Throughout her career, she has appeared in such shows as "Grease," "The Fantastiks," "Singin' in the Rain," "They're Playing Our Song," "Annie Get Your Gun, "Evita" and, recently, she took her first stab at her dream role, Mama Rose in "Gypsy."
At the age of 20, she co-headlined the national tour of "Jerry's Girls" opposite Carol Channing and Leslie Uggams. She returned to Broadway as the sassy Smoking Car in the original cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Starlight Express." After marrying television composer Edd Kalehoff and having their daughter Alexis, she continued starring in tours and regional productions and, in 1994, she joined the cast of Broadway's "Les Miserables" as the tragically fated Fantine. Alexis made her Broadway debut a few years later at the age of 8 in the role of Young Cosette. Mother and daughter shared the stage when the national tour came to Philadelphia, this time with Andrea playing Eponine. Andrea and Alexis also appeared together on Andrea's first solo album, Andrea McArdle On Broadway and on the resulting PBS concert special.
In 1999, Andrea began a run as the longest-running Belle in "Beauty and the Beast." Simultaneously, Andrea, brother Mike and Alexis starred in the "McArdle Family Christmas" for three holiday seasons running at the Tropicana in Atlantic City. She also was featured in a cameo as the Star-to-Be in Rob Marshall's made-for-TV version of "Annie." In a transition from Disney heroine to night club heroin, she left the Broadway cast of "Beauty" to star in the international tour of "Cabaret," playing Sally Bowles all across the United States and then opening the production in Tokyo.
Andrea's career has also allowed her to concentrate on concerts, both solo and with other industry heavyweights. Over the years she has honed her skills with the likes of Bob Hope, Liza Minnelli, Ethel Merman, Julie Andrews, Frank Sinatra, Rosie O'Donnell, Jennifer Hudson and many others. In 2008, after making her debut at both Feinstein's and the Metropolitan Room, Andrea reprised her role as Fantine at the Ogunquit Playhouse with Alexis making her adult role debut as Eponine.
Andrea and "Annie" creator Martin Charnin recently re-teamed in Jupiter, FL, where Andrea starred in his new musical "Love is Love."
Please check back for updates and upcoming appearances. Thanks!
This Sunday, August 20, there is a car show and concert to benefit those with cancers, and those affected with cancer. My friend Toni's mother passed away on August 14 from cancer and Toni and her family will be at this show with front row tickets to Crue Fest going the highest bidder. The money from her auction will go to offset funeral costs for her mother, Patricia Coonradt.
I am so excited. I am on the radio on the internet. LOCMRADIO.COM and TCBGR.FM. You can even request my songs! Hope you are having a good summer too! Jenna-Nicole
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