Christy Altomare

Altomare began performing at age 5 in community theater productions in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. At Pennsbury High School, she was a part of choirs and school productions before attending University of Cincinnati's Conservatory of Music, where she performed in a number of productions. In 2004, she was a National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts winner in the musical theater category.[2] She graduated from CCM in 2008 with a BFA in Musical Theater.[3]

In December 2018, Altomare announced her engagement to longtime boyfriend Philip “Pete” Browning.[4] In October 2020, she announced their separation via Twitter.[5]

Altomare began writing songs at the age of twelve. She has three independent CDs: Not Yet Over You (2000), Waiting For You (2007), and an EP entitled After You (2008). When she was sixteen, she signed with her current manager, Edie Robb.[3] She looks to Jewel and Joni Mitchell as her biggest influences.[6]

In 2008, Altomare joined the first national touring cast of the hit Broadway musical Spring Awakening in the lead role of Wendla, beginning previews on August 15, 2008 in San Diego.[3] She traveled to 44 different cities and gave over 600 performances. She stayed with the tour until its final performance on May 23, 2010.[7] Altomare received generally positive reviews throughout the tour. Seth Kubersky of Orlando Weekly called her "appropriately innocent and adorable as the inevitable victim"[8] while Eric Rezsnyak of the Rochester City Paper praised her "piercing, haunting soprano voice," and how "even her most difficult melodic passes seem totally effortless."[9]

Following the Spring Awakening tour, Altomare appeared as Sue Snell in MCC Theater's limited engagement run of the Off-Broadway revival of Carrie at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. She can be heard on the official cast recording of the production, released by Ghostline and Sh-K-Boom Records.[10] Altoh On June 4, 2012, Altomare made her Broadway debut in Mamma Mia! at the Winter Garden Theatre, where she replaced Liana Hunt resuming the role of Sophie Sheridan.[11] She stayed with the Broadway company for a year, ending her contract on June 1, 2013, and was replaced by Laurie Veldheer.[12]

From October 30, 2014 until January 4, 2015, she starred as Guinevere in the Drury Lane Theatre's production of Camelot.

On March 9, 2016, it was announced that Altomare will be starring in the World Premiere of the musical adaptation of the 1997 animated film Anastasia in the title role (nicknamed Anya). The show ran from May 13 - June 19, 2016 at Hartford Stage in Connecticut.[13] Altomare received critical acclaim for her performance, winning the Connecticut Critics Circle Award. She reprised the role on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre.[14] Previews began March 23, 2017 and the show officially opened April 24, 2017 at the Broadhurst Theatre.[15] Her performance in the Broadway production earned her positive reviews and numerous Award wins and nominations including a 2017 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical. She continued with the production through to its final Broadway performance on March 31, 2019.[16]

During her run in Anastasia, Altomare's performance also earned her a huge fan base known as The Altoheads (the name coming from last name "Altomare"). In addition, she filmed a series of video blogs for Broadway.com entitled Royal Misfits: Backstage at Anastasia with Christy Altomare, giving an inside look at life backstage at the production. [17] It was well received by fans, Altomare later began doing Instagram Live videos during her 20 minutes off-stage in Act 2 of the show. Throughout the Lives, Altomare would hang out in her dressing room for fun, games, opening gifts from fans, trying out sweets from around the world, and more alongside the young actresses who would play "Little Anastasia" along with their child wrangler Amy Castro. Throughout the traditional daily lives, members of the Anastasia cast would drop by and make appearances.

She played the part of Nellie in a concert version of South Pacific at the Aspen Music Festival on July 22, 2019.

Throughout these last few years following the closing of Anastasia, Altomare has performed frequently in the Broadway Princess Party concert both in New York City and occasionally touring in selected cities across North America alongside fellow original Broadway Princesses Laura Osnes, Susan Egan, Courtney Reed, and more. [18]

On January 16, 2020, it was announced that Altomare will be starring in the new musical The Wanderer in the role of Susan alongside Wicked alums Michael Wartella as Dion DiMucci and Joey McIntyre as Johnny, running May 28-June 28 at Paper Mill Playhouse prior to a Broadway transfer. However, the production was pushed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[19]

Altomare is also currently finishing final touches on a brand new solo album expecting to be released in 2021 entitled Wandering Bird. It's expecting to feature all original songs.

• Not Yet Over You (2000)
• Waiting For You (2007)
• After You: LA Sessions - EP (2009)
• Wandering Bird (2021)

• Christy's Website
• Christy's Myspace
• Christy Altomare at the Internet Broadway Database
• Christy Altomare at Internet Off-Broadway Database