Emily Padgett (born September 20, 1984) is an American actress, singer, and dancer. She is known for her work on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

as Daisy Hilton in ''

Side Show In North America, a sideshow is an extra, secondary production associated with a circus, traveling carnival, carnival, fair, or other such attraction. Types There are four main types of classic sideshow attractions: *The Ten-in-One offers ...

'' and Sherrie Christian in ''

Rock of Ages Rock of Ages may refer to: Films * ''Rock of Ages'' (1918 film), a British silent film by Bertram Phillips * ''Rock of Ages'' (2012 film), a film adaptation of the jukebox musical (see below) Music * ''Rock of Ages'' (musical), a 2006 rock ...

'', as well as for originating the roles of Lucy Grant in

Steve Martin Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician. He has won five Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 2013. Additionally, he was nominated ...

and

Edie Brickell Edie Arlisa Brickell (born March 10, 1966) is an American singer-songwriter widely known for 1988's ''Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars'', the debut album by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, which went to No. 4 on the ''Billboard'' albums chart. ...

's '' Bright Star'', and Mrs. Bucket in

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'' is a 1964 children's novel by British author Roald Dahl. The story features the adventures of young Charlie Bucket inside the chocolate factory of eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka. The story was originally ...

Life and career

1984–2008: Early life, ''Cats'', and Broadway Debut

Padgett was born in

Danbury, Connecticut Danbury is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located approximately northeast of New York City. Danbury's population as of 2022 was 87,642. It is the seventh largest city in Connecticut. Danbury is nicknamed the "Hat City ...

, but moved to

Lewisville, North Carolina Lewisville is a town in Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States of America. The population was 13,388 at the 2020 census, up from 12,639 in 2010. It is a Piedmont Triad community. Geography Lewisville is located in western Forsyth Count ...

in 1986 when she was two. Her love for musical theatre started at an early age when her parents would go to

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

on vacation, bringing home

cast recordings Cast may refer to: Music * Cast (band), an English alternative rock band * Cast (Mexican band), a progressive Mexican rock band * The Cast, a Scottish musical duo: Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis * ''Cast'', a 2012 album by Trespassers William * ...

for Padgett as souvineres. She took part in her high school theatre program, being cast as Maria in ''

West Side Story ''West Side Story'' is a musical conceived by Jerome Robbins with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Inspired by William Shakespeare's play ''Romeo and Juliet'', the story is set in the mid-1 ...

'' at sixteen, a role she "had no business playing." Eager to work and get out of North Carolina, Padgett enrolled in the two year program at the

American Musical and Dramatic Academy The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) is a private conservatory for the performing arts located in New York City and Los Angeles, California. The conservatory offers both Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees and two-year certificates in prof ...

in New York City, as opposed to a traditional four year program. Following graduation, Padgett quickly booked the role of Demeter in the non-Equity national tour cast of

Andrew Lloyd Webber Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 22 March 1948), is an English composer and impresario of musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 21 musicals, ...

's ''

Cats The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of t ...

'' in 2005. She departed the tour after a year, and started attending open calls in the city while balancing odd jobs. Padgett danced at bar mitzvahs and entertained at children's birthday parties as Nemo from

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...

's ''

Finding Nemo ''Finding Nemo'' is a 2003 American computer-animated comedy-drama adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Andrew Stanton with co-direction by Lee Unkrich, the screenplay was writ ...

''. In 2007, she made her Broadway debut in '' Grease'' in the ensemble, and as a swing, understudying Sandy, Patty, and Cha-Cha. In 2008, Padgett departed the production and joined the cast of ''

Legally Blonde ''Legally Blonde'' is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Robert Luketic in his List of directorial debuts, feature-length directorial debut, and scripted by Karen McCullah, Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith (writer), Kirsten Smith from ...

'', as Cece/District Attorney, and understudying Shandi/Brooke, Margot, and Pilar. After ''Legally Blonde'' closed, Padgett was offered the role of Sandy in the first national tour company of ''Grease''. She played the role for a year.

2009–2013: ''Rock of Ages'' and ''Flashdance''

In 2009, Padgett was cast as Waitress #1, and understudied

Kerry Butler Kerry Butler is an American actress and singer known primarily for her work in theatre. She is best known for originating the roles of Barbara Maitland in ''Beetlejuice'', Penny Pingleton in ''Hairspray'', and Clio/Kira in '' Xanadu'', the latt ...

's role in the rock musical ''

'' on Broadway. In 2010, Kerry Butler departed the production, and Padgett was cast as her replacement, making Sherrie Christian the first lead role Padgett played on Broadway. Padgett departed in 2011. In 2011, Padgett starred as Eden in the

Whoopi Goldberg Caryn Elaine Johnson (born November 13, 1955), known professionally as Whoopi Goldberg (), is an American actor, comedian, author, and television personality.Kuchwara, Michael (AP Drama Writer)"Whoopi Goldberg: A One-Woman Character Parade". ' ...

-produced '' White Noise: A Cautionary Musical'' at the Royal George Theatre in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

. After the show closed, Padgett shortly returned to ''Rock of Ages'' as Sherrie. In 2013, Padgett was cast as Alex Owens in the musical version of the 1983 film ''

Flashdance ''Flashdance'' is a 1983 American romantic drama dance film directed by Adrian Lyne and starring Jennifer Beals as a passionate young dancer who aspires to become a professional ballerina (Alex), alongside Michael Nouri playing her boyfriend an ...

''.

2014–16: ''Side Show'' and ''Bright Star''

In 2014, Padgett starred as Daisy Hilton in ''

'' at

Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (formally known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center) is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the Potom ...

and

La Jolla Playhouse La Jolla Playhouse is a not-for-profit, professional theatre on the campus of the University of California, San Diego. History La Jolla Playhouse was founded in 1947 by Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, and Mel Ferrer. In 1983, it was revived under ...

. On September 12, 2014, it was announced that Padgett would star in the Broadway revival opposite

Erin Davie Erin Davie is an American actress and singer, best known for her performance as the young Edith Bouvier Beale in the Broadway production of the musical ''Grey Gardens'', taking the part on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre in 2006, after its in ...

. The revival closed on January 4, 2015. On April 17, 2015, it was announced that Padgett would star in ''Waterfall'', a new musical, at the

Pasadena Playhouse The Pasadena Playhouse is a historic performing arts venue located 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California, United States. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engage ...

. On October 26, 2015, it was announced that Padgett would star as Lucy Grant in

and

's new musical, '' Bright Star''. The show began previews at the

Cort Theatre The James Earl Jones Theatre, originally the Cort Theatre, is a Broadway theater at 138 West 48th Street, between Seventh Avenue and Sixth Avenue, in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States. It was built in ...

on February 25, 2016 before officially opening on March 24.Gans, Andrew
"Steve Martin's 'Bright Star' Begins Broadway Previews Today"
Playbill, February 25, 2016 The musical closed on June 26, 2016 after 30 previews and 109 regular performances.

2016–present: ''Sweet Charity'' and ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory''

On August 9, 2016, it was announced that Padgett would join

Sutton Foster Sutton Lenore Foster (born March 18, 1975) is an American actress, singer and dancer. She is known for her work on the Broadway stage, for which she has won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical twice, in 2002 for her role as Millie Dill ...

in a limited run, off-Broadway revival of ''

Sweet Charity ''Sweet Charity'' is a musical with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and book by Neil Simon. It was directed and choreographed for Broadway by Bob Fosse starring his wife and muse Gwen Verdon alongside John McMartin. It is based on ...

''. The show closed on January 8, 2017. On December 19, 2016, it was announced that Padgett would star as Mrs. Bucket in ''

''.

Theatre credits

Sources:

Filmography

Television

Sources:

Discography

* 2007: ''Grease'' (2007 New Broadway Cast Recording) * 2013: ''Flashdance'' (Original Demo Cast Recording) * 2014: ''Side Show'' (2014 New Broadway Cast Recording) * 2013: ''Side Show: Added Attractions'' (2014 New Broadway Cast Live at 54 Below) * 2013: ''Bright Star'' (Original Broadway Cast Recording) * 2013: ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'' (Original Broadway Cast Recording) Sources:

Awards and nominations

Personal life

On January 12, 2017, Padgett got engaged to actor

Josh Young Josh Young is an American actor best known for appearing on Broadway in the revival of '' Jesus Christ Superstar'' as Judas and ''Amazing Grace'', originating the role of John Newton. Early life and education Young was raised in Wallingford, Pen ...

.Gioia, Michael
"Josh Young and Emily Padgett Get Engaged"
Playbill, January 11, 2017 They were married on June 3, 2018. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Adele May Young, on February 3, 2019.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Padgett, Emily 1984 births 21st-century American actresses Actresses from Connecticut American film actresses American musical theatre actresses American sopranos American stage actresses Living people Oklahoma State University alumni People from Danbury, Connecticut People from Lewisville, North Carolina