Christine Danelson

Christine Danelson
Born (1987-05-22) May 22, 1987 (age 37)
Union County, New Jersey
Alma materKean University (BM)
OccupationActress
Years active2006–present

Christine Danelson (born May 22, 1987) is an American actress best known as the understudy for the role of Tracy in the national tour of the Broadway musical Hairspray.[1] Danelson performed as Tracy nearly 60 times during the tour, and was critically well-regarded, with one Reno reviewer commenting, "As Tracy, Danelson is the show's centerpiece and she's terrific."[2]

Born in Union County and raised in Clark,[3] Danelson attended Mother Seton Regional High School.[4] She trained at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey, and at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey.[5][6]

Danelson has appeared in two Law & Order episodes and in two feature films, My Sassy Girl and Burn Card.[1] In 2010, she graduated cum laude from Kean University in Union, New Jersey where she was named the 2008 Kean Idol.[7]

In June 2010, Christine Danelson was a part of the Off-Broadway production of Cloaked, a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Later that year, she starred as the lead in Hairspray at the Paper Mill Playhouse. Christine was very well received at the Paper Mill and received many outstanding reviews. Peter Filichia of The Star-Ledger suggested that show was better than Broadway stating:

One reason Hairspray is more believable in Millburn is Christine Danelson. While she dons the requisite fat suit to display Tracy’s girth, Danelson is one of the most attractive young women to have played the role. And she seems to go from one frenetic dance number to the next without shedding even a single bead of perspiration."[8]

The New York Times also offered its opinion of Danelson's performance at the Paper Mill:

"A young veteran of the show’s national tour, Christine Danelson is a joyful sweetheart as Tracy, with a mischievous Bette Midleresque face and a strong, yet fittingly cooing voice. Effortlessly gyrating through the dances — even when she snapped a shoe strap during the finale on opening night — Ms. Danelson blesses Tracy with a touch of vulnerability that makes viewers root for her ingenuous character’s triumph over Baltimore’s racism and skinnier girls."[9]

Danelson has been a resident of Somerville, New Jersey.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b Christine Danelson at IMDb
  2. ^ Neal, Jack (May 18, 2006). "Theatre Reviews: In Reno, "Hairspray" the musical, is a bouffant "do" with nearly every hair in place". Nevada Events and Reviews. Archived from the original on November 18, 2008. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  3. ^ "Meet the Semifinalists: Christine Danelson", TAPinto.net, November 15, 2016. Accessed May 3, 2020. "Name: Christine Danelson; Hometown: Clark, NJ"
  4. ^ "Off to see the wizard at Mother Seton", Community Bulletin, November 16, 2016, updated January 16, 2019. Accessed May 3, 2020. "Christine Danelson, an alumna of Mother Seton, is the director as well as the musical director."
  5. ^ La Gorce, Tammy (July 13, 2008). "Putting Out the Word That Newark's Got Talent". The New York Times. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  6. ^ "Paper Mill Presents Over 100 Rising New Jersey Stars". BroadwayWorld.com. July 15, 2008. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  7. ^ "Faculty, Administration and Staff Notes". Keanews. May 29, 2008. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  8. ^ Filichia, Peter (September 28, 2010). "'Hairspray' review: Triumphant opening for the Paper Mill's season". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  9. ^ Sommers, Michael (October 1, 2010). "For a Plus-Size Show, a Slimmer Backdrop". The New York Times. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  10. ^ Fowler, Linda. "N.J. native Marc Shaiman drops in on Paper Mill's production of his Broadway hit Hairspray", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 23, 2010, updated April 1, 2019. Accessed May 3, 2020. "He’s returned several times since and, with Wittman, has coached kids in the theater’s summer conservatory — one of whom was Christine Danelson of Somerville, who on this evening is playing Hairspray’s heroine, Tracy Turnblad."