Laura Osnes

Infobox actor
name = Laura Osnes


imagesize =
caption = Laura Osnes, 2007.
Photography by [http://www.nathanjohnsonphotography.com Nathan Johnson]
birthname =
birthdate = birth date and age|1985|11|19
birthplace = Burnsville, Minnesota
othername =
website =
spouse = Nathan Johnson (May 11 2007-present)

Laura Ann Osnes (b. November 19, 1985) is an American stage actress, and the winner of the role of "Sandy" on the televised "" competition. She played Sandy in the 2007 Broadway run of "Grease", which opened August 19, 2007, [ [http://theater2.nytimes.com/2007/08/20/theater/reviews/20grea.html Grease - Theater - Review - New York Times ] ] starring alongside the other winner, Max Crumm, who played the role of Danny.

Biography

Osnes was born November 19, 1985 in Burnsville, Minnesota, and raised in Eagan, Minnesota, a suburb of St. Paul. She is the daughter of Russell Osnes and Jane Raduechel Osnes Clark. Laura's stepfather is Donald Clark. Her first acting performance was in the second grade, where she played a munchkin in "The Wizard of Oz". She attended Eagan High School, and then the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for one year where she majored in Musical Theatre and appeared in "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Seussical the Musical".

Laura also participated in productions at the Children's Theatre Company the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and the Guthrie Theatre before she graduated from Eagan High School

In 2005–2006 she returned to Minneapolis to be a performing apprentice at the Children's Theatre Company, performing in "Working", "Aladdin Jr.", "Prom", and "Pippi Longstocking". In 2006, she choreographed and starred in "Peter Pan" in Eagan community theatre. She also played the lead of Sandy in Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' production of "Grease", but her run was cut short when she was chosen to compete in the nationally televised Broadway talent competition "".

Osnes was engaged to Nathan Johnson, [March 18, 2007 showing of ""] whom she met when both were understudies on "Aladdin." Their first kiss was on stage.Fact|date=May 2007 They were originally planning to marry on March 24 and honeymoon in Aruba, but postponed the wedding so that she could participate in the competition. They rescheduled the wedding to May 11, 2007 [March 25, 2007 episode] and are now married and reside in New York City.

Laura Osnes flew home to Minnesota from New York to make an appearance at the Minnesota Ivey Awards on September 24, 2007. She sang Hopelessly Devoted To You, from Grease.

On June 15, 2008 Laura Osnes, Max Crumm, and the remaining Grease cast made an appearance at the Tony Awards singing, "Grease", and "We Go Together".

Grease: You're the One that I Want!

Laura Osnes was nicknamed "Small Town Sandy" in the show, even though Eagan is a large suburb of St. Paul, a major city and state capital. She was a favorite to win during the entire course of the show, never showing up in the "sing-off" bottom two during the show's run. She was named the winner on March 25, 2007, which meant she would perform the lead character of Sandy opposite Max Crumm, the show's male competitor who won the role of "Danny." In April 2008, Osnes announced via her Myspace blog that she does not plan to continue with "Grease" when it begins its national tour in late 2008. Osnes and Crumm played their final performances as Sandy and Danny on July 20, 2008 and they were succeeded by Ashley Spencer and Derek Keeling, two of the runners-up of "Grease You're the One that I Want". [ [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/119000.html Keeling and Spencer Will Be Danny and Sandy in Grease in July] ]

Post Grease

Osnes has been confirmed to star in the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' "Broadway: Three Generations", a three-act evening featuring condensed versions of Girl Crazy, Bye Bye Birdie, and Side Show. The show will be presented at the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater Oct. 2-5. [ [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/120538.html Grease Star Osnes Cast in Kennedy Center"s Birdie] ] She will then play Elizabeth (Lizzy) Bennet for the concert version of the new Broadway-aimed musical "Pride & Prejudice" that will be presented Oct. 21 at the Eastman Theatre in Rochester, New York. [ [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/121783.html Osnes, Blum, Stanek and More Join Cast of Oct. 21 Pride & Prejudice Concert] ]

Awards

* "Outstanding Youth Performer of the Year", 2003, Minneapolis "Star Tribune". For the role of Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz", with the Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis.
* "", 2007, winner of the role of Sandy

References

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2549143 IMDB Profile]
* [http://www.nbc.com/Grease/contestants/laura.shtml NBC profile]
* [http://www.chanhassentheatres.com Chanhassen Dinner Theatres]
* [http://www.startribune.com/1555/v-print/story/948361.html "Could the next Sandy be from Burnsville? NBC will find out"] , January 19, 2007, "Minneapolis Star-Tribune"
* [http://www.tvgrapevine.com/index.php?topic=9959.msg29221;topicseen Profile at tvgrapevine.com]
* [http://www.mspmag.com/features/features/cellphone/68624.asp?ht= Mpls.-St. Paul Magazine Article]
* [http://www.kare11.com/video/player.aspx?aid=45436&bw= Laura singing the National Anthem at the Minnesota Twins Game]