Jump to content

User:Apathyash/Gianna Yanelli

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gianna Yanelli
Born (1991-12-27) December 27, 1991 (age 32)
Alma materTexas State University
(BFA)
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active2010–present
Notable workMean Girls

Gianna Yanelli (born December 27, 1991) is an American musical theater actress and singer. She is best known for originating the role of Sonja Acquino in the Broadway production of Mean Girls.

Early life and education

[edit]

Yanelli grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] She attended Waldron Mercy Academy for middle school[2] and Merion Mercy Academy for high school, where she was an active member in their brother school, St. Joseph's Preparatory's Cape and Sword Drama Society.[3][4] Yanelli has credited the Society's director, Tony Braithwaite, with inspiring her to pursue a career in theater.[5] She graduated from Merion in 2010.[6]

Yanelli graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas State University (San Marcos) in 2014, with a BFA in Musical Theatre.[7][8]

Career

[edit]

Yanelli's first major role was as Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof in the Walnut Street Theater's 2010 season,[9] for which she was nominated for a Barrymore Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Musical.[10]

She was an ensemble member in Connecticut Repertory Theatre's 2014 production of Gyspy,[11] as well as their 2013 production of The Drowsy Chaperone[12] and their 2014 production of A Chorus Line.[13]

In 2015, Yanelli starred as Junie B. Jones in Junie B. Jones the Musical at Theater Aspen in Colorado from June 29 to August 15.[14][15] Andrew Travers of The Aspen Times called Yanelli's performance: "a pitch-perfect turn as the rambunctious Junie" in the first production of the musical outside of New York stages.[16]

She was next seen as Annette in Westchester Broadway Theater's 2016 production of Saturday Night Fever,[17] where the DC Metro Theatre Arts wrote: "[Yanelli] has a standout moment with a stirring performance of “If I Can’t Have You.”[18]

In the April 5, 2017 episode of Law & Order: SVU, "Know It All", Yanelli is briefly seen as a young woman at a crime scene.[19]

Currently, Yanelli can be found at the August Wilson Theatre nightly as ensemble member Sonja Acquino in Broadway's Mean Girls, where she also understudies for the role of Janis Sarkisian.[20] The show's ensemble, including Yanelli, won the "Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show" award at the 2018 Chita Riviera Awards.[21]

Stage performances

[edit]
Year(s) Production Role Location Category
2010 Fiddler on the Roof Hodel Walnut Street Theater Regional
2013 The Drowsy Chaperone Ensemble Connecticut Repertory Theatre Regional
2014 Gypsy Ensemble
2014 A Chorus Line Ensemble
2015 Junie B. Jones The Musical Junie B. Jones Theater Aspen Regional
2016 Saturday Night Fever Annette Westchester Broadway Theater Regional
2017 Mean Girls Sonja Acquino National Theatre Out-of-town tryout
2018-19 August Wilson Theatre Broadway

Filmography

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2017 Law & Order: SVU Young Woman Episode: "Know It All"

Nominations and awards

[edit]
Year Award Category Nominated Work Result
2010 The Barrymore Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical Fiddler on the Roof Nominated

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Meet The City Girl at Heart, Gianna Yanelli as Annette in Saturday Night Fever". www.broadwaytheatre.com. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
  2. ^ "Blue & Gold Spring 2019". Issuu. Retrieved 2019-05-20.
  3. ^ "Cape and Sword Drama Society (SJP)". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2019-05-20.
  4. ^ "St. Joseph's Prep". St. Joseph's Prep. Retrieved 2019-05-20.
  5. ^ "Meet The City Girl at Heart, Gianna Yanelli as Annette in Saturday Night Fever". www.broadwaytheatre.com. Retrieved 2019-05-20.
  6. ^ "Celebrating 125 Years of Educating Women Who Lead". studylib.net. Retrieved 2019-05-20.
  7. ^ Arnegger, Sarah Jane (April 8, 2018). "Schools of the Stars: Where Mean Girls Cast and Creators Went to College". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  8. ^ Garcia, Sonia. "Alumna joins Mean Girls on Broadway". The University Star. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
  9. ^ "Fiddler on the Roof Production Facts -- Walnut Street Theatre -- Philadelphia, PA -- Official Website". www.walnutstreettheatre.org. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
  10. ^ "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical | Theatre Philadelphia". www.theatrephiladelphia.org. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
  11. ^ Roundups, Review. "Review Roundup: Connecticut Repertory Theatre's GYPSY Starring Leslie Uggams". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  12. ^ Desk, BWW News. "Pat Sajak to Star in CRT's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, 6/6-15". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  13. ^ Theatre, Connecticut Repertory. "READER SUBMITTED: "A Chorus Line" Kicks Off Summer Nutmeg Series At Connecticut Repertory Theatre". Courant Community. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  14. ^ Travers, Andrew. "Junie B. Jones goes from page to stage at Theatre Aspen". Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  15. ^ Editors, American Theatre (2015-04-08). "Theatre Aspen Extends Summer Season, Adds New-Play Fest and Youth Offering". AMERICAN THEATRE. Retrieved 2019-05-19. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  16. ^ Travers, Andrew. "Review: 'Junie B. Jones the Musical' at Theatre Aspen". Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  17. ^ "Saturday Night Fever". www.broadwaytheatre.com. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  18. ^ Speiser, Lori (2016-09-23). "Review: 'Saturday Night Fever' at Westchester Broadway Theatre". DC Metro Theater Arts. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  19. ^ Know It All, retrieved 2019-05-20
  20. ^ "Gianna Yanelli Theatre Credits, News, Bio and Photos". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  21. ^ Clement, Olivia (May 20, 2018). "Ariana DeBose, Tony Yazbeck, and More Recipients of 2018 Chita Rivera Awards". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-06-04.


Category:1991 births Category:21st-century American actresses Category:21st-century American singers Category:21st-century American women singers Category:Actresses from Philadelphia Category:American musical theatre actresses Category:Texas State University alumni Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Philadelphia Category:Singers from Pennsylvania