Elizabeth Stanley (actress)

Stanley was born in Cedar Rapids and grew up in Denison, Iowa^[1] and Camp Point, Illinois.^[2][3] As a youth, she trained at Interlochen Center for the Arts.^[4] She graduated from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, Bloomington in 2001 as a voice major.^[2]

Stanley made her Broadway debut as April in the 2006 revival of Stephen Sondheim's Company.^[5] In 2008, she originated the role of Allison in Cry-Baby, a musical adaption of the film of the same name.^[6] The following year, she starred as Clio in the first national tour of Xanadu.^[7][8] In 2010, she originated the role of Dyanne in the Broadway production of Million Dollar Quartet.^[9]

In 2014, she played Claire de Loone in the Broadway revival of On the Town.^[10] For this role, she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical.^[11] In 2015, she starred as Francesca in the national tour of The Bridges of Madison County.^[1][12]

Stanley originated the role of Mary Jane Healy in the American Repertory Theater production of Jagged Little Pill, a musical based on Alanis Morissette's album of the same name.^[13] For this role, she was nominated for an Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Award^[14] and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Award.^[15] In 2019, she reprised the role for the Broadway production.^[16][17] This role earned her nominations for the 2020 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical^[18] and the 2020 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.^[19] In 2022, Stanley, Nikki Renee Daniels, Jeff Kready, and Tamar Greene performed renditions of songs from the satirical animated series South Park with a 30-piece orchestra, celebrating the show’s 25th anniversary.^[20] Arranged by Broadway orchestrator Stephen Oremus, the orchestral versions included tracks such as "Gay Fish" and the show's theme song.^[21][22]

She is engaged to Charlie Murphy.^[23] She announced that she was pregnant with their first child on April 10, 2021.^[24] Her daughter, Solveig Stanley Murphy was born August 19, 2021.