Kristen "Kristy" Cates (born March , in California) is an American
actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Elphaba in the
Chicago production of Wicked. She was previously in the casts of
Princess Ida and the off-Broadway production Boobs! The Musical. In ,
she portrayed Ms. Bassett in Finding Neverland on Broadway and
understudied the role of Madame du Maurier. She was last seen on
Broadway as the role of Grandma Josephine in Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory.Cates started her performing career at years old, singing
songs and presenting self-written musicals at home. In the second
grade, her talents were recognized by the director of her grammar
school musical who heard Cates "crowing" at the roosters who took up
residence next to the playground. She was immediately cast as the
singing rooster in the Christmas pageant. Cates attended Justin-Siena
High School in Napa, California.She performed in community theater
productions around her native Northern California, spending years
with the Pinole Young Actors group. At age , she was cast in her first
professional production and made the decision to pursue a career in
theater. She auditioned for, and was accepted to, the University of
Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where she spent four years,
graduating with a BFA in Musical Theater in . She was roommates and
friends with Shoshana Bean, a fellow Wicked alum. Upon graduation,
Cates was cast in two productions at the St. Louis MUNY before moving
to New York City.
actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Elphaba in the
Chicago production of Wicked. She was previously in the casts of
Princess Ida and the off-Broadway production Boobs! The Musical. In ,
she portrayed Ms. Bassett in Finding Neverland on Broadway and
understudied the role of Madame du Maurier. She was last seen on
Broadway as the role of Grandma Josephine in Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory.Cates started her performing career at years old, singing
songs and presenting self-written musicals at home. In the second
grade, her talents were recognized by the director of her grammar
school musical who heard Cates "crowing" at the roosters who took up
residence next to the playground. She was immediately cast as the
singing rooster in the Christmas pageant. Cates attended Justin-Siena
High School in Napa, California.She performed in community theater
productions around her native Northern California, spending years
with the Pinole Young Actors group. At age , she was cast in her first
professional production and made the decision to pursue a career in
theater. She auditioned for, and was accepted to, the University of
Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where she spent four years,
graduating with a BFA in Musical Theater in . She was roommates and
friends with Shoshana Bean, a fellow Wicked alum. Upon graduation,
Cates was cast in two productions at the St. Louis MUNY before moving
to New York City.
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