Caissie Shira Levy (born April 15, 1981) is a Canadian actress and singer, mainly known for her work in musical theatre on Broadway and in the West End. She has received a Tony Award as well as nominations for a Grammy Award and an Olivier Award.
Her early Broadway credits included Penny Pingleton in Hairspray and Sheila in Hair, a role she also played in the West End. She originated the role of Molly Jensen in the West End and Broadway productions of Ghost: the Musical, and played Fantine in the 2014 Broadway revival of Les Misérables. Levy also originated the role of Elsa in the Disney musical Frozen on Broadway.
For her performance on the cast recording of Caroline, or Change, she was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2023. Levy played the role of Diana Goodman in the London production of Next to Normal and received a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She starred as Mother in the 2025 Broadway revival of Ragtime, earning a Tony for Best Actress in a Musical.
Early life and education Levy was born in Ontario to Mark Levy, a general practitioner, and Lisa Levy, an administrator at her husband's medical practice. Both her parents are Jewish. Her two elder brothers, Robi and Josh (known as "The Levy Brothers"), are film directors, writers, and producers. Levy attended Camp Ramah in Canada. She graduated from Westdale Secondary School in 1999, then attended New York's American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).
Career 2002–2019: Early theatrical roles and Frozen A week after graduating from AMDA in 2002, Levy was cast in the role of Maureen Johnson in the U.S. national tour of Rent. She then played Penny Pingleton in both the Broadway (2006) and national touring companies of Hairspray, after understudying the role in the Toronto company. She also covered the role of Amber Von Tussle.
In 2008 Levy starred as Elphaba in the Los Angeles sit-down production of Wicked, alongside Megan Hilty as Glinda. She had previously understudied the role on Broadway and briefly served as standby in Los Angeles. She next starred as Sheila in the Broadway revival of Hair in 2009 and 2010 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, after which she transferred to its West End revival at the Gielgud Theatre.
In 2011, Levy originated the role of Molly Jensen in Ghost: the Musical, first at Manchester Opera House and then in London's West End at the Piccadilly Theatre. In 2012 she transferred to the Broadway production at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. She is featured on the cast recordings for Hair and Ghost. She also sings "Please Don't Let Me Go" on the re-release of composer Scott Alan's album Keys, as well as "Dear Daddy" on composer Bobby Cronin's album Reach the Sky: Bobby Cronin Live at the Beechman and "I Am Yours" on composer Jonathan Reid Gealt's album Thirteen Stories Down.
In 2013, Levy released the EP With You, performed two concerts at the London Hippodrome Casino, and starred as Sara in the Trip Cullman musical Murder Ballad at the off-Broadway Union Square Theatre. She played Fantine in the Broadway revival of Les Miserables at the Imperial Theatre in 2014 and 2015.
Levy originated the role of Elsa in the stage adaptation of Frozen, which opened in Denver in 2017 and moved to Broadway in February 2018. She left the production after two years on February 16, 2020. Levy went on to star in the Broadway transfer of Caroline, Or Change as Rose Stopnick Gellman from October 2021 to January 2022. In the summer of 2022, she starred in Sarah Silverman's Off-Broadway musical The Bedwetter as Beth Ann.
2020–present: Leopoldstadt, Next to Normal and Ragtime She next appeared as Eva Merz Jakobovicz in the Broadway production of Leopoldstat. Levy starred as Diana Goodman in Next to Normal at London's Donmar Warehouse, which ran from August through October 2023. For her performance, Levy received a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She reprised the role when the production transferred to Wyndham's Theatre in the West End for the summer of 2024. In November 2024, Levy portrayed the Mother in Ragtime at New York City Center. She starred opposite Colin Donnell, Brandon Uranowitz, and Joshua Henry.Critics Sound Off on City Center Ragtime; Get a 1st Look at the Gala Staging The production transferred to the Vivian Beaumont Theatre in September 2025 for a limited engagement, which is scheduled to last until August 16, 2026.Culwell-Block, Logan An Era Exploding; Ragtime Begins Broadway Return September 26 Playbill, September 26, 2025Culwell-Block, Logan. Ragtime Revival Extends to June 2026 Playbill, November 6, 2025Culwell-Block, Logan Tony-Winning Ragtime Revival Gets Final Extension Playbill, June 9, 2026 For her performance, Levy received the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She had been announced to star as Lucy Emerson in the musical adaptation of The Lost Boys, which began performances at Broadway's Palace Theatre in March 2026,Hall, Margaret Caissie Levy, LJ Benet, Ali Louis Bourzgui, Paul Alexander Nolan, More Will Star in The Lost Boys on Broadway Playbill, October 8, 2025 but she announced in November 2025 that she would no longer be continuing with the show.Major, Michael Caissie Levy Departs THE LOST BOYS Musical Broadway Premiere Broadway World, November 6, 2025
Personal life On October 30, 2011, after five years of dating, Levy and actor David Reiser married in an evening ceremony at the Soho Beach House in Miami. Levy gave birth to a son, Izaiah, in February 2016, and a daughter, Talulah Ruby, in March 2021.
Levy officially became a US citizen on January 21, 2021.
Acting credits Film Year ShowRole Notes2016Ms. Bula BanerjeeLydia ChaneyShort2018OptionsAvery RossShort2025Next to NormalDiana GoodmanPro-shot of West End production
Television Year ShowRole Notes2025Sub/liminal
Theatre Year Production Role Venue Notes 2002–03 Rent Maureen Regional National Tour 2004Hairspray SwingToronto / Regional Tour Penny (understudy) Tour 2005–06 Penny Regional National Tour 2006 Neil Simon Theatre Broadway 2006–07Wicked Ensemble Gershwin Theatre Broadway Elphaba (understudy) 2007–08 Elphaba (standby)Pantages Theatre Los Angeles 2008 Elphaba 2009–10Hair Sheila Al Hirschfeld Theatre Broadway 2010 Gielgud Theatre West End 2011Ghost The Musical Molly Manchester Opera House London 2011–12 Piccadilly Theatre West End 2012 Lunt-Fontanne Theatre Broadway 2013 Murder Ballad Sara Union Square Theatre Off-Broadway 2014–15 Les Misérables Fantine Imperial Theatre Broadway 2015 First Daughter Suite Patti Davis/Julie Nixon The Public Theater Off-Broadway2017 Frozen Elsa Buell Theatre Denver Hair Sheila Lincoln Center Off-Broadway 2018–20 Frozen Elsa St. James Theatre Broadway 2021–22 Caroline, or Change Rose Stopnick Gellman Studio 54 Broadway 2022 The Bedwetter Beth Ann Linda Gross Theatre Off-Broadway 2022–23 Leopoldstadt Eva Merz Jakobovicz Longacre Theatre Broadway 2023Next to NormalDiana Goodman Donmar Warehouse Off-West End2024 Wyndham's Theatre West EndRagtimeMother New York City Center Off-Broadway 2025–26 Vivian Beaumont Theatre Broadway
Discography Studio albums With You – self-released (2013)
Singles "Monster (from "Frozen: The Broadway Musical" / First Listen)" (2018) "Dangerous to Dream (from "Frozen: The Broadway Musical" / First Listen)" (2018) "Aquarius" (2019)
Cast recording appearances Hair (The New Broadway Cast Recording) – Ghostlight Records (2009) Ghost The Musical (Original Cast Recording) – Ghost Rights Worldwide LLP (2011) With You: Ghost The Musical Stand Up to Cancer EP – Ghost Rights Worldwide LLP (2011) First Daughter Suite (Original Cast Recording) – Ghostlight Records (2016) Frozen: The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) – Walt Disney Records (2018) The Other Josh Cohen: A Musical with Songs (Studio Cast Recording) – Yellow Sound Label (2018) Caroline, or Change (The New Broadway Cast Recording) – Broadway Records, Roundabout (2021) Next to Normal (Original London Cast Recording) – Ghostlight Records (2025) Ragtime (2025 Broadway Cast Recording) – Concord Theatricals Recordings (2026)
Awards and nominations Year Association Category Nominated work Result Ref.2014Broadway.com AwardsBest Featured Actress in a MusicalLes Misérables2023Grammy AwardsBest Musical Theater AlbumCaroline, or Change2024Olivier AwardsBest Actress in a MusicalNext to Normal 2026Drama League AwardDrama League Award for Distinguished Achievement in Musical TheatreRubino, Sophia 2026 Drama League Awards Nominations Announced Broadway.com, April 20, 2026Distinguished PerformanceRagtimeDrama Desk AwardsOutstanding Lead Performance in a MusicalBroadway.com Audience Choice AwardsFavorite Leading Actress in a MusicalFavorite Diva PerformancePerformance of the Year (Musical)Tony AwardsBest Actress in a MusicalDorian AwardsDorian Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Broadway Musical
References
External links
Official site