Ashley Brown (born February 3, 1982) is an American singer and actress who is best known for playing the titular character in the United States national tour and Broadway productions of Mary Poppins.
Early life Brown was born February 3, 1982, in Gulf Breeze, Pensacola, Florida, the youngest of four children. She started singing when she was 6 years old and then started professional singing lessons when she was 14. She studied at Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Career Brown initially caught the attention of casting director Tara Rubin not long after graduating from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. After a successful audition, she was cast in the Disney touring production On the Record. This in turn led to her Broadway debut on September 20, 2005, replacing Brooke Tansley as the lead character, Belle, in the Disney Theatrical production of Beauty and the Beast.Broadway Welcomes a New Beauty Sept. 20 Playbill, September 20, 2005 She departed the role on May 28, 2006, after eight months and she was succeeded by Sarah Litzsinger.Sarah Litzsinger to Return to Broadway's Beauty May 30 Playbill, May 30, 2006
On November 16, 2006, Mary Poppins opened on Broadway with Brown starring as the title character.A Jolly Holiday: Mary Poppins Opens at the New Amsterdam Nov. 16 Playbill, November 16, 2006 Brown left the Broadway company on October 5, 2008, after playing the role for two years and was replaced by Scarlett Strallen who previously played the role in the West End.Strallen and Fiorentino to Join Cast of Broadway's Mary Poppins Playbill, September 16, 2008
In March 2007, Brown appeared on All My Children as herself.
On March 11, 2009, Brown reprised the role of Mary Poppins in the US national tour. She left the tour on February 7, 2010, and was succeeded by Caroline Sheen.
On October 20, 2009, Brown performed the role of Snow White in the world symphonic premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – A Symphonic Retelling, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, conducted by John Mauceri.
She has recorded her first solo album of American songbook standards, which was released in January 2010.
Brown played Maria in The Muny production of The Sound of Music, which ran from July 26 to August 1, 2010.2010 Muny Season to Feature Gary Beach, Stephanie J. Block, et al. For this role she won the Kevin Kline Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical.Actress Ely wins twice at Kevin Kline Awards
Brown starred as Oona in the world-premiere of the new musical Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin, which ran at the La Jolla Playhouse from September 7 through October 17, 2010.Robert McClure Is Chaplin in Limelight Musical; Ashley Brown, Jenn Colella Among Cast
Brown played the role of Mary Poppins again in the Broadway production from March 8 to July 17, 2011, while Laura Michelle Kelly was away filming a movie."Ashley Brown, Broadway's Original Mary Poppins, to Return to New York Cast in March" , Playbill
Brown played Magnolia Hawks alongside Nathan Gunn as Gaylord Ravenal, Alyson Cambridge as Julie LaVerne, and Morris Robinson as Joe, in Francesca Zambello's production of Show Boat for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, which ran from February 12 to March 17, 2012.Francesca Zambello's Chicago Show Boat Stars Ashley Brown, Nathan Gunn, Alyson Cambridge, Morris Robinson, Playbill. It was broadcast on NPR stations in June 2012, the first time a complete performance of Show Boat has ever been broadcast on radio.
In 2013, Brown made her sold-out solo Carnegie Hall debut with the New York Pops as well as having a minor role in the television broadcast The Sound of Music Live!, in which she played Ursula, one of the servants in the Von Trapp household.
In 2015, she sang "A Kiss Goodnight" by Richard M. Sherman, the exit song from Disneyland Forever, a production that commemorated Disneyland's 60th anniversary.Special Ceremony Commemorates Official 60th Anniversary of the Disneyland Resort, Disney Parks Blog, Retrieved July 22, 2015
Brown played the Mother Abbess in the national tour of The Sound of Music, which launched September 2015. She then played Mrs. Juniper and Madame Calypso in the 2017 Encores! production of The Golden Apple, and returned to Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops in December 2018.Ahsley Brown returns to Carnegie Hall She returned to Broadway in the 2024 revival of Elf the Musical playing the role of Emily Hobbs.Ashley Brown, Kalen Allen, Kayla Davion, More Join Upcoming Broadway Elf Revival, Playbill, Retrieved October 8, 2024
Personal life Brown became engaged to actor Daniel Wisler on April 18, 2010; they married November 5, 2011. Brown gave birth to a baby girl on May 9, 2016.
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Show Result 2006 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical Mary Poppins 2006 Austin Critics Table Award Distinguished Performance 2006 Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical 2009 PBS Telly Award Film Video – TV Programs, Segments, or Promotional Pieces - Entertainment Ashley Brown: Call Me Irresponsible 2010 Kevin Kline Award Best Actress in a Musical The Sound of Music
Theatre credits Year Title Role Venue Other notes 2004 Meet Me in St. Louis Rose The Muny 2005–2006 Beauty and the Beast Belle Lunt-Fontanne Theatre 2006–2008 Mary Poppins Mary Poppins New Amsterdam Theatre Original Broadway cast memberNominated Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a MusicalNominated Drama League Award for Distinguished PerformanceNominated Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical 2010 The Sound of Music Maria The Muny Winner Kevin Kline Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical 2010 Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin Oona La Jolla Playhouse Out-of-town tryout for Chaplin: The Musical 2011 Mary Poppins Mary Poppins New Amsterdam Theatre Return to role 2012 Show Boat Magnolia Hawks Lyric Opera of Chicago 2013 Oklahoma! Laurey Williams Lyric Opera of Chicago 2013 Hello Dolly! Irene Molloy Goodspeed Opera House 2015 My Fair Lady Eliza Doolittle Cape Playhouse"At Cape Playhouse, Lady is a knockout" by Sandy MacDonald, The Boston Globe, July 31, 2015 2017 The Golden Apple Mrs. Juniper/Madame Calypso Encores! Playbill, April 17, 2017 2019 Cinderella Marie/Fairy Godmother The MunyMikaela Bennett, Jason Gotay, Ashley Brown, Alison Fraser Star in Muny's Cinderella Playbill, July 8, 2019 2024–2025 Elf the Musical Emily Hobbs Marquis Theatre 2025 Come from Away Diane and Others The MunyWatch Highlights From Muny Come From Away, With Heidi Blickenstaff, Andréa Burns, Tamika Lawrence, Jason Tam Playbill, July 1, 2025
Tours Year Tour title Role 2004–2005 On the Record Kristen 2009–2010 Mary Poppins Mary Poppins 2015–2016 The Sound of Music Mother Abbess
Discography Year Title Other notes2004 Disney's On the Record 2009 Speak Low 2018 The Secret of Christmas
References
External links