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Ann Harada
Ann Chiemi Harada (born February 3, 1964) is an American actress and singer. She is primarily known for work on the Broadway stage, having originated the roles of Christmas Eve in Avenue Q and Charlotte in the Broadway production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella.
Harada also had a starring role in the Apple TV+ musical comedy series Schmigadoon! (2021–2023), with her later reprising and originating the role of Florence Menlove for the show's stage adaptation in 2025.
Harada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. She attended the Punahou School and was active in theatre in high school. After college at Brown University, she moved to New York City and worked with producer Suzanne Schwartz. She performed with the New York City Gay Men's Chorus, did cabaret, and appeared in the Broadway production of M. Butterfly.
Harada earned her Equity card in 1987 when she was cast in Maury Yeston and Larry Gelbart's 1,2,3,4,5 at Manhattan Theatre Club. She is a member of the Vineyard Theatre's Community of Artists and appeared in four original musicals there, including Hit the Lights!.
In 1998, Harada starred in the National Asian American Theatre Company's production of Falsettoland. Peter Marks of The New York Times described her rendition of "Holding to the Ground" as a "full-throttle success." Also in 1998, Harada had a small part in the Todd Solondz film Happiness.
Harada was in the original Broadway company of Seussical in 2000. She had also been in its first workshop and all of the pre-Broadway iterations of the show.
Harada got involved in Avenue Q starting with the first performance of the show at the York Theatre in 2000. Lyricist Amanda Green had recommended Harada to Avenue Q writers Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx. Harada opened Avenue Q at the Vineyard Theatre in New York in March 2003 and moved with the show to Broadway that July. She took a break for parental leave in late 2004, returning in early 2005. Harada left the Broadway company of Avenue Q on 26 February 2006. In June 2006, she opened the London production of Avenue Q at the Noël Coward Theatre in the West End. She played her last performance on 18 November 2006. She is the only actor who played the role of Christmas Eve in both the Broadway and West End productions of Avenue Q.
About her performance in the Broadway production, Ben Brantley wrote in The New York Times: "[S]he deliver[s], in the show's wittiest coup de théâtre, a full-throated ballad in the manner of a 1950's musical diva...in a shivery, rafters-shaking alto." Hilton Als of The New Yorker called her "a funny girl who can sing, act, and let the audience in on the joke all at the same time."
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Ann Harada
Ann Chiemi Harada (born February 3, 1964) is an American actress and singer. She is primarily known for work on the Broadway stage, having originated the roles of Christmas Eve in Avenue Q and Charlotte in the Broadway production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella.
Harada also had a starring role in the Apple TV+ musical comedy series Schmigadoon! (2021–2023), with her later reprising and originating the role of Florence Menlove for the show's stage adaptation in 2025.
Harada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. She attended the Punahou School and was active in theatre in high school. After college at Brown University, she moved to New York City and worked with producer Suzanne Schwartz. She performed with the New York City Gay Men's Chorus, did cabaret, and appeared in the Broadway production of M. Butterfly.
Harada earned her Equity card in 1987 when she was cast in Maury Yeston and Larry Gelbart's 1,2,3,4,5 at Manhattan Theatre Club. She is a member of the Vineyard Theatre's Community of Artists and appeared in four original musicals there, including Hit the Lights!.
In 1998, Harada starred in the National Asian American Theatre Company's production of Falsettoland. Peter Marks of The New York Times described her rendition of "Holding to the Ground" as a "full-throttle success." Also in 1998, Harada had a small part in the Todd Solondz film Happiness.
Harada was in the original Broadway company of Seussical in 2000. She had also been in its first workshop and all of the pre-Broadway iterations of the show.
Harada got involved in Avenue Q starting with the first performance of the show at the York Theatre in 2000. Lyricist Amanda Green had recommended Harada to Avenue Q writers Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx. Harada opened Avenue Q at the Vineyard Theatre in New York in March 2003 and moved with the show to Broadway that July. She took a break for parental leave in late 2004, returning in early 2005. Harada left the Broadway company of Avenue Q on 26 February 2006. In June 2006, she opened the London production of Avenue Q at the Noël Coward Theatre in the West End. She played her last performance on 18 November 2006. She is the only actor who played the role of Christmas Eve in both the Broadway and West End productions of Avenue Q.
About her performance in the Broadway production, Ben Brantley wrote in The New York Times: "[S]he deliver[s], in the show's wittiest coup de théâtre, a full-throated ballad in the manner of a 1950's musical diva...in a shivery, rafters-shaking alto." Hilton Als of The New Yorker called her "a funny girl who can sing, act, and let the audience in on the joke all at the same time."