Shoshana Bean

Shoshana Bean
Shoshana Bean performing in Los Angeles, CA (June 2011)
Born	Shoshana Elise Bean (1977-09-01) September 1, 1977 (age 39) Olympia, Washington, U.S.
Education	University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (B.F.A., 1999)
Occupation	Stage actress, singer, songwriter
Height	5'3
Website	www.shoshanabean.com

Shoshana Elise Bean (born September 1, 1977) is an American stage actress, singer and songwriter known for her roles in Broadway musicals. She is best known for being the first replacement actress for the role of Elphaba on Broadway in the musical Wicked.

Bean was raised in Portland, Oregon, where she went to synagogue Congregation Neveh Shalom. She is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where she received a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre in 1999. At CCM she was roommates with Kristy Cates, a fellow Wicked alum.

Shortly after moving to New York City, she was cast in the 2000 Off-Broadway revival of Godspell. Bean subsequently performed in the national tour of Leader of the Pack. She was also an original cast member in the Tony Award-winning production of Broadway's Hairspray, originating the role of Shelley and understudying the roles of Tracy Turnblad, Velma Von Tussle, and Prudy Pingleton. During this time she was also a member of the Broadway Inspirational Voices Gospel Choir.

In 2001, she sang back-up for Michael Jackson's 30th anniversary concert celebration at Madison Square Garden.

Bean joined the Broadway production of Wicked in 2004, originally cast as Idina Menzel's standby. Although she officially took over the role of Elphaba on January 11, 2005, she had to start her performances on January 8, due to an injury sustained by Ms. Menzel that forced her to end her run prematurely. She stayed with the production for a year performing opposite Jennifer Laura Thompson and Megan Hilty. Bean departed the Broadway company on January 8, 2006 and was replaced by Eden Espinosa (who she previously replaced as the standby)..