Danielle Hope

Danielle Hope
Born (1992-04-26) 26 April 1992
Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Occupation Actress, singer
Years active 2010–present
Website daniellehope.co.uk

Danielle Hope (born 26 April 1992) is an English actress and singer. She was the winner of the BBC talent contest Over The Rainbow and as a result played the part of Dorothy in the Andrew Lloyd Webber production of The Wizard of Oz, which began performances in the West End at the London Palladium in February 2011. Following this role, she went on to play the role of Éponine in Les Misérables in the West End, starting in June 2012.[1]

Background

Hope lived in Urmston, Greater Manchester, and attended Knutsford High School in Cheshire, concentrating in drama and dance.[2][3] Hope appeared in many of her school's musical theatre productions, playing such roles as Carmen in the musical Fame, the narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Maria in West Side Story.[4] She also appeared in We Will Rock You alongside Olivier Award nominee, Charlotte Wakefield.

She left her part-time job as a waitress to focus on her A-level studies in Drama and Dance, and a BTEC National Award Musical Theatre.[4][5] She has also studied dance privately and performed at dance festivals, including the BBC African Dance Project at Bridgewater Hall.[6]

Career

Over the Rainbow

While still at school, Hope was chosen from over 9,000 girls to be in the final ten and perform live, on the BBC reality TV show Over The Rainbow, for the chance to play Dorothy in the forthcoming West End musical adaptation of The Wizard of Oz.[7] Hope's Dorothy colour was red, and she believed that she would portray a "fiery character, with a strong opinion and mind".[5]

She was popular with the judges from the beginning of the live shows. After her performance of "Just a Little Girl" in week two, John Partridge said: "No-one is going to look over you after that performance because it was your best to date. It was committed, it was intelligent and an extremely sophisticated performance for a girl your age". Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber agreed and said "Danielle, you are really fantastic. You are a very, very strong contender".[8] Nevertheless, Hope found herself in the bottom two with Dani Rayner the following week. After her performance of "Maybe This Time" from Cabaret, Lloyd Webber saved Hope.

In week six, having performed "On My Own" from Les Misérables, she received some criticism from the judges. Lloyd Webber suggested that she needed to learn how to disguise the break in her voice, and Charlotte Church agreed, saying that her top notes could get "a little bit shouty". Sheila Hancock agreed with Church, but was still full of praise, saying that she saw a similar "star quality" to that of Catherine Zeta-Jones.[3] In this sing-off, Hope competed against Jessica Robinson, who was the only remaining contestant not to have been in the bottom two. After performing "Take That Look Off Your Face" from Tell Me on a Sunday, Lloyd Webber once again saved Hope, stating that "Both of you are really terrific girls, but I am just thinking of Dorothy here, so I am going to save Danielle".[9]

Following the double eviction of Robinson and Jenny Douglas, the remaining contestants got the chance to go home for a day. Hope went back to her old school for the first time since the filming of the live shows began; there, her classmates greeted her with a hand-made yellow brick road, along with ruby slippers, and a Toto-style cuddly dog to make her feel at home.[9]

In week seven, Hope and Lauren Samuels performed a duet of the song "Popular" from Wicked, which was described as one of the highlights of the series. After the performance, Charlotte Church told host Graham Norton that she thought Lloyd Webber should "write a musical for just those two".[10] Towards the end of the show, Hope became the favourite to win with odds of 8/11, ahead of fellow contestants Sophie Evans at 15/8 and Lauren Samuels, whose odds slipped to 4/1 after appearing in the sing-off in the semi-finals shown on 16 May.[11]

The next week at the final, which aired on 22 May, Hope won the contest and the role of Dorothy.[2]

Solo performances

Solo Song
Week one (3 April 2010) "Red" (Daniel Merriweather)[12]
Week two (10 April 2010) "Just a Little Girl" (Amy Studt)[13]
Week three (17 April 2010) "Could It Be Magic" (Barry Manilow)[14]
Week four (24 April 2010) "Cry Me a River" (Julie London)[15]
Week five (1 May 2010) "Mambo Italiano" (Rosemary Clooney)[16]
Week six (8 May 2010) "On My Own" (from Les Misérables)[17]
Week seven (semi-final) (15 May 2010) "When You Believe" (from The Prince of Egypt)[18]
Week eight (final) (22 May 2010) "76 Trombones" (from The Music Man)[19]

The Wizard of Oz

As the winner of Over the Rainbow, and only 18 years old, Hope played the role of Dorothy in the new London production of The Wizard of Oz. Previews commenced 7 February 2011, with the opening night on 1 March.[20][21] She starred alongside Michael Crawford in the title role, with Over the Rainbow runner-up Sophie Evans as the alternate Dorothy; performing the role on Tuesday evenings and during Hope's holidays and other unforeseen absences.[22][23][24] She won the 2011 BroadwayWorld UK Award for Best Leading Actress In a Musical[25] and was also nominated for the whatsonstage.com Theatergoers Choice Award for Best London Newcomer.[26] Hope played her final performance in the production on 5 February 2012, the same day that her co-star, Michael Crawford, left.[27] Evans succeeded her in the role.

Les Misérables

Hope appeared as Éponine in the West End production of Les Misérables, having joined the cast on 18 June 2012.[28][29] In December 2012, she was nominated for the Whatsonstage.com Award for Best Takeover in a Role for her performance.[30] On 16 June 2013, Hope finished her run in the show and was replaced by Carrie Hope Fletcher.

It was announced on 7 January 2016 that Hope will return to the role of Éponine for a limited engagement from 15 February 2016 until 2 April 2016; taking over the role from Fletcher. On 2 April 2016, Hope finished her run in the show and was replaced by Eva Noblezada.[31]

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Hope played the role of Snow White in the Birmingham Hippodrome's Christmas pantomime of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, her pantomime debut. She starred alongside Over the Rainbow judge John Partridge.[32]

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Hope played the role of Narrator in the UK Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She stayed with the tour from 23 July 2014 until 29 November 2014.[33]

The Sound of Music

Hope played the part of Maria from 15 January 2015 to 1 August 2015 on the 2015 UK Tour of The Sound of Music.[34]

Discography

Hope released a single of the song "Over the Rainbow" that was made available to download on 23 May 2010, with a physical single available to purchase from 31 May 2010. The CD single also features a "The Wizard of Oz Medley" featuring Hope and fellow finalists Lauren Samuels and Sophie Evans, including the tracks "Follow the Yellow Brick Road", "We're Off to See the Wizard", "It Really Was No Miracle", "Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead", "The Merry Old Land of Oz" and "If I Only Had a Heart".[35] The single is a charity record, raising money for both the BBC Performing Arts Fund and Prostate UK.[36] Sales of the download single were good, with midweek charts for 26 May showing that the single had achieved a place in the UK top 20.[37] However, when the week's charts were revealed on Sunday 30 May, the single had entered the charts at number 29.[38]

Hope also features on the cast album for the 2011 The Wizard of Oz West End show, released 9 May 2011.[39][40]

References

  1. ↑ "Photo Flash: First Look at Michael Crawford in THE WIZARD OF OZ; Previews Begin!". 7 February 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Danielle Hope wins Over the Rainbow". The Daily Telegraph. London. 22 May 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  3. 1 2 "Danielle Hope reaches semi-final of BBC's 'Over the Rainbow' competition". The Knutsford Guardian. 22 May 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  4. 1 2 "Hope for Danielle". The Knutsford Times. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  5. 1 2 "BBC Over the Rainbow - Danielle". Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  6. ↑ "Over the Rainbow: the contestants". The Daily Telegraph. London. 27 March 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
  7. ↑ "Yellow Brick Road to Fame". Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  8. ↑ "Urmston teenager Danielle Hope is praised for performance on BBC's Over the Rainbow". Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  9. 1 2 "No place like home for Dorothy hopeful Danielle". Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  10. ↑ Davies, Serena (18 May 2010). "Over the Rainbow: putting the 'talent' into talent shows". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  11. ↑ "Danielle favourite for 'Rainbow' final win". Retrieved 18 May 2010.
  12. ↑ "Danielle's Performance - Over the Rainbow - Episode 3 - BBC One". YouTube. 3 April 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  13. ↑ "Danielle's Performance - Over the Rainbow - Episode 5 - BBC One". YouTube. 10 April 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  14. ↑ "Danielle's Performance - Over the Rainbow - Episode 7 - BBC One". YouTube. 17 April 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  15. ↑ "Danielle's Performance - Over the Rainbow - Episode 9 - BBC One". YouTube. 24 April 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  16. ↑ "Danielle: Mambo Italiano - Over The Rainbow - Episode 11 - BBC One". YouTube. 1 May 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  17. ↑ "Danielle's Performance - Over the Rainbow - Episode 13 - BBC One". YouTube. 8 May 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  18. ↑ "Danielle's Performance - Over the Rainbow - Episode 15 - BBC One". YouTube. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  19. ↑ "Danielle Performs Seventy Six Trombones - Over The Rainbow - Episode 17 BBC One". YouTube. 22 May 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  20. ↑ "The Wizard of Oz". Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  21. ↑ "Listing at London Palladium" london-theatreland.co.uk, retrieved 18 December 2010
  22. ↑ Singh, Anita (24 September 2010). "Wizard role for Michael Crawford in new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical". London: Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
  23. ↑ "We're off to see the Wizard – and it's Michael Crawford!". andrewlloydwebber.com. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
  24. ↑ "Sophie Evans cast as alternate Dorothy". OfficialLondonTheatre. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  25. ↑ "2011 UK Award Winners Announced".
  26. ↑ Full List: 2012 Whatsonstage.com Award winners
  27. ↑ Michael Crawford & Danielle Hope to Depart UK WIZARD OF OZ 5 Feb.
  28. ↑ Danielle Hope Joins West End Cast of Les Miserables, 6/18
  29. ↑ Danielle Hope joins Les Miserables cast
  30. ↑ "Shortlists revealed for 2013 Whatsonstage.com Awards".
  31. ↑ Eva Noblezada, Danielle Hope & More Will Join Cast of West End's LES MISERABLES Broadway World, Retrieved 7 January 2016
  32. ↑ http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/snow-white-seven-dwarfs-comes-6379586
  33. ↑ http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/production/2014/06/x-factors-lloyd-daniels-join-danielle-hope-joseph-tour/
  34. ↑ http://www.whatsonstage.com/bromley-theatre/news/danielle-hope-sound-of-music-tour_36584.html
  35. ↑ "Winning Dorothy to release 'Rainbow'". Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  36. ↑ "Danielle Hope ('Over the Rainbow')". Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  37. ↑ "Update: Dizzee, Eminem, Alicia, 'Glee'". Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  38. ↑ "BBC Radio One official chart". Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  39. ↑ "Danielle Hope - Over the Rainbow". 10 March 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  40. ↑ "Wizard of Oz album released". DanielleHope.co.uk. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2011.

External links

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