Arianna Afsar


Arianna Ayesha "Ari" Afsar is an American singer, composer, beauty queen and activist best known for her starring role in Hamilton, as the songwriter of Jeannette, and as a top contestant on American Idol.
She was in the original Chicago cast of Hamilton, playing the role of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, with performances beginning in late September 2016.
Afsar wrote the music and lyrics to the musical Jeannette with a book by playwright Lauren Gunderson. The musical, about U.S. Rep. Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress, was part of the 2019 summer series at the National Music Theater Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Connecticut.

Early life

Afsar is from California. Her father is from Bangladesh and mother is of German origin. She attended Westview High School where she opened Adopt-a-Grandfriend in 2005, to fight loneliness of senior citizens. After graduating Westview in 2009 she attended the University of California, Los Angeles.

Career

Pageant

Afsar won the Miss America's Outstanding Teen title for California in 2005 and represented California in the inaugural Miss America's Outstanding Teen pageant in Orlando, Florida in August 2005. As the youngest contestant in the competition, she won a preliminary talent award and placed first runner-up.
She was the winner of Miss San Diego County in 2010.
In 2010 Afsar competed in the Miss California pageant for the first time and won the Miss California 2010 title. She competed in the Miss America 2011 pageant in January 2011.

''American Idol''

In 2009, Afsar was a contestant on American Idol 8. She auditioned in Phoenix and sang "Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae. She was one of the final 36 contestants. Afsar progressed to the live semi-finals but failed to make it through her group and was not selected to compete for a wildcard by the judges.

Theatre

In 2001 she appeared in a production of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical as Cindy Lou Who.
It was announced on July 13, 2016, that Afsar would portray the role of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton in the Chicago production of Hamilton beginning performances in late September 2016. Afsar left the Chicago production on March 25, 2018, but briefly returned to the role for the 2nd National Tour's stop at Segerstrom Center for the Arts for the weekend of May 19, 2018.

Other

Afsar played the role of "Ellie" in the direction-to-video science fiction action film Martian Land.

Political views

Ari Afsar is an activist fighting for women's rights. She is on the board of the ACLU of IL Next Gen. She spoke at the youth reception for the ACLU national convention. She is an avid supporter and vocal advocate for Planned Parenthood, USOW, and the Women's March. Ari opened for Michelle Obama at the United State of Women at the Shrine Auditorium. Her father is an immigrant from Bangladesh and her mother is German-American.