Shoshana Bean


Shoshana E. Bean is an American singer, songwriter, recording artist, and stage actress. She has released three records and has appeared on many theater cast recordings and film soundtracks.

Early life and education

Bean was born in Olympia, Washington to Jeff Bean and Felice Moskowitz, a dance teacher. Bean is Jewish and is an only child. When she was 9 years old, her parents divorced and she moved to the Portland, Oregon area.
In 1995, Bean graduated from Beaverton High School. In 1999, Bean received a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Career

Theatre

Shortly after moving to New York City in 2000, Bean was cast in the 2000 Off-Broadway revival of Godspell at the York Theatre at Saint Peter's Church in Midtown Manhattan.
In 2001, Bean performed in the national tour of Leader of the Pack.
In 2002, Bean made her Broadway debut as an original cast member in the role of Shelley, Denizen of Baltimore, which she originated, in the Tony Award-winning production of Hairspray. She was also understudy for the roles of Tracy Turnblad, Velma Von Tussle, and Prudy Pingleton.
In 2004, Bean joined the Broadway production of Wicked as an understudy to Idina Menzel. In January 2005, a day before Menzel's scheduled end of run as Elphaba, Menzel fell through a trap door during a Saturday matinee performance. Bean went on to perform that show. On January 11, 2005, Bean took over the role of Elphaba from Idina Menzel, where she performed opposite Jennifer Laura Thompson and Megan Hilty until January 8, 2006.
In 2006, Bean reprised the role of Elphaba in the first national tour of Wicked. Her limited engagement ended on December 30.
In 2009, Bean joined the new production of Peepshow in Las Vegas in the role of Peep Diva alongside Holly Madison. She replaced Spice Girls singer, Mel B.
In 2011, Bean wrote and starred in the musical Dear John Mayer, with music and lyrics by Bean and book by fellow CCM graduate Eydie Faye.
In 2015, Bean portrayed the role of CeeCee Bloom in the musical adaptation of the book and movie Beaches at the Drury Lane Theater in Chicago.
In 2017, Bean played Fanny Brice in North Shore Music Theatre's production of Funny Girl.
In 2018, Bean performed in the New York City Center Encores! production of Songs for a New World.
On March 18, 2019, Bean returned to Broadway in the role of Jenna in the production of Waitress for a limited engagement through May 2019. On May 13, 2019, it was announced that Bean's run was extended through July 21, 2019.

Singer

On December 2, 2008, Bean released her debut solo album, Superhero, on her own label Shotime Records. The record has been described as pop rock.
In February 2013, Bean's second album, O'Farrell Street, was released. It was produced by Tim K, and incorporates 1960s-era soul. The record reached #3 on the iTunes R&B charts.
In December 2014, Bean released an EP album of blues called Shadows to Light. The record was produced by Bean and Jake Schaefer. It reached #1 on the iTunes Blues charts. She performed her single "Runaway Train" on The Queen Latifah Show.
Beginning in 2015, Bean has performed with Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox, performing Justin Bieber's "Sorry" and Backstreet Boys's “I Want It That Way,” among others. In the spring of 2016, she joined the PMJ European Tour.
In February 2018, Bean's third album, Spectrum, was released. The songs are in the genre of rhythm and blues. The record release was accompanied by a tour, which included concerts at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, which featured an 18-piece orchestra, as well as a string of other dates including in London at Cadogan Hall, Las Vegas and Dallas. Bean has said that inspirations for the record were the music of Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, and Frank Sinatra.
In August and September 2019, Bean performed selected songs at a series of residency concerts at Feinstein's/54 Below.
Bean's music has been featured on MTV's The Hills, Mercy, Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce, Bad Girls Club and Showtime's The Big C, and she arranged the vocals for Jennifer Lopez's performance of her 2014 song "I Luh Ya Papi" on American Idol.
Bean has appeared on film soundtracks to Hairspray, Enchanted, the Wayans Brothers' Dance Flick, and the 2016 animated musical Sing.
Bean has performed around the world in cabarets and concerts. She has sung with artists such as Bebe Winans, Brian McKnight, Ariana Grande, David Foster, and Jason Robert Brown, Michael Jackson, among others.

Personal life

After living in New York City for many years, Bean is now based in Los Angeles.

Theatre

Benefits

LPs