Reneé Rapp

Reneé Rapp (born January 10, 2000) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for winning the 2018 Jimmy Award for "Best Performance by an Actress" and for taking over the role of Regina George in the Broadway musical Mean Girls.

Reneé Rapp
Born (2000-01-10) January 10, 2000
Huntersville, North Carolina, U.S.
EducationNorthwest School of the Arts, Hopewell High School (North Carolina)
Occupation
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active2018–present

Early life and education

Rapp first attended high school at Hopewell High School (North Carolina) in Huntersville for three years performing in the theater program and playing on the varsity women's golf team before transferring to Northwest School of the Arts.[1] Corey Mitchell, Rapp's theater teacher, said Rapp "has a special distinction...There is a difference when that vocal ability is coupled with sincere emotions that can move an audience and that literally can excite an audience".[2]

In 2018, Rapp won the "Best Actress" award at the Blumey Awards, Charlotte's premiere musical theater awards,[3] for her portrayal of Sandra in her school's production of Big Fish.[3] Rapp then attended the tenth annual Jimmy Awards in New York City, where she ultimately won “Best Performance by an Actress", beating forty other competitors for the award.[4] This win earned her a $10,000 scholarship. Actress Laura Benanti, who presented the award to Rapp, said, "I will never be as confident as that 18-year-old".[5] Additionally, the New York Magazine coverage of the Jimmy Awards claimed that Rapp "set[] the stage ablaze" with her winning performance, "prompting the stars of Mean Girls to collectively start sleeping with one eye open".[5]

Career

Following her Jimmy Award win, Rapp was cast as Wendla in Theatre Charlotte's 2018 production of Spring Awakening.[6]

On July 27, 2018, Rapp performed at the 2018 Supergirl Pro Surf and Music Festival.[7] On September 23, 2018, she took part in The Educational Theatre Foundation's fourth annual Broadway Back to School event held at Feinstein's/54 Below.[8] In December 2018, she read for the role of Monteen in Roundabout Theatre Company's reading of Parade.[9] On January 12, 2019, Rapp performed at BroadwayCon's 2019 Star to Be event, singing "They Just Keep Moving the Line" from NBC's Smash.[10] She was next seen on March 4, 2019, performing at Feinstein's/54 Below's 54 Sings The High School Musical Trilogy,[11] followed by their FOR THE GIRLS event on March 28.[12]

On May 28, 2019, it was announced that Rapp would be taking over the role of Regina George in the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical, Mean Girls, first for a limited run from June 7–26, then permanently starting September 10, 2019.[13] On June 3, Rapp performed at The Green Room 42, singing songs from the show after an introduction by Tina Fey.[14] The production closed on March 12, 2020 in accordance with Broadway's shutdown;[15] it was later announced on January 7, 2021 that the show would not reopen.[16]

On October 14, 2020, it was announced that Rapp had been cast as one of the four leads in Mindy Kaling's HBO Max series The Sex Lives of College Girls. Rapp will star as Leighton in the 13-episode TV show.[17]

Personal life

Rapp stated in an interview that she takes "her inspiration from classic pop and R&B music, and mixes it all with her current favorites, Jazmine Sullivan and Yebba".[18] She played golf in middle school and high school.[19]

As of March 2020, Rapp is dating fellow Broadway star Antonio Cipriano.[20]

Theatre credits
Year(s) Production Role Theatre Director(s) Category Ref.
2018 Spring Awakening Wendla Theatre Charlotte Billy Ensley Regional
2019–2020 Mean Girls Regina George August Wilson Theatre Casey Nicholaw Broadway
[13]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2021 The Sex Lives of College Girls Leighton In production [17]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated Work Result
2018 BroadwayWorld Charlotte Awards[21] Best Actress in a Musical (local) Spring Awakening Nominated
2018 Blumey Awards Best Actress Big Fish Won
2018 National High School Musical Theatre Awards Best Performance by an Actress Won

References
  1. Worf, Lisa. "Recent Charlotte Grad Wins Top High School Music Award". www.wfae.org. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  2. Ward, Myah (June 26, 2018). "This Charlotte grad is bringing home a national theater award. Here's what's next". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  3. Bereiter, Becky (20 May 2018). "Blumenthal Performing Arts Announces the 7th Annual Blumey Awards Winners, Presented by Wells Fargo". Blumenthal Performing Arts. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  4. McPhee, Ryan (June 25, 2018). "The Winners of the 2018 Jimmy Awards, Celebrating High School Musical Theatre Performances". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  5. Walker, Natalie. "7 Days With the Most Talented Theater Teens in the Country". Vulture. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  6. McLaughlin, Courtney (2018-05-24). "These teen actors are lighting up the stage in the Queen City. See them live this weekend at Theatre Charlotte". CharlotteFive. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  7. "Event Schedule". Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro. 2016-06-27. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  8. "Photo Flash: The Educational Theatre 4th Annual BROADWAY BACK TO SCHOOL At Feinstein's/Below 54". BroadwayWorld.com. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  9. "BWW Exclusive: Ben Platt, Michaela Diamond & More Lead Michael Arden-Helmed PARADE Reading". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  10. "BroadwayCon Star To Be Finalists Announced, Andrew Barth Feldman To Perform". BroadwayWorld.com. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  11. "Renee Rapp, Antonio Cipriano, Arianna Afsar, Taylor Iman Jones Lead 54 SINGS THE HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL TRILOGY". BroadwayWorld.com. 4 February 2019. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  12. "Stephanie Torns, Tee Boyich and More Feature in FOR THE GIRLS At Feinstein's/54 Below". BroadwayWorld.com. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  13. McPhee, Ryan (May 28, 2019). "Reneé Rapp, 2018 Jimmy Award Winner, Will Star in Mean Girls on Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-05-28.
  14. "VIDEO: Future Regina George, Renee Rapp, Belts Out A MEAN GIRLS Anthem". BroadwayWorld.com. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
  15. Feldman, Adam (29 June 2020). "Broadway is now officially closed until 2021". Time Out New York. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  16. Gans, Andrew (2021-01-07). "Broadway's Mean Girls Musical Has Closed Amid Continued Coronavirus Shutdown". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
  17. Thorne, Will (2020-10-14). "Mindy Kaling Casts Four Leads for HBO Max Comedy 'The Sex Lives of College Girls'". Variety. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  18. "Renee Rapp". Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro. 2018-07-18. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  19. Sturgill, Kristi (May 31, 2019). "New 'Mean Girls' star Reneé Rapp on high school, role models and a hidden talent". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
  20. "Mean Girls' Reneé Rapp Says Regina George Wouldn't Be Taking COVID-19 Seriously, But You Should". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  21. "Just Two Weeks Left To Vote for the 2018 BWW Charlotte Awards!". BroadwayWorld.com. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
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