Erin Sullivan (actress)

Erin Sullivan is an American actress, singer and dancer, most famous for her portrayal of Amber Von Tussle in the national tour of Hairspray the MusicAL, for playing various roles in Shrek the musical and starring as Elle Woods in the 2012 adaption of Opera House Theater Company's Legally Blonde the musical.

Early life

Sullivan started singing at the early age of 6, but didn't start taking lessons until she was 9. She performed her first professional theater show, How to Eat Like a Child when she was 8. After growing up in Wilmington, North Carolina, Sullivan moved to the acting stage in New York City.

Filmography

Sullivan has been a part of over 20 theater shows.

National/International

Year

Title

Role

2011-2012

Shrek the musical

Fairy Godmother/ Fiona, Gingy, Dragon U/S

2010

Hairspray (musical)

Amber Von Tussle

2008

Grease (musical)

Swing; Frenchy, Patty, Cha Cha, Ms. Lynch U/S

2007

The Wedding Singer (musical)

Cyndi Lauper/ Ensemble/ Holly U/S

2006

I Get A Kick Out Of Cole: A Cole Porter Tribute

Singer/Dancer

2005

Universal Monsters Rock n’ Roll Show

Hop

2004

Celebrity Cruise Lines: M.V Zenith

Singer/Dancer

Regional/Stock

Year

Title

Role

2012

Legally Blonde (musical)

Elle Woods (Opera House Theatre Company)

2012

The Marvelous Wonderettes

Cindy Lou (West Virginia Public Theatre)

2012

Godspell

Joanne (West Virginia Public Theatre)

2011

Anything Goes (musical)

Erma (Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre)

2009

Disney's High School Musical

Sharpay (Broadway Dinner Theatre)

2007-2008

Footloose

Urleen/ Ariel U/S / Show Cap. (Broadway Dinner Theatre)

2005

Guys and Dolls

Adelaide (Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre)

2004

Chicago (musical)

Roxie Hart (Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre)

Media attention

John Staton praised Sullivan's performance in Legally Blonde (musical), stating that while she was a star of the show, she never "dominated" it and knew how to share the stage with the rest of the cast. He also added that, "...[Sullivan] draws a believable arc to the confidence-boosting finale." Sullivan got more praise from Shea Carver of Encore Online, "[Erin] brings the perky, positive-thinking Elle Woods to life full-force. She has cascading blonde locks, a million-dollar smile, an adorable attitude, animated moves and quite the svelte body to turn heads."

Will Holston of The University News (Saint Louis University) praised Sullivan's performance in Hairspray (musical) and went on to say, "Erin Sullivan and Ariel Tyler Page, as the scheming mother-daughter duo of Amber and Velma Von Tussle, are appropriately manipulative and entitled in their roles as main antagonists to Tracy." Chip Deffaa of Cabaret Scenes also agreed that, "...Erin Sullivan [was] on target as bratty Amber Von Tussle." Susan Weinrebe of Roberta on the Arts said, "The conniving mother and daughter, Erin Sullivan as Amber Von Tussle and Ariel Tyler Page as her mother Velma, are juicy in their meanness....they vamp and slink and parody their way through roles that make the audience love to hate them."

Lorilee Craker of Michigan Live enjoyed Sullivan's portrayal of Frenchie in Grease (musical) saying, "Marty (Alica Kelly) , Jan (Lauren Turner), and Frenchy (Erin Sullivan) rounded out a talented troupe of Pink Ladies, wonderful dancers and singer all."