Megan Hilty
Megan Hilty at 2018 National Memorial Day Concert
Born	(1981-03-29)March 29, 1981 (age 44) Bellevue, Washington, U.S.
Education	Carnegie Mellon University(BFA)
Occupations	Actress singer
Years active	1995; 2004–present
Spouse	Brian Gallagher ​ (m. 2013)​
Children	2

Megan Hilty (born March 29, 1981)^[1] is an American actress and singer. She rose to prominence for her roles in Broadway musicals, including her performance asGlinda inWicked, Doralee Rhodes in9 to 5: The Musical, and herTony Award–nominated roles as Brooke Ashton inNoises Off and Madeline Ashton inDeath Becomes Her. She also starred as Ivy Lynn on the musical-drama seriesSmash, on which she sang theGrammy Award-nominated "Let Me Be Your Star", and portrayed Liz on the sitcomSean Saves the World.

Hilty was born inBellevue, Washington, the daughter of Donna and Jack Hilty. She began taking vocal lessons at the age of 12 and was interested in performingopera. She attendedSammamish High School in Bellevue then transferred to the Washington Academy of Performing Arts Conservatory High School inRedmond, and later attended theChrysalis School inWoodinville.^[2]

Hilty graduated from theCarnegie Mellon School of Drama in 2004 and is a member of theActors' Equity Association.^[3][4] She is a recipient of theNational Society of Arts and Letters Award for Excellence in Musical Theater.^[5]

Shortly before graduating fromCarnegie Mellon University, Hilty auditioned for the 2004 national tour ofLittle Shop of Horrors for the role of Audrey. However, despite being initially cast as Audrey, the producers let her go afterAnthony Rapp was cast as Seymour and they told Hilty she was "too young/not age appropriate" to play opposite Rapp.

Hilty then auditioned for the musicalWicked. She moved toNew York City after graduating and, in August 2004, made herBroadway debut as the standby forGlinda the Good Witch. She performed in the role for the first time on October 8, 2004, oppositeIdina Menzel as Elphaba. Hilty took over the role fromJennifer Laura Thompson on May 31, 2005.^[6] After playing the role for a year, Hilty ended her run on May 28, 2006, and was succeeded byKate Reinders.^[7]

Hilty then reprised the role on the first national tour of the show from September through December 2006, replacingKendra Kassebaum. Soon after, Hilty originated the role in the Los Angeles sit-down production, which began previews on February 10, 2007, and opened on February 21. She left the production on May 18, 2008, and was replaced byErin Mackey, only to return on October 31, 2008, to close the production, which played its final performance on January 11, 2009.^[8]

Hilty starred in the musicalVanities during its premiere engagement at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts inMountain View, California. In addition to her stage work, Hilty has made guest appearances on television shows includingThe Closer,The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,Ugly Betty,CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,Desperate Housewives, andShark. She was the singing voice ofSnow White in the animated feature filmShrek the Third.

In 2008, Hilty joinedAllison Janney,Stephanie J. Block, andMarc Kudisch in themusical adaptation of the 1980 film9 to 5. The production was directed byJoe Mantello, with a pre-Broadway run at theAhmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, which opened on September 9, 2008. Hilty had participated in workshops and readings as the character Doralee Rhodes (the characterDolly Parton had played in the film version). The musical began preview performances on Broadway at theMarquis Theatre on April 7, 2009, with an official opening on April 30, 2009, closing on September 6, 2009. For this role, Hilty was nominated for theOuter Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, theDrama League Award for Distinguished Performance, and theDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical.^[9][10][11]

In 2009, Hilty appeared in an episode ofCSI: Crime Scene Investigation entitled "Deep Fried and Minty Fresh", playing a fast food manager helping out with a murder at Choozy's Chicken. She also appeared in two episodes ofDesperate Housewives as the other woman to Carlos' boss. Hilty also lent her talents inRated RSO: The Music and Lyrics ofRyan Scott Oliver at the Boston Court Performing Arts Center in December 2009, alongsideLesli Margherita,Steve Kazee,Morgan Karr, Natalie Weiss, and others. Hilty also branched off into a coffee and tea product line.^[12] In 2010, Hilty confirmed that she would voice the character of the China Princess in the animated filmLegends of Oz: Dorothy's Return. In 2011, it was announced that she was cast in theNBC musical-drama seriesSmash, oppositeKatharine McPhee,Debra Messing,Anjelica Huston, andBrian d'Arcy James.^[13] The series premiered on February 6, 2012, and aired for two seasons.

In May 2012, Hilty appeared inGentlemen Prefer Blondes as a part of theEncores! staged concert series. She appeared as Lorelei Lee alongsideBrennan Brown,Simon Jones, andRachel York. Hilty received rave reviews for her performance, withThe New York Times rating her performance on par with those ofCarol Channing andMarilyn Monroe.^[14][15]

In November 2012, it was announced that Hilty would appear on the albumI'm Ready: The Songs ofRob Rokicki.^[16] Hilty released her debut solo album,It Happens All the Time, on March 12, 2013.^[17] On June 13, 2013, it was announced that Hilty would star alongsideSean Hayes in the NBC sitcomSean Saves the World. The series was cancelled on January 28, 2014, after airing 13 episodes.^[18]

In July 2015, it was reported that Hilty would return to Broadway in theRoundabout Theatre Company's revival ofNoises Off, portraying Brooke Ashton.^[19] For her performance, Hilty received nominations for theTony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play, theDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, and theDrama League Award for Distinguished Performance.^[20][21][22] That same year, she recurred as Charlene onGirlfriends' Guide to Divorce.^[23] On July 7, 2016, Hilty appeared alongsideMatthew Morrison for an evening withThe New York Pops at theForest Hills Stadium inQueens.^[24]

In November 2021, it was announced that Hilty would be playing Lily St. Regis in NBC'sAnnie Live!, replacingJane Krakowski who withdrew from the show after getting a breakthrough case ofCOVID-19.^[25]

In 2024, Hilty starred in the stage adaptation ofDeath Becomes Her as Madeline Ashton, opposite co-leadJennifer Simard as Helen Sharp.^[26] The production's out of town tryout ran at Chicago'sCadillac Palace Theatre from April 30 through June 2, 2024. Hilty and Simard led the production on Broadway, at theLunt-Fontanne Theatre, with previews beginning October 23, before opening on November 21.^[27] Hilty received her second Tony nomination for her portrayal of Madeline.^[28]

Hilty was in a relationship with actorSteve Kazee from 2005 until 2012.^[29] On November 2, 2013, Hilty married actor Brian Gallagher inLas Vegas, Nevada.^[30] In March 2014, she announced that she was expecting their first child.^[31] Hilty gave birth to a daughter, Viola Philomena Gallagher, on September 18, 2014.^[32] On September 24, 2016, she announced that she was pregnant with her second child.^[33] Their son, Ronan Laine Gallagher, was born on March 13, 2017.^[34]

On September 4, 2022, Hilty's sister Lauren, brother-in-law Ross Mickel, and nephew Remy were killed in afloatplane crash intoPuget Sound off the coast ofWhidbey Island.^[35] Lauren Hilty-Mickel was eight months pregnant at the time of her death.^[36]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toMegan Hilty.

• Official website
• Megan Hilty at theInternet Broadway Database
• Megan Hilty atIMDb
• Megan Hilty atPlaybill Vault (archive)
• Playbill article onWicked

• 1981 births
• 21st-century American actresses
• 21st-century American singers
• 21st-century American women singers
• Actresses from Washington (state)
• American musical theatre actresses
• American sopranos
• American stage actresses
• American television actresses
• American voice actresses
• Carnegie Mellon University College of Fine Arts alumni
• Living people
• People from Bellevue, Washington

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