Leslie McDonel

Leslie McDonel has been blowing off the roof all over the world: from Broadway and the Grammy Awards to her own solo shows at major clubs and premier performing arts venues. She recently had the honor of playing Carole King in a regional production of "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical." One review declared, "A Broadway veteran, McDonel anchors the show, not only with the kindness, empathy and musicality that have drawn millions of fans to King's songs, but her voice is a whole separate wonder to behold. She injects a warm soulfulness into every melody and lyric." Leslie also played Janis in a regional production of "A Night with Janis Joplin." Her Broadway and touring credits include "American Idiot" (Original Broadway Cast — ensemble and understudy Heather, going on to play Heather as a principal on the National Tour), the "Legally Blonde" National Tour (understudy Vivienne), and "Hairspray." Regionally, she has played Yitzhak in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" at ZACH Theatre. Leslie sang the British anthem at the Canelo/Saunders World Championship boxing match at the Dallas Cowboys' stadium, and was a soloist for the San Francisco AIDS Walk and the Santa Rosa Symphony. With the original Broadway company of "American Idiot" she performed with Green Day on the Tonys, the Grammys, and Monday Night Football, and the company won the Grammy for the "American Idiot" cast album. She also regularly performs in her hometown of Austin, the music capital of the world.