Krysten Cummings

Krysten Cummings (born 1974 or 1975[1]) is a stage and film actress. She is also a musician. She appeared as Tina in the 1997 production of The Fix, and as Mimi in the 1998 version of the musical Rent for which she was a 1999 Olivier Award nominee.

Krysten Cummings
Born1974 or 1975 (age 48–49)[1]
OriginPennsauken, New Jersey, U.S.
GenresPop, R&B
Occupation(s)Singer, actress
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1996–present
LabelsJ:Funk Recordings, Soulfuric Trax
Member ofOffWorld

Background

Cummings is originally from Pennsauken Township, New Jersey.[2] As a stage actress, she got her start at age 17 at the Ritz Theatre in Haddon Township, New Jersey.[3] She graduated in 1992 from Camden Catholic High School.[1] By 2014, she had been in more than 20 theatrical productions, and musically performed in more than 30 countries. Her career has taken her from Broadway to the West End in London.[4]

She had a co-starring role in the 2009 horror, The Descent: Part 2.[5]

While she was in London, she came in to contact with Richard Archer, who fronted the rock band Hard-Fi. Certain recent-then events in the media put them both in a musical collaboration.[6]

Stage

Cummings played the original part of Tina in See Jane Run which premiered at London's Donmar Warehouse in 1997.[7]

In 2014, she performed a one-woman show at the Ritz Theatre for the "Build Jake's Place" project.[8]

In 2015, she played the part of Mimi Marquez, a woman with HIV positive in the production of Rent which played at the Ritz Theater in Haddon Township NJ.[9] In late 2015, it was announced that Cummings along with Debbie Kurup and Damien Flood would be appearing in the Seasons of Larson concert, a celebration of the life of Broadway composer Jonathan Larson. The concert was to be held at London's Lyric Theatre.[10]

In late 2017, she played the Fairy Godmother in the Cinderella at the Hackney Empire Theatre.[11]

She is a co-creator of The Bisley Boy, a gothic musical fantasy that follows the private life of Bram Stoker, which was to run at the Ritz Theatre from September 16 to October 2 in 2022.[12][13]

Film work

Cummings provided the voice for Submerge in the 2009 sci-fi film, Ghost Machine which was directed by Chris Hartwill.[14]

She played the role of Deputy Elen Rios in The Descent: Part 2, a horror film about cave crawling creatures. It was the sequel to the 2005 film, The Descent.[15][16] Cummings' character Rios was the only one to survive the ordeal following Shauna Macdonald's character Sarah sacrificing herself to let her escape.[17]

Music

In 2009, the single, "Sunrise" by Hoxton Whores feat. Krysten Cummings was released.[18]

In 2013, she backed Bonnie Tyler on her song, "Believe in Me at the Eurovision Song Contest that year.[19] She later backed Elnur Huseynov on his song, "Hour of the Wolf" at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest.[20]

In 2020, Cummings was a member of the band OffWorld which was made up of Richard Archer, herself, Wolsey White, Smiley Barnard and Dale Davis. Playing a mixture of blues, gospel and soul, on April 9 they released their EP, Brave to Be Alive. Later that month they released a single, "Burnt Out Star".[21][22] Also that month Cummings and Richard Archer performed a set of songs from his home which included songs from the EP and some Hard-Fi songs. It was part of the Royal Albert Home sessions. The songs were transmitted from the homes of the artists while the Royal Albert Hall was closed.[23][24]

References
  1. Graham, Kristen A. "Pennsauken native wins leading role on London stage", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 28, 1998. Accessed April 9, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Krysten Cummings, 23, rehearses in London.... Lynn remembers that Krysten, when growing up, was upset by the fact that people didn't know where Pennsauken is.... A 1992 Camden Catholic graduate, Krysten received her acting training at the Ritz Theatre in Oaklyn."
  2. Sky News, Sunday 14 June 2020 - Krysten Cummings: 'No one was interested in a black girl with a guitar' - Gemma Peplow
  3. Courier-Post, November 12, 2015 - With 'Rent,' theater and medicine form an unlikely alliance Shannon Eblen
  4. All Around Pennsauken, December 2, 2014 - Pennsauken’s Own Krysten Cummings Performs Benefit For Build Jake’s Place
  5. The Los Angeles Times, MAY 8, 2020 - Movies on TV this week: Sunday, May 10, 2020 - BY ED STOCKLY
  6. Sky News, Sunday 14 June 2020 - Krysten Cummings: 'No one was interested in a black girl with a guitar' - Gemma Peplow
  7. Broadway World, Feb. 15, 2023 - Creative Team Behind THE FIX Reunite For SEE JANE RUN at Helmerich Theater by Blair Ingenthron
  8. All Around Pennsauken, December 2, 2014 - Pennsauken’s Own Krysten Cummings Performs Benefit For Build Jake’s Place
  9. Courier Post, November 12, 2015 - With 'Rent,' theater and medicine form an unlikely alliance Shannon Eblen
  10. London1 Theatre, DECEMBER 8, 2015 - Debbie Kurup, Krysten Cummings and Damien Flood cast in SEASONS OF LARSON - NEIL CHEESEMAN
  11. British Theatre, 24th November 2017 - FIRST LOOK: Cinderella at Hackney Empire - Christmas 2017 - Douglas Mayo
  12. Broadway World, Sep. 07, 2022 - South Jersey Trio To Unveil THE BISLEY BOY, A New Gothic Musical Fantasy, At The Ritz
    The show had its world premiere at the Ritz Theatre Company. by A.A. Cristi
  13. Issue Wire - The Bisley Boy, A Musical Has World Premiere At The Ritz Theatre]
  14. Sci-Fi Movies - GHOST MACHINE, Main Cast
  15. British Film Institute - The Descent: Part 2 (2009)
  16. SBS - 2009, The Descent: Part 2
  17. What Culture - 8 Final Horror Movie Girls Who Ended Up Dying Anyway, 5. Sarah Carter - The Descent
  18. Who Sampled - Sunrise (Lauer & Canard Vocal Remix) by Hoxton Whores feat. Krysten Cummings
  19. Six on Stage - Believe In Me
  20. Six on Stage - Hour Of The Wolf
  21. NME, 21st April 2020 - FEATURES > MUSIC INTERVIEWS, Richard Archer on new political band OffWorld and Hard-Fi’s “unfinished business”
    The Hard-Fi singer is back with a new set of songs that put the state of the world to rights By Nick Reilly
  22. Scottish Music Network, 22nd April 2020 - Music collective OffWorld featuring acclaimed musicians Richard Archer, Krysten Cummings and more release music video for new single ‘Burnt Out Star’
  23. Royal Albert Hall, Monday 13 April 2020 - Watch Richard Archer and Krysten Cummings perform an exclusive set for Royal Albert Home by Joanna Houlden
  24. Royal Albert Hall - ROYAL ALBERT HALL PRESENTS ROYAL ALBERT HOME

Further reading
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