Leanne Dobinson
Encyclopedia
Leanne Dobinson is an English
singer and was a contestant on the BBC1 show, How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?
which sought to find the leading lady
for the new Andrew Lloyd Webber
-produced version of The Sound of Music
that will open in the West End
in autumn 2006. She was voted out in the fourth round of the show on Saturday 2 September 2006 so did not play the part of Maria von Trapp
. However Lloyd Webber advised her to keep training to be a singer as she has a lot of talent.
and has been singing since she was young and has had little formal training. She attended The Sandon School
in Chelmsford, Essex from 1997 before studying music at the Colchester Institute
in 2002. After being inspired by a Lesley Garrett
television show she taught herself how to sing in Italian, French, German and Latin after borrowing some CDs from a library.
Although Dobinson played the role of Cosette
in Les Misérables
in the West End
.
She took part in about ten local talent competitions between the ages of 9 to 15, the biggest was the Haven Stars of Tomorrow National Finals, which she won.
In 2006 she was working as an Assistant Manager in a ladies clothes shop until one week before her first audition for Maria.
Following her appearance on "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?" within weeks she was cast in the lead role of Snow White in the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
performed at the Theatre Royal, Windsor
. She performed alongside West End favourite Marti Webb
, who played the Wicked Queen. After Snow white she was given the role of Flo Simpson in Make Do And Mend at The Theatre Royal Nottingham. Since Make Do And Mend she has been having lessons in acting, dancing and singing. She made her West End debut as Cosette in Les Misérables at The Queens Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, on 23 June 2008, where she remained until June 2009.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
singer and was a contestant on the BBC1 show, How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?
How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? was a British television talent series, that was broadcast on Saturday evenings on BBC One between 29 July and 16 September 2006. It documented the search for a new, undiscovered musical theatre performer to play the role of Maria von Trapp in the 2006 Andrew...
which sought to find the leading lady
Leading lady
Leading lady is an informal term for the actress who plays a secondary lead or supporting role, usually a love interest, to the leading actor in a film or play. It is not usually applied to the leading actress in the performance if her character is the protagonist.A leading lady can also be an...
for the new Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
-produced version of The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
that will open in the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
in autumn 2006. She was voted out in the fourth round of the show on Saturday 2 September 2006 so did not play the part of Maria von Trapp
Maria von Trapp
Maria Augusta von Trapp , also known as Baroness Maria von Trapp, was the stepmother and matriarch of the Trapp Family Singers...
. However Lloyd Webber advised her to keep training to be a singer as she has a lot of talent.
Background
Dobinson was born in BarkingBarking
Barking is a suburban town in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, in East London, England. A retail and commercial centre situated in the west of the borough, it lies east of Charing Cross. Barking was in the historic county of Essex until it was absorbed by Greater London. The area is...
and has been singing since she was young and has had little formal training. She attended The Sandon School
The Sandon School
The Sandon School in Chelmsford, Essex is an 11-18 mixed comprehensive of 1200 students.- External links :*...
in Chelmsford, Essex from 1997 before studying music at the Colchester Institute
Colchester Institute
Colchester Institute is a large provider of further and higher education based in the town of Colchester, and includes the Centre for Music and Performing Arts, Centre for Hospitality and Food Studies, and the Professional Training Centre. Higher Education courses are accredited by the University...
in 2002. After being inspired by a Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett CBE is an English musician, broadcaster and media personality.- Early life :Garrett was born in the town of Thorne near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, into a musical family. She attended Thorne Grammar School, where she performed in school plays and musicals. As she grew up she...
television show she taught herself how to sing in Italian, French, German and Latin after borrowing some CDs from a library.
Although Dobinson played the role of Cosette
Cosette
Euphrasie "Cosette" Fauchelevant is a fictional character in the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.- Cosette in the novel :...
in Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
in the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
.
She took part in about ten local talent competitions between the ages of 9 to 15, the biggest was the Haven Stars of Tomorrow National Finals, which she won.
In 2006 she was working as an Assistant Manager in a ladies clothes shop until one week before her first audition for Maria.
Following her appearance on "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?" within weeks she was cast in the lead role of Snow White in the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Snow White
"Snow White" is a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm...
performed at the Theatre Royal, Windsor
Theatre Royal, Windsor
The Theatre Royal, Windsor is located in the town of Windsor, Berkshire, England, directly across the road from Windsor Castle.The present building was opened on 17 December 1910 after the previous theatre had burned down on 18 February 1908, under the ownership of Sir William Shipley.With the...
. She performed alongside West End favourite Marti Webb
Marti Webb
Marti Webb is a musical actress from England, who appeared on stage in Evita, before starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber's one woman show Tell Me on a Sunday in 1980...
, who played the Wicked Queen. After Snow white she was given the role of Flo Simpson in Make Do And Mend at The Theatre Royal Nottingham. Since Make Do And Mend she has been having lessons in acting, dancing and singing. She made her West End debut as Cosette in Les Misérables at The Queens Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, on 23 June 2008, where she remained until June 2009.