Klea Blackhurst

KLEA BLACKHURST is best known for her acclaimed tribute to Ethel Merman, Everything the Traffic Will Allow, that has been charming audiences and critics alike nationwide since its New York debut in 2001. Among many accolades, this production earned her the inaugural Special Achievement Award from “Time Out New York” magazine. The recording of Everything the Traffic Will Allow was named one of the top ten show albums of 2002 by Talkin’ Broadway.com.

In the Fall of 2004, Klea turned her passion for musical-theatre history towards the Broadway career of composer Vernon Duke and debuted Autumn in New York: Vernon Duke’s Broadway at New York’s Café Carlyle and went on to play an extended run at Opia in Manhattan. The show recently played a sold-out engagement at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater.

In the Spring Klea made her Carnegie Hall debut starring with Michael Feinstein in an evening devoted to the work of composer, Jule Styne. Other recent U.S. appearances include the Fifteenth Annual Cabaret Convention at New York’s Town Hall; 92nd Street Y Lyrics & Lyricist Series (Cole Porter); Guild Hall in East Hampton; The Oak Room in the fabled Algonquin Hotel; San Francisco’s Plush Room; New Jersey Performing Arts Center; and the Chicago Humanities Festival.

In 2002, Klea made her London debut (stage, radio and television) at Royal Albert Hall. As part of the BBC Proms, she sang the role of Ado Annie in a special concert version of Oklahoma! celebrating composer Richard Rodgers centenary. She returned to London the following spring to debut Everything the Traffic Will Allow at the Greenwich Theatre.

Klea's theatre credits include Reno Sweeney in the recent production of Anything Goes at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven; the role of Debbie, the perpetually enthusiastic drummer in the original Off Broadway production of Oil City Symphony at Circle in the Square Downtown; originating the role of Rennabelle in the world premiere production of Radio Gals at Arkansas Rep and subsequent productions at The Pasadena Playhouse, LaMirada Center for the Performing Arts and The Coconut Grove Playhouse, culminating in an Off Broadway run at the John Houseman Theatre; the role of Hippolyta in By Jupiter in the York Theatre’s Musicals in Mufti series; and Piglet in Winnie the Pooh for Lincoln Center Institute.

Klea made her screen debut in the award-winning short film, “Andy Across the Water,” written and directed by Leo Geter. Klea’s television and radio appearances include "The Caroline Rhea Show", “The Rosie O’Donnell Show”, “Sesame Street”, and “A Prairie Home Companion”.

Klea is featured on the upcoming release Jule Styne in Hollywood, on the PS Classics label. Klea can also be heard on the original cast recording of Radio Gals as well as “Lost in Boston IV,” “Unsung Irving Berlin,” and “The Best of Off Broadway.” The recording of “Autumn in New York: Vernon Duke’s Broadway,” has recently been released on the Ghostlight Records label and is available at www.ghostlightrecords.com and in stores nationwide.