Dana Dawson made her theatrical debut at the age of 7 in the 4th National Tour of Annie in the role of orphan July, opposite Allison Smith as Annie.

In 1993, Dana appeared in the American Stage Company revival of the 1970-musical The Me Nobody Knows. [NYTimes review]

At 15, she recorded her debut album Paris New York And Me. She spent the summer of 1996 in England promoting her 2nd CD Black Butterfly which includes the dance hit "3 Is Family."

Dana joined the 2nd National Tour of "RENT" in October 2000 and was a swing/Mimi and Joanne understudy with that cast until the tour closed in July 2001.

Black Station/Universal Records Europe released Dana's newest dance single "Nice Life" in summer 2001.

Dana made her Broadway debut in "RENT" in August 2001 as a swing/understudy for 6 weeks. Dana continued as an oncall swing for the Broadway cast of "RENT" from 2002-2007.

"Falling In Love Again," a song Dana Dawson recorded with FLJones, can be heard in the independent film "200 American."

Dana Dawson's single "Have A Nice Life" appears as track 11 on the soundtrack for the Disney television show LIZZIE MCGUIRE starring Hilary Duff, released August 13, 2002 on Buena Vista Records. In less than a year, the soundtrack has gone Platinum having shipped over 1 million copies in the U.S., August 5, 2003.

Dana played the role of Charlane in the Huntington Theatre Company at Boston University production of "Ain't Misbehavin'" the Thomas "Fats" Waller Musical Show, from September 12 to October 19, 2003. [production photos]

Dana Dawson understudied the roles of The Radio and Emmie Thibodeaux in the Off-Broadway production of "Caroline, or Change" (Book and Lyrics by Tony Kushner, Music by Jeanine Tesori, Directed by George C. Wolfe) at New York Public Theater until February 1, 2004.

In summer 2004, Dana Dawson was the understudy Urchin in the Broadway revival Little Shop of Horrors and tour with the show in 2005.

Dana Dawson performed as Yolanda/Ogun in the Asolo Repertory Theatre production of Crowns in Sarasota, Florida, 2006.

In April 2007, Dana performed in the American Musical Theatre of San Jose production of Smokey Joe's Cafe. [photo gallery]

• 2001 Exclusive website interview
  
• 2001 Interview from The Patriot-News in Pennsylvania

SHOW BIOS

"RENT" Broadway
DANA DAWSON (Understudy) is thrilled to make her Broadway debut, having just returned from the national tour of Rent. A native New Yorker, Dana is an international recording artist with two gold albums to her credit. She has appeared in national and regional theatre, commercials and television specials. Dana thanks her family for their love, Shirley Grant Management, and the Lord for his many blessings.

"RENT" Second National Tour (October 2000 - July 2001)
DANA DAWSON (Swing/Understudy), a native New Yorker, is an international recording artist with two gold albums to her credit. She has appeared in national and regional theatre, commercials and television specials. Dana is thrilled to be in Rent. She thanks her family for their love and the Lord for His many blessings.

"ANNIE" summer stock production
DANA DAWSON (July) 9, has appeared in regional theatre productions and toured in the Guber and Gross production of Annie last year. Dana has modeled, appeared in television commercials, and sings in the professional young people's revue, The Early Show. In NYC, Dana studies voice with Gene McLaughlin, tap and jazz at the Hines-Hatchett Broadway Dance Studio, and ballet at the Alvin Alley American Dance Center. She attends the Kew-Forest School in Queens, N.Y. where she is in the fifth grade.