Ellie Roddy is only 25 years old, and she’s already checking off parts on her Dream Roles list. “The fact that I’ve gotten to play Roxie Hart is a big check mark.”
Roddy is traveling with the national tour of CHICAGO, opening at the Providence Performing Arts Center this weekend. A native of Orlando, Roddy has been a full-time performer since she was 18. “Orlando is such a rich resource of opportunities,” thanks to all the theme parks.
She first started at Universal in the Hogwarts Universe. She earned her Equity Actors card working in “Finding Nemo” at Disney World. “I made some lifelong friends there.”
Roddy did a lot of shows regionally, with two-theater tours. Two different theaters would book the same show, giving the actors more work. She has played Anytime Annie in ‘42nd Street,” Rizzo in “Grease,” and understudied Cynthia Weil in “Beautiful.”
In 2023, Roddy auditioned for “Chicago.” “I went in for Roxie initially, but I was honestly in for every track in the show.” She made it to the finals. “I was so hopeful I would get it, but I didn’t, and I was devastated.”
But she didn’t give up. The next year, she auditioned again, both for Roxie and Velma Kelly. And she was cast as Roxy.
“We started rehearsals in September, and opened in November in Birmingham, Alabama.”
Roddy’s been dancing since she was three years old. “My parents were performers when I was a kid, so I grew up in show biz.”
Roddy’s parents actually met when performing. “My mom for the majority of my childhood was a gig singer. My dad turned to the writer and director side of things.”
“My parents found an after-school program for acting. My first show, at the age of 11, was ‘Seussical Jr.’ I played Mister Mayor.”
When we chatted, she was in Halifax, Nova Scotia with the show. “It’s a beautiful day up here.” And no, she and her castmates are not getting any pushback from Canadians for being American. “Mosly, I just say I’m sorry. This is not what I wanted.”
The end of this leg of the tour ends in June in Miami. “They’re doing another year, and we all hope to get extended.”
“Chicago” runs May 2 through May 4 at the Providence Performing Arts Center. For tickets and information, visit 401.421.ARTS or the website at www.ppacri.org.