Originally from St Louis, Missouri, actress, singer, dancer and choreographer Nicole ‘Nikki’ Snelson has most recently appeared in the Broadway Revival of Sweet Charity with Christina Applegate playing Suzanne and understudying Helene. Nicole will start rehearsals soon for the upcoming Broadway musical, Legally Blonde. She will play Brook Wyndam, the aerobics instructor on trial for killing her husband. Other upcoming projects include the Singapore premiere of Tick,Tick...BOOM! in September.
On the small screen, Snelson has been seen on Desperate Housewives, in the Showtime cable movie remake of Reefer Madness, based on hit film and musical of the same name. She also has been seen as 'Chelsea,' a reccurring role on ABC’s All My Children. Snelson’s other television appearances include The Young and the Restles, The Miss America Pageant, Guiding Light, The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and The Today Show, as well as numerous television commercials and music videos. Recently, Nikki shot Julie Taymor's Across The Universe for Revolution Films in the fall.
On Broadway, Snelson originated the role of 'Winnie Tate' in the Tony and Grammy-Award winning revival of Annie Get You Gun with Bernadette Peters. She also appeared in the concert version of Chess, a benefit performance for The Actors’ Fund starring Josh Groban, at The New Amsterdam Theatre as well as in the World Aids Day Pippin Concert. National tours include playing 'Susan' in Jonathon Larson’s Tick, Tick...BOOM!, Showboat, Hello Dolly! with Carol Channing, and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Snelson also starred in 2003 ’s critically acclaimed NYC Fringe Festival production of Slut! The Musical, a staged reading of Easter Parade directed by Tommy Tune, and the World Premiere of the new musical, How to Save the World and Fall In Love..., at the 2004 New York International Fringe Festival.
Since making her professional debut at 16 years of age, Snelson attented the Boston Conservatory and appeared in numerous regional productions including Smokey Joe’s Café, Kept, and Dorian – The Musical.
When she’s not performing, Snelson choreographs and teaches around the country. She has been on staff for The Millenium Dance Complex and The Edge in Los Angeles, as well and at the Broadway Dance Center. Nicole is currently on staff for Starquest/Conquest International. Currently Snelson resides in New York City with her boyfriend, actor Christian Campbell.
Review
HOW TO SAVE THE WORLD AND FIND TRUE LOVE...
Snelson is a lithe, sensual beauty with a great comic sense of herself.
New York Theatre.com
Snelson (who played Winnie Tate in the recent Annie Get Your Gun revival) is terrific--and looks hot in her red dress to boot.
William Stevenson - Broadway.com
Miss Snelson pulls off the toughest role with wit and elan.
New York Sun
SLUT - THE MUSICAL
Better still, we've also got a trio of characters we can care about: Adam Patterson (the adorable Stephen Bienskie), the self-proclaimed "slut" trying to conquer every girl in Manhattan; Dr. Dan Berg (Josh Tyson), his nerdy best friend; and Delia St. Louis (the sublime Nicole Ruth Snelson), the rock-star wannabe with whom they both fall in love.
Brian Lipton, New York Post
The show does have plenty of good points. Lead actress Nicole Ruth Snelson as Delia has an appealing country-rock sort of voice and undeniable charisma.
Josh Tanzer, Off Off Reviews
The love triangle involves a promiscuous charmer (Stephen Bienskie), his nerdy best friend (Josh Tyson) and the gorgeous singer (Nicole Ruth Snelson) who comes between them.
Robert Dominguez, NY Daily News
Nicole Ruth Snelson is lovely as the emotional gonna-be rock star with pipes to match.
Sharon Fogarty, NY Theatre.com
Snelson - as the alluring rock star who comes between them - has an appealing vulnerability and a dynamite voice.
Mathew Murray, Talkin Broadway.com
TICK...TICK...BOOM!
As the lone female in the cast, Nicole Ruth Snelson is an amalgamation of Mariah Carey, Donna Summer, Madonna, Melissa Ethridge, and Bette Midler. The girl can rock! Her booming soprano voice easily fills the Majestic Theatre. Snelson is blessed with the 11 o'clock number, "Come to Your Senses" (from Superbia) that will put goosebumps on your arms and cause your body to tingle due to her incredible and powerful performance of this soaring rock aria. But she also has some downright hilarious numbers that show off her dazzling exuberance as well. She and Campbell have a show stopping duet titled "Therapy" that is a jovial laugh fest about relationships and feelings, something everyone can relate to.
Talkin Broadway - John Garcia
Three talented young actors - Christian Campbell, Nicole Ruth Snelson, and Wilson Cruz star in the National Tour of Tick, Tick, BOOM. Each member of the trio not only has acting ability but can sing and dance with the best of them. Snelson is excellent, appearing as numerous people in Jonathan's life.
East Sider, Ft Lauderdale - Bette Kozarek
Snelson brings multiple vocal and dramatic talents to the show as Campbell's girlfriend as well as in a variety of short punchy characterizations throughout the program.
South Florida Sun Sentinal - Jack Zinc
Versatile and appealing.
Miami Herald - Christine Dolen
Nicole Ruth Snelson gets to show versatility by portraying a litany of characters, including his girlfriend, agent, and snooty restaurant patrons.
The Miami Express - Mary Damiano
Nicole Ruth Snelson as Susan, plays several characters each with complete confidence and equal passion.
GayLauderdale.com - Alan Saban
Campbell was out-acted by the other two actors, who have the opportunity to shift and transform into different characters. The telephone fight between Jonathan and Susan is played very well by Snelson and is so real, it really hits home.
City Pulse - Elaine Yaw
The show's best number is Come to Your Senses, the hard-driving ballad from the still unproduced Superbia, a showstopper sung by Nicole Snelson. Snelson plays Jon's girlfriend well as his raspy-voice agent and vampy star of Superbia.
Palm Beach Post - Hap Erstein
Wilson Cruz and Nicole Snelson play multiple roles brilliantly, as Jonathan's father, his agent, the star of his show, a convenience store clerk and so forth, and a nice belt-style showstopper, "Come to Your Senses," by Nicole Ruth Snelson as actress Karessa, she shows range in her good girlfriend and more over-the-top roles. All three harmonize beautifully.
Boca Raton News - Skip Sheffield
All three actors are great singers and the rock sound is a welcome change from the more traditional Broadway-genre. The show is worth some big laughs, led by Nicole Ruth Snelson and Wilson Cruz. The duo play 9 different characters throughout the show, all of them marvelously. Even if you're not into Larson or Rent, go see them.
The State News - Jeremy W. Steele
Although Jonathan has many humorous lines in the show, it is most often a one-emotion character. On the other hand, his girlfriend, Susan (played by Nicole Snelson), steals most every scene. She possesses a big, belting Broadway voice as well being a good actress and dancer. Snelson plays four other characters and totally changes personas for each one.
Lansing State Journal - Ken Glickman
What makes this show worthwhile is purely the intense energy and talent of the three person cast. Nicole Snelson highlights her incredible talent in numerous hilarious roles such as the ditzy star, annoying agent, and straight girlfriend. The actors make every scene and every line shine, and since the setting is so simple, they transform every ordinary action and activity into an opportunity for slapstick improvisation.
The Courier - Dan Thelen
Snelson as Susan is marvelous throughout, looking nicely alluring in the "Green Green Dress" that she and Campbell sing about early on. But she brings down the rafters of the Royal Poinciana with her slightly torchy, bombastic "Come To Your Senses." She's out of the picture for the next two numbers, and the enormity of "Senses" is probably the reason.
TCPalm.com - Jeff Alexander
The standout though is Nicole Ruth Snelson as the girlfriend, Susan. She is dynamite! Cruz and Snelson briefly play other characters in Jonathan's life, a visual trick which is pulled off perfectly. The shows climactic number, "Come to Your Senses" is everything you expect at the end of a musical... it's rousing, lovely and moving. Nicole Snelson sings her heart out.
TheCityWeb.com - Candice Gray
As his girlfriend, the powerful-voiced Nicole Ruth Snelson is a warm and winning presence; she wants Jonathan to give up his dream, but she makes a persuasive case for the alternative.
St. Paul Pioneer Press - Domanic Papatola
Nicole Ruth Snelson as Jonathan's dancer-girlfriend Susan is particularly compelling, turning in an excellent and thoroughly believable performance. Her musical numbers "Therapy" and "Come to your Senses" are the show's highlights.
Main Line Times - Megan Young
ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
On stage a vibrant supporting cast adds to this rich tapestry with Valerie Wright as the grating Dolly Tate and Nicole Ruth Snelson silkily playing'her younger sister Winnie.
Broadway Snapshot - Russell Bouthiller
However, Peters' supporting cast can't be faulted. Nicole Ruth Snelson makes a bright and charming impression as Winnie, she of the interracial love match.
Variety - Charles Isherwood
The show has too large a cast for extensive individual comments, especially when the star has so many strong points worth mentioning. However, the cast does have its standouts. Nicole Ruth Snelson as the underage kid sister Winnie adds much to the comic and musical pleasures of the production.
Curtains Up - Elyse Sommer
The rest of the cast is worthy of her, which says a lot. Andrew Palermo and Nicole Ruth Snelson are funny and lyrical as the secondary lovers (a bi-racial subplot added for the 1999 Revival).
New York Newsday - Linda Winer
Taking on an important supporting role, Nicole Ruth Snelson plays the more conventional ingenue Winnie Tate. Her numbers with costar Andrew Palermo simply ignite the stage and their 'Who Do You Love' duet brought the house down.
Washington Post - Richard Gist
There's also some terrific performers who, more than occasionally, upstage the other action. Nicole Ruth Snelson makes a charming Broadway debut, while she and her costar Andrew Palermo stop the show with their exuberant and agile numbers.
Family Theatre Guide - George Wachtel
The teaming of Andrew Palermo and Nicole Ruth Snelson as Tommy Keeler and Winnie Tate, the mandatory set of naive, young lovers, is a casting choice made in heaven. They dance, they sing, they pine for each other in ways which can only be described as adorable.
TalkingBroadway.com - Fergus McGill
Notable among the supporting cast are Andrew Palermo as the American Indian knife thrower, Tommy, and Nicole Ruth Snelson as Winnie, his underage sweetheart. Those two sing and dance up a storm as demonstrated in 'Who Do You Love.'"
Free Lance Star - Lucia Anderson
The subplot restores two charming numbers. 'I'll Share It All With You' and 'Who Do You Love,' the latter given an especially amusing rendition by the young lovers (winsome Nicole Ruth Snelson and agile Andrew Palermo).
Baltimore Sun - Wynn Rousuck
Nicole Ruth Snelson and Andrew Palermo are terrific dancers and singers as the young romantic duo."
Richmond Times Dispatch - Roy Proctor
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