Emily Herring,

an Alabama native, was seven years old when she made her singing debut. The venue was the family station wagon; her accompaniment was the radio; her parents, sisters and brother were her captive, but delighted, audience. After hearing her angelic voice, Emily’s family encouraged her to audition for a part in a local children’s theatre production of The Wizard of Oz. She was cast as a “Munchkin,” and from that moment on, set her sights towards bigger and better roles.

At the age of eleven, Emily began formal voice lessons with Betty Rogers Alette at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Each summer, she returned to the “Pixie Playhouse” stage, where she made her start to perform such roles as Pepper (Annie), Tiger Lily (Peter Pan) and Liesl (The Sound of Music). She also signed her very first contract at the age of 16 with Mobile Opera, playing the young Elizabeth in The Ballad of Baby Doe.

After graduating from St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile, Emily attended The University of Southern Mississippi, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Music-Vocal Performance. In 1997, Emily earned a Master’s Degree in Music-Vocal Performance at the University of Tennessee and moved to New York, where she currently resides.

Since moving to New York, Emily has traveled the US and abroad, performing in numerous opera and musical theater productions. Her credits include: Featured Singer (Songs for A New World), Cinderella (Into the Woods), Anne (A Little Night Music), Lily (Secret Garden), Woman (Side by Side by Sondheim), Rosemary (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying), Valencia-cover (Merry Widow), Adele-cover (Die Fledermaus), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Angelina (Trial By Jury) and Yum, Yum (Mikado).

At the turn of the Millennium, Emily was fortunate enough to escape to Athens, Greece, to play the leading lady in a Broadway Review, The Magic of Musicals. She has also appeared in numerous review shows as a featured singer/dancer: Timbers Dinner Theatre, Fireside Dinner Theatre and Commodore Cruise Lines, where she had her own Cabaret show.

In March of 1999, Emily competed in the prestigious Savannah Onstage International Vocal Competition, in Savannah, Georgia, and took home the Bronze medal. It was in Savannah, where Emily forged a relationship with the legendary Marni Nixon, who is best known for providing the singing voice for Natalie Wood in West Side Story, Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady and Deborah Kerr in The King and I, among others. Meeting Marni has influenced Emily’s career in many important ways. Not only has Marni taught voice lessons to Emily, she has also been a mentor and friend. Since studying with Marni, Emily has landed a lead role in three Broadway National Tours: The Sound of Music (Mother Abbess), Ragtime (Mother) and Kiss Me Kate (Lilli/Kate).

In 2000, Emily co-starred with Barry Williams, best known as “Greg” in the classic TV sitcom The Brady Bunch, in Troika Tours’ production of The Sound of Music. Emily, who played the role of Mother Abbess, received a “Best Actress” nomination from The National Broadway Theatre Awards for her work.

In her second National Tour, Emily played the role of “Mother” in NETworks’ production of Ragtime. Emily has just wrapped up her third National Broadway Tour, playing the role of “Kate”, in Cole Porter’s hit musical, Kiss Me Kate. (Please visit www.kissmekatetour.com for more information.)

In her spare time, Emily enjoys spending time with her family - especially her nieces and nephews - teaching voice lessons, performing as a concert artist, bargain shopping and relaxing at her second home on Alabama’s Lake Martin.