Megan Hilty

Megan Hilty was born on March 29, 1981, in Bellevue, Washington. She developed an early interest in music, beginning vocal lessons at age 12 and contemplating a career in opera. Her early education included Sammamish High School, the Washington Academy of Performing Arts Conservatory High School, and the Chrysalis School. Hilty later attended Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, graduating in 2004. Shortly before her graduation, she auditioned for the national tour of *Little Shop of Horrors*, initially cast as Audrey. After a change in casting, she successfully auditioned for *Wicked*, marking the beginning of her notable Broadway career. These early experiences established her foundation in musical theatre performance.

Hilty made her Broadway debut in August 2004 as the standby for Glinda in *Wicked*, taking over the principal role on May 31, 2005. She performed the role until May 28, 2006, and later reprised it for the national tour and the Los Angeles sit-down production, concluding her run in January 2009. Her career expanded into television with guest appearances on shows like *The Closer*, *Ugly Betty*, and *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation*. A significant career milestone was her role as Doralee Rhodes in the musical adaptation of *9 to 5*, which premiered in Los Angeles in 2008 and moved to Broadway in 2009. For this performance, she earned nominations for the Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama League Award, and Drama Desk Award. She also provided the singing voice for Snow White in the animated film *Shrek the Third* (2007).

In 2011, Hilty was cast in the NBC musical-drama series *Smash* as Ivy Lynn, a role for which she received widespread recognition. Her work on *Smash* included the Grammy Award-nominated song “Let Me Be Your Star.” Following *Smash*, she starred in the NBC sitcom *Sean Saves the World* (2013-2014) and released her debut solo album, *It Happens All the Time*, in 2013. Hilty returned to Broadway in 2016 for the revival of *Noises Off*, earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play. Her recent stage work includes starring as Madeline Ashton in the stage adaptation of *Death Becomes Her*, receiving another Tony nomination in 2025. Her diverse career showcases a range of talents in acting and singing across various entertainment platforms.