Sharon Wheatley is both a Broadway actress and a nationally published author of the memoir ‘Til the Fat Girl Sings.

A proud midwesterner and lover of malls, Sharon is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio where she attended the renowned Musical Theater program at University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music.

Sharon has enjoyed 20 years in New York City as a professional actress. Her Broadway credits include Avenue Q (Kate Monster/ Lucy T. Slut, Mrs. T. Yellow Bear), the final company of Cats as it finished its record breaking run at The Winter Garden Theater (Jennyanydots, The Gumbie Cat), Les Miserables (Cosette and Eponine), and The Phantom of the Opera (Madam Firman). Sharon holds the distinction of being the only actress to appear in all three of these Broadway blockbusters on Broadway. She has also toured nationally and internationally with Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera and The Sound of Music, and also originated Avenue Q at The Wynn Casino and Resort in Las Vegas (Mrs. T/Yellow Bear/ Kate and Lucy).

In addition to her Broadway career, Sharon is a featured soloist around the country with Symphony Orchestras, including The New Jersey Symphony, Detroit, Seattle, Portland, Naples, Milwaukee and Okalahoma City. This symphony work is probably the most thrilling and terrifying work she has ever done on a stage.  Her normal pre-show prayer goes something like this. “Dear God.  Thank you for this opportunity, which I have fantasized about since I was 11-years-old and singing along to my Annie album in front of all my stuffed animals.  So listen God….f I can manage to make it through singing all these songs in front of all these people without messing up or messing up the 90 musicians playing behind me, I promise I will never bother you again….until the next time I do a symphony gig.  Amen.”

As an author, Sharon has appeared on national radio shows, TV shows, and in numerous publications. Her book, ‘Til the Fat Girl Sings; From an Overweight Nobody to a Broadway Somebody, a memoirwas released on June 1, 2006 to excellent reviews and was quickly named to the Wall Street Journal’ “Best Summer Reads” list and featured on Good Morning America. (And by featured, don’t get too excited, this doesn’t mean she was interviewed on GMA, but her book did appear in a stack of books that were recommended.  It’s just as well, really, since Sharon has a slight allergy to early mornings and that would have been an alarmingly early wake up call.)

My Book, click on the image for more info and to purchase

Sharon also serves as a casting director for many projects, specializing in  corporate training videos.  She is also a voter for the TONY Awards. She is also a marvelous maker of soup. Oh! And pancakes!

When not acting or writing, Sharon also speaks to young people across the country about the importance of pursuing dreams and surviving in a society that values a small waist line over individuality. She has also run numerous musical theater workshops for aspiring actors at both the college and high school level. Sharon serves on the advisory board of Rosie’s Theater Kids.

Sharon has been married to music director Rob Meffe for 16 years and is the proud parent of 13-year-old, Charlotte Meffe and 3-year-old Beatrix  Meffe.  She wrote a parenting column for Equity News, the Actors’ Equity Association newspaper which attracted the attention of The New York Times and they featured Sharon and her family in a story and video about a Broadway Childcare project with The Actors’ Chapel.  It can be seen here (Click on the photo on the page to watch the video).

Sharon hopes to someday have a dishwasher, a washer and dryer and a golden retriever.  And a room to write in.