Chilina Kennedy

Chilina Kennedy is a Canadian musical theatre actress, singer, and songwriter. She is best known for having starred as Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, having played the role for over 1,200 performances. On Broadway, Kennedy played Mary Magdalene in the 2012 revival of Jesus Christ Superstar and originated the role of Annie Lewis in Paradise Square. Kennedy also starred as Dina in the first North American tour of The Band's Visit.

Personal life Kennedy was born in Oromocto, New Brunswick, where her father was an officer in the Canadian Forces. She later graduated from the musical theatre program at Sheridan College.

In 2005, Kennedy made her Stratford Festival debut when she played Agnes in a production of Gypsy. Also with Stratford Festival, Kennedy starred as Maria in West Side Storyand as Eva Perón in Evita. She also played Philia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Lois Lane/Bianca in Kiss Me, Kate with Stratford Festival.

In 2011, Kennedy starred as Mary Magdalene in the Stratford Festival production of Jesus Christ Superstar. The musical then had a pre-Broadway engagement at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego. The musical premiered at Hartford Stage in October 2012, before also playing at the Old Globe Theatre.

In March 2015, Kennedy began starring in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical as Carole King, replacing Jessie Mueller. Kennedy left the Broadway production of Beautiful to reprise her role of Carole King in a limited engagement production of the show which played at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto between June 27 and September 3, 2017. After that production closed, she then returned to the Broadway production until leaving in 2018. Kennedy then returned to the Broadway production on January 3, 2019. After taking a hiatus to temporarily join the national tour to play Carole King at the Toronto tour stop, she rejoined the Broadway cast before playing her final show on June 9, 2019.

Kennedy starred as Dina in the North American tour of The Band's Visit, opposite Sasson Gabai.

In 2021, Kennedy starred as Annie Lewis in Paradise Square, which had a pre-Broadway engagement at the Nederlander Theatre in Chicago. She reprised her role when the production transferred to Broadway, where it played at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. Kennedy also starred as Cindy in the off-Broadway production of A Sign of the Times.

In 2024, Kennedy played Myrtle Wilson in The Great Gatsby while Sara Chase temporarily left the show on medical leave.

Kennedy played Ms. Hopkins in the pre-Broadway engagement of Life After, which ran at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto between April 16 and May 10, 2025.

Kennedy is currently starring in Billie Jean at The Chicago Shakespeare Theater. The play, written by Lauren Gunderson and directed by Marc Bruni, is scheduled to run July 18 - August 10, 2025. This is Kennedy's second production playing King, with her also playing the role in the 2024 play by Anna Deavere Smith, as well.

Eclipse Theatre Company In 2018, Kennedy founded Eclipse Theatre Company, with the aim of presenting new and re-imagined musicals in Toronto. Some of the company's early productions included Kiss of the Spider Woman and Sunday in the Park with George, to positive reviews.

Kennedy has been writing the music and lyrics for an original musical called Wild About You, which is about a woman who has to put together the pieces of her life as best as she can with her limited memory. Subsequently, industry presentations and workshops in October 2024, which included Jessica Vosk in the lead role, were held in New York.

Music In 2015, Kennedy released her debut album entitled, What You Find in a Bottle. The album consists of thirteen songs that she wrote over the previous decade.

Theatre credits Year Production Role Theatre Category 2000 Anne of Green Gables Anne Shirley Regional: Charlottetown Festival 2022 Ethel Barrymore Theatre Broadway 2023 Love All Billie Jean King La Jolla Playhouse 2024 A Sign of the Times Cindy New World Stages Off-Broadway The Last Timbit Michelle Elgin Theatre 2024; 2026 The Great Gatsby Myrtle Wilson Broadway Theatre Broadway (temporary replacement) 2025 Life After Ms. Hopkins Ed Mirvish Theatre Pre-Broadway engagement: Toronto Billie Jean Billie Jean KingRegional, Chicago Shakespeare TheatreReunions Kate and others New York City Center Stage II