Emily Tyra

Emily Tyra (born November 9, 1987) is an American actress, singer and dancer.

A native of Minneapolis, Tyra grew up studying dance, music, acting and improvisation. Trained in classical ballet, Tyra began her professional career in 2005 as a dancer with the Boston Ballet. In 2011, she made her Broadway debut as a singer and dancer in Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway. Recent appearances have included portrayal of Dr. Noa Kean in CBS' Code Black television series and Sasha in the horror-comedy film Harpoon.

Early life and training

Tyra was born on November 9, 1987, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. From 1998 to 2005 she studied tap, jazz and classical ballet in numerous pre-professional dance programs, including those offered by Ballet Arts Minnesota, Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, The Joffrey Ballet and on scholarship with the American Ballet Theatre. She graduated from Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minnesota.

Career

Ballet and contemporary dance

Selected by audition from more than 300 dancers, Tyra moved to Boston in the summer of 2005 and started her professional career with the Boston Ballet. As an apprentice dancer, she trained with the company’s next generation of dancers and performed in their holiday season production of The Nutcracker. She also served as an ensemble spokesperson at many media and fundraising events.

Upon completing the 2005-2006 season, Tyra turned down a professional contract to perform full-time with the Boston Ballet. She returned to Minneapolis and joined the James Sewell Ballet. For the next three years, she danced both contemporary and new works with this ensemble, focusing heavily on improvisation, multi-disciplinary performance and collaboration with the Twin Cities performing arts community.

Musical theater

After leaving the James Sewell Ballet, Tyra continued her career in theater. In 2009, Tyra had ensemble roles in Singin’ in the Rain and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Ordway Center in Saint Paul and the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, respectively. She also performed as a member of the ensemble in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the Ordway.

Broadway

Relocating from Minneapolis to New York City to pursue a career on Broadway, Tyra made her Broadway debut in 2011 with Hugh Jackman in his acclaimed Back on Broadway concert series. Can-Can and An American in Paris.

Following the cancellation of Code Black in 2018, Tyra returned to musical theater after being recruited for the lead role of Cassie Ferguson in a re-choreographed revival of A Chorus Line at the Signature Theatre.

Television and film

Beyond Broadway, Tyra has appeared in a number of television and film projects. Following co-starring appearances in several episodes of HBO's Boardwalk Empire, she undertook the role of Mia Bialy in Flesh and Bone, a Starz miniseries of 8 episodes that was first broadcast in November 2015. In 2016, she joined the cast of CBS’s Code Black television series, portraying Dr. Noa Kean in 29 episodes spanning Seasons 2 and 3.

Tyra also continues to undertake projects with independent filmmakers, most notably to date being the portrayal of Sasha in comedic horror film Harpoon. At its world premiere at the Rotterdam International Film Festival in January 2019, the film garnered positive reviews by the press.

Personal life In March 2019, Tyra was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and later underwent surgery to remove it. After her wedding to Adam Santucci in June 2019, and a brief period of recovery, Tyra returned to the performing stage in November 2019 as Cassie Ferguson in A Chorus Line. Under medical treatment as of late 2019, she remains open about her condition and has become an advocate for the cancer community. Candy (Understudy: Rose) Off-Broadway Cast (Minetta Lane Theatre) 2012-2013 Chaplin Lita Grey (Understudy: Oona O’Neill Chaplin) Broadway Cast (Barrymore Theatre) 2013 Can-Can Ensemble Staged reading in New York City, Director: David Lee 2013 Nice Work If You Can Get It Rosie (Understudy: Duchess Estonia Dulworth, Eileen Evergreen) Broadway Cast with Matthew Broderick (Imperial Theater) 2013 An American in Paris Ensemble Development Lab, Director: Christopher Wheeldon 2019-2020 A Chorus Line Cassie Ferguson Regional theater, Choreography: Denis Jones (Signature Theatre) 2023 Into the Woods Cinderella Regional theater (Guthrie Theater)

Dance

Year Company Role Notes 2005-2006 Boston Ballet Dancer 2006-2009 James Sewell Ballet Dancer Improvisation and multi-disciplinary performance