Karenssa LeGear

Karenssa LeGear
LeGear in 2019
Alma mater
Occupations
Years active2001–present
Known forMusical theatre performances throughout California, Arkansas, Arizona and film roles for television network Lifetime
Notable credits

Karenssa LeGear is an American actress, filmmaker and SAG/AFTRA member who appeared in musical theatre plays including Les Misérables (2014) as Cosette and Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2007). She has Best Actress nominations at Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema for Carving a Life (2017) and at GI Film Festival San Diego for Refuge (2017).

Early life

LeGear grew up in Oceanside, California, starting her career as a singer at age 13. She graduated from Vista High School and holds a bachelor of arts degree in music-voice at University of California, Los Angeles. In 2015, LeGear graduated from Ruskin School of Acting where she studied Meisner technique. She is a member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors' Equity Association and has dual citizenship in the United States and Australia.[1]

Career

In 2004, LeGear portrayed Margarita Fischer for a recreation of the historical past at Rancho Buena Vista Adobe.[2] She has performed in several musicals and plays including The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Les Misérables[1] and has conducted interviews with Geena Davis, Adrien Brody and John Boyega for That's My Entertainment at the San Diego International Film Festival.[1] In 2017, LeGear starred as Lauren in Carving a Life. The film was not well received but Adam Keller at Film Threat said her performance was "solid"[3] and Katie Walsh at Los Angeles Times called her presence "empathetic".[4] LeGear has supporting roles in the Lifetime films Killer Caregiver and Killer Contractor, guest starred in Veronica Mars[5] and co-directed a short film called Capture.[6]

Stage credits

Year Title Role Location Notes
2001 The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling — Vista High School, Vista, California High school performance[7]
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Woman in White Encore Youth Theater, Vista, California [1]
2003 Annie Lily Moonlight Youth Theatre, Vista, California [8]
2007 A Midsummer Night's Dream Puck Schoenberg Hall, Los Angeles, California [9]
2008 The Medium Mrs. Nolan Schoenberg Hall, Los Angeles, California
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Encore Youth Theater, Vista, California Director[10]
The Threepenny Opera Lucy (matinee) / Whore Los Angeles Theater Center, Los Angeles, California [11]
2009 Music and Memories Angel Welk Resorts Theatre, Escondido, California [12]
2010 The Pirates of Penzance Mabel Welk Resorts Theatre, Escondido, California [13]
The House of Yes Lesly Compass Theatre, San Diego, California [14]
Into the Woods Rapunzel New Village Arts Theatre, Carlsbad, California [15]
2011 The Phantom of the Opera Christine Daaé McKinney Theatre, Mission Viejo, California
Phantom Carlotta Candlelight Pavilion, Claremont, California
Man of La Mancha Antonia Welk Resorts Theatre, Escondido, California [16]
2012 Man of La Mancha Antonia Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Long Beach, California Musical Theatre West[17]
2014 Les Misérables Cosette Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Little Rock, Arkansas [1][18][19]
Les Misérables Cosette The Phoenix Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona [1]
2015 Gianni Schicchi Nella Cowell Theater, San Francisco, California Merola Opera Program
2016 On The Twentieth Century Imelda Thornton Los Angeles Theatre, Los Angeles, California

Filmography

Feature films
Year Title Role Notes
2012 The Kult Natasha Snow
2017 Carving a Life Lauren [20]
2018 Killer Caregiver Patty Lifetime TV Movie
The Calling Holly Jensen
Christmas Harmony Pamela Lifetime TV Movie
2019 Killer Contractor Claire Lifetime TV Movie
2022 Starf*cker Karen
Short films
Year Title Role Actor Director Producer
2015 The Recency Effect Trixy Yes No Yes
2016 Remember Me Leslie Yes No Co-producer
Valhalla Naomi King Yes No No
2017 Refuge Diane Yes No No
Jordan Hates the Writing Marilyn Monroe Yes No No
One Good Day Diana Yes No No
2019 Capture Dana Co-director Yes Co-producer
In the Absence of Eden Kalissa 'Lissy' Co-director Yes Yes
2021 Moving Out[21] Joanne Yes No Executive

Accolades

Event Year Award Title Result Ref.
GI Film Festival San Diego 2017 Best Actress Refuge Nominated [22]
Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema 2018 Best Actress Feature Film Carving a Life Nominated
Best Ensemble Cast Feature Film Carving a Life Nominated
Horrible Imaginings Film Festival 2020 Best Home Grown Local Film Capture Won

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Sherman, Lola (2015-12-03). "Films coming back to county". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
  2. ^ Kabbany, Jennifer (2004-05-16). "Volunteers to recreate adobe's past". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  3. ^ Keller, Adam (2018-05-09). "Carving A Life | Film Threat". Film Threat. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  4. ^ Walsh, Katie (2017-10-13). "Review: Indie drama 'Carving a Life,' about addiction, means well but is ineptly made". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  5. ^ "Karenssa LeGear - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  6. ^ Accomando, Beth (2019-04-10). "Third Annual San Diego Film Week Looks To Local Filmmakers". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  7. ^ Reed, Candice (2001-11-10). "Vista students perform unusual play". North County Times. pp. B-1, B-8. Retrieved 2023-06-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Scott-Blair, M. (2003-06-22). "'Sun will come out' at moonlight | youth theater brings 'Annie' to local stage". San Diego Union Tribune. pp. N-7. ISSN 1063-102X. ProQuest 272126848 – via ProQuest.
  9. ^ Sanders, Kim (2007-01-31). "Heating Up 'Midsummer'". Daily Bruin. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  10. ^ "National Youth Theatre - Reviews". National Youth Theatre. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  11. ^ "3pennyopera". University of California. 2008. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  12. ^ Baldridge, Charlene (2009-01-22). "Pickard channels Mr. Lee with 'Music and Memories'". La Jolla Village News. 14 (12): 10 – via Issuu.
  13. ^ "The Pirates of Penzance, Must See Theatre for All Ages!". La Jolla Village News. 15 (30): 5. 2012-04-08 – via Issuu.
  14. ^ Lowerison, J. (2010-01-28). A tone-deaf diva and the twisted rich. Gay & Lesbian Times, 1153, 42.
  15. ^ Kragen, Pam (2010-09-29). "Theater Review: New Village's 'Woods' a solid musical debut". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  16. ^ Eadie, Bill. "Talkin' Broadway Regional News & Reviews: San Diego - "Man of La Mancha" - 9/14/11". Talkin Broadway. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  17. ^ Rosas, Jackie (2012-02-16). "'Man of La Mancha' 'enthralls,' audiences". Daily 49er. 59 (456): 6 – via Internet Archive.
  18. ^ Stephenson, Will (2014-03-06). "'Les Mis' returns to Rep". Arkansas Times. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  19. ^ Maxwell, Stephanie (2014-03-04). "Les Mis back on The Rep stage". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  20. ^ Olson, Chris (2017-12-12). "Carving a Life indie film". UK Film Review. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  21. ^ "Moving Out". Film Independent. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  22. ^ "GI Film Festival San Diego Selects 12 Titles for Local Film Showcase". GI Film Festival San Diego. Retrieved 2023-04-22.