There’s a lot of debate going on now about whether the Netflix mega-hit, Orange Is The New Black, is a comedy or drama.
While it is true that the show moves freely from comedy to drama, to moments of campy humor (the chicken!) to heartbreaking tragedy (like Morello’s second season flashback episode), there is one genre that Orange hasn’t dabbled yet: the musical.
While it would be jarring for the usually grounded show to break out in song (except for a brief example in the first season’s finale, see below), the show’s large ensemble cast definitely has the chops the back it up.
While many of the Orange cast were unknown before the Netflix show debuted, a large portion of the cast has very solid musical backgrounds. From Broadway credits to record deals, the inmates in Litchfield are surprisingly musical.
Here's our Top 10 list of the Litchfield ladies showing off their skills in no particular order.
[ new page = No. 10]
Jackie Cruz
Jackie Cruz who plays Flaca Gonzales, a member of the kitchen staff, is just one OITNB cast member with a musical background. In fact, Jackie released her own EP “Hollywood Gypsy” before she got cast in Orange and continues to perform her own music as seen in this music video:
[ new page = No. 9]
Danielle Brooks
Before Danielle Brooks became Litchfield inmate Taystee Jefferson she was a Julliard trained actor and singer. While Danielle has yet to show off her pipes professionally, she’ll get in her chance in a recently announced Broadway revival of “The Color Purple.” Danielle will play Sofia (the role Oprah originated in the film) alongside Oscar-nominee Jennifer Hudson, who is also making her Broadway debut.
[ new page = No. 8]
Uzo Aduba
Speaking of Orange cast members with a Broadway pedigree, Uzo Aduba, who plays Crazy Eyes, has twice been seen on the Great White Way, most recently in the Stephen Schwartz musical “Godspell.” One of the most accomplished vocalists on the show, Uzo even got her undergraduate degree in vocal performance from Boston University. This clip is Uzo (and Rachel Bay Jones) singing a duet from “The Secret Garden” at a Broadway charity event.
[ new page = No. 7]
Laura Prepon
While Laura Prepon had many credits to her name before playing Alex Vause, none of them were particularly musical. But a little digging from her That ‘70s Show days proved that, with a little guidance, Laura could fit right in with her fellow musical inmates.
[ new page = No. 6]
Annie Golden
It’s ironic that Annie Golden’s character Norma never speaks because Annie is one of the most accomplished musical actors on the Orange set. With more than a half dozen Broadway appearances – ranging from “Assassins” to “Violet” to “On The Town” to “The Full Monty” – and a memorable film role in the film version of Hair - Annie is no stranger to musicals.
[ new page = No. 5]
Lea DeLaria
Before Big Boo came to Litchfield, her actress Lea DeLaria had a 20+ year career as a stand-up comedian, actress and cabaret singer. While her credits are numerous, highlights include stints in Broadway’s “On The Town” and “Rocky Horror Show” and being the first gay woman to perform stand-up on a late night talk show. The clip below is DeLaria singing “I Can Cook Too” on the Rosie O’Donnell show alongside Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson (making his Broadway debut as well).
[ new page = No. 4]
Kimiko Glenn
One of the newer inmates at Litchfield is hippy (and shower-adverse) Brook Soso played by New York actress Kimiko Glenn. While Orange is her first starring role, Kimiko cut her teeth on the national tour of “Spring Awakening” and the Off-Broadway musical version of Julianne Moore’s children’s book “Freckleface Strawberry” (see below).
[ new page = No. 3]
Natasha Lyonne
Season three is rough for Nicky Nichols, the former junkie played by Natasha Lyonne>. However, before Nicky, Natasha had a varied career on film (But I’m A Cheerleader and the American Pie series are highlights), on stage (“Love, Loss, And What I Wore”) and on TV. While it seems Natasha isn’t the most musical of her cast mates, she did sing a little snippet of “My Baby Just Cares For Me” in the Woody Allen film Everyone Says I Love You.
[ new page = No. 2]
Taryn Manning
With her scrawny frame and bad teeth, Pennsatucky is one of the most memorable characters at Litchfield. A very different looking Taryn Manning – who plays the ex-meth head – has a long career in music. To playing and writing music with her band Boomkat to an upcoming solo album (whose single is on iTunes now), Taryn’s musical talent has been showcased in concerts and on multiple television shows.
[ new page = No. 1]
Beth Fowler
Beth Fowler wore many different hats before donning a orange jumpsuit to play Litchfield’s resident nun. A two-time Tony-nominee with a long list of film, TV and theater credits, Beth is perhaps best known for originating the role of Mrs. Potts in the original Broadway cast of “Beauty and the Beast.”