CAROLE DEMAS is best known for her critically acclaimed creation of the female lead, “Sandy”, in the original Broadway blockbuster, Grease. She originated the title role in Stephen Schwartz’s The Baker’s Wife in Los Angeles and played “Luisa” in Off-Broadway’s longest running show, The Fantasticks, at New York’s Sullivan Street Playhouse for two years. Carole starred on PBS in Great Performances/ Showstoppers -The Best Of Broadway and was recently reviewed as “a powerhouse of musical theatre”, “A vocal champion” and “consummate artist”. Carole’s singing has been described as “shimmering..” ”thrilling..” “..warmth and sweetness with surprising power”.
With thousands of performances in leading roles on and Off-Broadway and in major regional theatres, TV, Films, Radio, Recordings, in Concert, Cabaret, and her singing for the Champlain and NY Shakespeare Festivals, Carole has stolen the hearts of audiences and critics alike. She is loved and remembered by generations of fans as co-star of The Magic Garden, the most successful regional show in the history of children’s television. She was seen in guest star turns on classic prime-time shows such as Kojak, Mannix, Barnaby Jones, in recurring roles on daytime dramas and is a veteran of over 200 commercials as well as jingles and voice-overs for radio and TV.
Recently, in NYC, Carole garnered rave reviews in her new cabaret show, Summer Nights, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre. She was featured in Town Hall’s Broadway Originals Concert, Off- Broadway Close Up at Merkin Concert Hall, and 50th Anniversary Concerts for WBAI Radio, The Fantasticks (Night of 1000 Luisas) and The Lincoln Center Library For The Performing Arts. Carole and her Magic Garden partner and lifelong friend, Paula Janis, were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in November 2010.
Celebrating the 40th Birthdays of both GREASE and THE MAGIC GARDEN, Carole finished off 2012 in style with 2 full benefit concerts for The Irvington Town Hall Theatre in Westchester and Urban Stages in New York City. Looking forward to more in 2013.
The winding path of Carole’s career, highlighted in Schirmer, Citadel and Applause Books chronicling the trials and triumphs of Broadway, has taken her from her early days as Miss Vermont in The Miss Universe Contest, to major roles from coast to coast, to the Las Vegas run of her zany “Singing Chicken” voice in The Stardust Lido Show. Her cabaret and concert performances have brought funds and attention to many worthy causes. A native of Brooklyn, NY, Carole lives in Westchester County, NY with her husband, Stuart Allyn, 2 dogs, 2 cats, and Tomsonturtle, her faithful reptile friend for 47 years (and counting).