One singular sensation,
Every little step she takes,
One thrilling combination,
Every move that she makes,
One smile and suddenly nobody else will do,
You know you’ll never be lonely with you-know-who,
One moment in her presence,
And you can forget the rest,
For the girl is second best, to none, son,
Ooh! Sigh! Give her your attention,
Do I really have to mention,
She’s the one?!
– A Chorus Line
From the moment she could slip on a pair of ballet flats, Alyson Reed seemed destined for stardom. Indeed, from Cook Auditorium to the Great White Way, her star shown brilliantly as she entertained theatre goers across the country. Then, from the big screen to the small screen, she fashioned a strong and steady body of work that is the epitome of the term “working actor.” But those talents were first developed growing up in Anaheim, and at Anaheim High School, Reed blossomed as both a leader and a performer, ultimately serving to inspire a whole generation of boys and girls to embrace theatrical arts.
Alyson Reed was born in 1958 in Fullerton, the youngest of David and Elsie Reed’s five children. Growing up in Anaheim, Alyson began taking ballet classes at age 4, started performing in musical productions staged by Anaheim Parks & Recreation at age 7, and was working professionally by age 12. Reed performed at Knott’s Berry Farm and also as Alice in Wonderland in Disneyland’s Christmas Parade, which evolved into her joining regional theatre productions throughout Orange County.
After completing ninth grade at Brookhurst Junior High School, Reed began attending Anaheim High School in the fall of 1973, where she joined the Thespians Club and Pep Club and sang in the acapella choir as a sophomore advised by Carey Gibbs. For her junior year, Alyson was a varsity songleader and played the role of Nancy in the school’s stage production of the musical Oliver! under the direction of drama adviser Richard Lovegren. As a senior, Reed played the title role in the school’s stage production of Sweet Charity. Reed was also elected Associated Student Body president as a senior, becoming the first female student in Anaheim High School’s history to hold the office (she also served simultaneously as president of the Inter-Club Council). She worked closely with principal Avon Carlson and activities director John Motzkus. In addition to leading The Colony during America’s bicentennial year, as a senior Alyson was the recipient of numerous accolades, including the Daughters of the American Revolution, Bank of America Fine Arts, and Savings & Loans Outstanding Student awards.
After graduating in 1976, Reed embarked on a professional acting career. In February 1978, she was in the short-lived musical Barbary Coast. Later that same year, Reed made her Broadway theatre debut in the musical “Dancin’.” Additional Broadway credits include “Oh Brother,” “Dance a Little Closer,” and “A Grand Night for Singing.” She portrayed Marilyn Monroe in the musical “Marilyn: An American Fable” in 1983, and her performance earned her the Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Musical. In 1987, Reed was cast in the lead role of Sally Bowles in the revival production of “Cabaret,” for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. In 1992, she starred opposite Michael O’Keefe in the national touring company of the military courtroom drama play “A Few Good Men” in the role of Navy JAG Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway, and also toured as Cassie/Val in “A Chorus Line,” and Catherine in “Pippin.” During her career on stage, Reed worked with some of the most renowned directors and choreographers in Broadway history, including Michael Bennett, Bob Fosse, Michael Kidd, and Hal Prince.
In 1985, Alyson Reed made her motion picture debut in director Richard Attenborough’s movie adaptation of A Chorus Line, playing the lead role of Cassie opposite Michael Douglas. Four years later, she was featured in the Blake Edwards comedy film Skin Deep with John Ritter. Other feature film roles include the romantic drama Manhattan Merengue and the science fiction thriller Ad Astra alongside Brad Pitt.
Returning to Southern California in 1990, Reed scored her first television role that year, guest starring on an episode of the Andy Griffith mystery legal drama Matlock. Moving easily between comedy and drama, she has appeared in over 70 series and TV movies, including L.A. Law, Murder She Wrote, Frasier, Law & Order, Without a Trace, ER, Judging Amy, Chicago Hope, The X-Files, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Nip/Tuck, The Agency, Party of Five, Murphy Brown, Sisters, Providence, Crossing Jordan, Numb3rs, Boston Legal, NYPD Blue, Desperate Housewives, Bones, Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, Mad Men, and Modern Family.
Most recently, she became well known to younger viewers for the role of the eccentric teacher/musical director Ms. Darbus in the highly popular Disney Channel original movies High School Musical (2006) and its sequel High School Musical 2 (2007). Reed reprised her role in the third film High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008), which was released theatrically.
“I’m so proud to be a part of something that has totally touched kids, and totally influenced them,” Reed said in a 2008 interview with the Orange County Register. Since then, she has continued to be involved in other productions associated with the High School Musical franchise, while also donating her time and effort to charity works that promote theatre arts to young people.
