Elisa Heinsohn - Cast Member of the Month

 

Elisa Heinsohn was born on 11th October 1962 and named Marvel Elisa Heinsohn. Her star sign is  Libra.  Librans have been described as extroverted, cosy, and friendly people. Like the Scales that symbolize the sign, they are often concerned with attaining balance, harmony, peace, and justice in the world.

Born in Butler Pennsylvania Elisa had a sheltered upbringing in Hudson Ohio. Her father Marvel  was in sales and marketing and her mother Shirley was an accountant. She graduated Hudson High school in 1980.

Growing up Elisa wanted to be a Ballerina and studied at the Cleveland School of Ballet. She performed with both the Cleveland and Baltimore Ballet companies.

In 1981 Elisa joined American Dance Machine and made her stage debut in Japan. Having moved to New York she appeared ion dinner theatre productions of Oklahoma and The Sound of Music.

Elisa toured America as the prima ballerina in Woman of the Year in 1983 and then returned to Broadway in Michael Bennett's workshop of Scandal. Encouraged by her boyfriend she started auditioning for film and TV work. Her first film was Joey which was released in 1986.

Then came "Fame", which was Elisa's television debut playing the character of Jillian Becket in 19 episodes of season 6. "It was one of my all time favorite shows ever, way long before I got on the show. And definitely one of my favorite jobs to date. Jillian Beckett experienced it all, way more than I did in high school."

Filming the show meant moving to L.A. for the first time and being converted to driving a car.

After Fame Elisa returned to Broadway and played Meg Giry in the original Broadway cast of Phantom of the Opera.

In 1993 she played Sam Collins in the TV Series Dark Justice and appeared on other TV shows like the Crew and Caroline In the City.

Elisa now lives in New Jersey with her husband and son.