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Ellen Bullinger (Actress/Contralto) has a unique versatility for many musical genres and brings her passion to performing Broadway, Jazz, Pop, Classical and Sacred Music. This elegant songstress with a voice and heart of gold has performed all over the world and resides in NYC.
Ellen performed in the German production of The Phantom of the Opera for three years in Hamburg, Germany, portraying the role of Madame Giry (Kristen Blodgette, Musical Supervisor). There she was a live soloist on NDR Radio Hamburg. While abroad, Ellen performed Lullaby of Broadway in concert on German cruise ships with baritone, Jorg Westerkamp, throughout The Caribbean and South Africa. Also internationally, Ellen garnered standing ovations as she toured the Middle East and Far East headlining her one-woman shows, Dream and Here’s to Life with The Legend of the Seas 11-piece Orchestra on Royal Caribbean Cruises. Her charts were arranged by Shelly Markham, with orchestrations by Eddie Karam, Tex Arnold, and Harold Wheeler.
In NYC, Ellen starred as Leading Lady in the off-Broadway hit musical celebration, Our Sinatra, at The Reprise Room with Tony Desare/ Peter Cincotti and Tom Postilio, and later reprised the role at the famed Birdland Jazz Club with Ronny Whyte and Brian Long. Ellen most recently reprised the role again in December 2022 at Birdland Jazz Club with Eric Comstock and Brian Long. All performances featured Boots Maleson on bass. Regionally, she has performed in Our Sinatra at The Stage Door Theatre in FL with Ronny Whyte and Christopher Gines. Ellen also appeared as Gymnasia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at both The Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, NY and The Riverside Theatre, FL, and as Opal McHone in the world premiere of Christy at The Cumberland County Playhouse, TN. She also played Diana in Lend Me a Tenor at the Women's Project Theatre NYC, to benefit the Pediatric HIV Program at St. Vincent's Hospital. Ellen has appeared in many Great American Songbook Concert Series at The Bristol Riverside Theatre in PA, including The Song is You…Songs of The Great American Songbook, I’ve Got You Under My Skin…Songs of the 1930’s, For Sentimental Reasons…a Tribute to the Unforgettable Nat “King” Cole, Once Upon a December…a Winter Musicale, and Ellington by Starlight…a Tribute to “The Duke.” Ellen has recently appeared in NYC in the staged industry reading of Miracolo, a new musical, in the role of Nonna, as well as in the staged industry reading of Fire Island, The Musical, in the role of Mitzi, both shows composed by Grammy award winner Emilio Solla and lyricist/playwright Jarlath Barsanti-Jacobs.
Miss Bullinger has headlined in concert with the Ocean City NJ Pops 26-piece Orchestra in Broadway Showstoppers and A Night at the Cabaret and, according to the Ocean City Sentinel, was “a total success” as she “wowed the audience,” “caused a near riot” and “had all the males breathing heavily.” Ellen's beautiful arrangements were orchestrated by Tedd Firth.
In cabaret, Ellen performed her show, Dream, at Eighty-Eight’s, NYC, accompanied by her musical director, Broadway conductor, Mark Hartman. They also performed this show as a benefit to build a beautiful new wing of her grade school, St. Margaret's, in Woodbury Heights, NJ, where she grew up singing at St. Margaret's church. She has also performed with Broadway composer Mickey Leonard in The Music of Michael Leonard at The Firebird, The Metropolitan Room, and The New York Sheet Music Society. Ellen has also performed in concert with award-winning composers, Bryon Sommers and Barry Levitt. She also performed in concert The Story Goes On…benefiting The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation at The Laurie Beeckman Room. Ellen has most recently performed her WWII concert, Memory Lane, a Sentimental Journey through the Timeless Songs of the 30's and 40's in Fort Worth, Texas with her jazz quintet led by trumpet player, James Warden, for the Bright Lights Memory Lane Banquet produced for Sagamore Baptist Church by Sid Willis.
Ellen has enjoyed singing with many different orchestras, which include touring and recording with The Bud Forrest String of Pearls Big Band in Holiday Swing, as well as performing with The Supper Club Orchestra at The Supper Club, The Garden Orchestra at Tavern on the Green, The Alan Quinn Orchestra, The Jump City Jazz Orchestra, The Chris Byars Octet, The Rich Siegel Trio, and jazz ensembles led by Kevin Fox, Matt Baker, and Tedd Firth. Ellen has also sung The National Anthem for the LA Dodgers.
Ellen has entertained at upscale venues worldwide with pianist Michael Walsh and The Smooth Spot Jazz Trio. They have performed at The Grandhotel Giessbach in Switzerland, The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia, The City Island Yacht Club, and in many of NYC’s elegant rooms including The Carnegie Club, The Oak Room at The Plaza Hotel, The Grand Hyatt Regency, The Blue Fin at The W Hotel, The Firebird, Swing 46, Mix, Chez Suzette and The Greenroom, as well as at countless private parties. They also performed a special benefit concert at Sam’s for The September 11th Fund, What the World Needs Now…Music to Lift the Spirits. They have recorded many beautiful songs together, and also produced two albums together: Ellen's Christmas album, Christmastime is Here, and her inspirational album, Leap of Faith.
As a studio musician, Ellen has recorded many original theatre, pop, and country songs for songwriters and has also recorded several concept albums of new musicals, including The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Tart, musically directed by David Shenton, Tusk, with music composed by Bryon Sommers and Norman Rea, Wicked Moon, opposite Broadway baritone Sal Viviano, and musically directed by Maestro Barry Levitt, and most recently, Miracolo, a new musical written by Jarlath Jacobs and Emilio Solla. Ellen is also featured on Latin pop star Alejandro Lagrotta’s album, Levantante, in their original duet, “Do You Believe in Love (This Way)?” on Tierra Roja Music, recorded in Panama.
Ellen worked as a cantor, leading prayer through song, at The Church of St. Paul the Apostle, a gorgeous Catholic cathedral in Manhattan near Lincoln Center for 15 years. Ellen has also coordinated and sung the music for hundreds of wedding ceremonies/receptions and funerals. Ellen performed her half-classical, half-jazz Christmas recital, O Night Divine, at St. Paul's with her pianist/arranger, Bill Lewis and cellist, E. Zoe Hassman, to benefit the homeless shelter at St. Pauls's where she has been volunteering for over 10 years. Ellen has a deep passion for making a difference, which grew during her travels to 40 countries, which included several 3rd world countries, and then served as Co-Director of The St. Paul the Apostle Homeless Shelter in NYC for 4 years. Ellen has been a guest soloist at the Spiritual Arts Center NYC for Thanksgiving and Christmas. On special occasions like Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, Ellen has cantored mass at St. Margaret Church of Infant Jesus Parish in Woodbury Heights, NJ where she grew up singing. Ellen often joins her dear vocalist and music minister friends, Barbara and Shauna Dever in singing special concerts at Sacred Heart Church in Camden, NJ for St. Patrick's Day and annually at The Hearts and Hands Festival.
You can often catch Ellen and her stellar jazz ensembles in NYC at Flute Midtown or Swing 46 Jazz & Supper Club on Restaurant Row for your dining and dancing pleasure.
Miss Bullinger attended the Hartt School of Music at The University of Hartford in Connecticut and holds a Bachelor of Music in Opera. She studies voice with her mentor, opera star Dr. Barbara Dever, and has studied with the phenomenal Dr. Michael Warren. She also teaches private voice lessons at her midtown Manhattan vocal studio and online on Skype and Facetime. Please see the Voice Studio page for more info. Ellen is a proud member of The Actor's Equity Association (AEA) and The Screen Actor's Guild (SAG-AFTRA).
Photo by Peter Hurley
Ellen’s uplifting Christmas album, Christmastime is Here, is available digitally online on Amazon and iTunes etc, and the hardcopy CD is available directly from her ...please let her know if you would like to place an order or a signed copy!
Ellen's inspirational album, Leap of Faith, features Irish, Inspirational and Sacred favorites, including Ellen's original composition, "Leap of Faith". The hardcopy CD with personal liner notes and cover art is available directly from Ellen...please let her know if you would like a signed CD. The digital album is soon to be released online!
Listen to the title track here:
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