Megan Hilty

Gifted with an impressive vocal range and a bubbly personality, Megan Hilty was born to take center stage. The theater-trained actress was just finishing her studies at the prestigious Carnegie Mellon School of Drama when she landed a lead role in "Wicked" (2004), the popular Broadway musical based on the witches of Oz. Hilty followed in the footsteps of Kristin Chenoweth to play Glinda the Good Witch in the Tony Award-winning production. Hilty also took the reigns from country legend Dolly Parton to play vivacious working gal Doralee Rhodes in the Broadway musical adaptation of "9 to 5" (2009), based on the 1980 comedy feature that starred Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Hilty's charming, larger-than-life personality also translated well in front of the camera, from her early guest appearances on television, to a featured role on "Smash" (NBC 2012-13), a hotly anticipated show executive produced by Steven Spielberg. Playing a seasoned theater star competing against an ingénue (Katherine McPhee) to star in a musical about Marilyn Monroe, Hilty showcased her dramatic flair, belted out show tunes, and proved she was a rising star capable of a successful career both onscreen and onstage. Although early positive buzz for "Smash" turned sour during the series' second season, Hilty bounced back with a co-starring role in the sitcom "Sean Saves the World" (NBC 2013-14), work in films including a featured role in Warren Beatty's Hollywood period piece "Rules Don't Apply" and continued stage work, including a starring role in an acclaimed revival of Michael Frayn's farce "Noises Off" in 2016.