Emily was born on July 11, 1978... that's right, 7/11, like the convenience store. Raised in the suburbs of NYC, both in Larchmont and White Plains, her formative years were spent singing into her hairbrush, making up dances, wearing dangly earrings, and belting out her own rendition of Kim Carnes’ "Betty Davis Eyes." Walking the perimeter of the living room rug to "Yellow Submarine" could entertain her for hours.

She began taking "Creative Movement" classes at the local Y... and at age 3, it was very creative! It mostly consisted of jumping over stuffed animals to music (a skill she still practices to this day). She later advanced to Ballet school and the more conventional forms of Tap, Jazz and Competitive Dance. Her comedic skills needed no honing though, and she brought down the house, auditorium anyway, in her grade school talent show lip-synching Aretha Franklin's "Respect." By this time she had also learned the entire vocal score of Dreamgirls, and the theme songs of TV shows “227” and “Amen”... This led her Jewish mother (and biggest fan) to speculate as to which side of the family Emily’’s African-American genes came from.

In middle school Emily was cast in her first musical. She was Mrs. Greer in Annie, and her one line, "Soap! No, Bubbles I think!" was enough to land her a lead in the following year's production of The Wizard Of Oz… as the Tin Man, of course.

In High School, Emily proved that she could balance cheerleading, choir, performances, rehearsals, and classes with a host of extracurricular activities including dance classes, private voice training, and too many other clubs and organizations to list. When Emily became head of dance choreography, her cheerleading team began to enter competitions, but while rehearsing for the State Championship, tragedy struck in the form of a torn ACL in her left knee. For the next two years she had to cheer in a gigantic knee brace, a situation that inspired the character of Heather in The Awesome 80’s Prom, the cheerleader who is always getting grotesquely injured. 

Throughout her teens she attended the theatre camp Stagedoor Manor. These summer experiences led her to choose a life in the theatre... and playing Vera Charles in Mame at age fourteen led her to believe she would have a very long career!

Emily later attended Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY where she earned a B.S. in Theatre and graduated with honors (yes, a B.S. in Theatre, no one understands it!) At Skidmore she was an active member of the musical theatre club, The Cabaret Troupe. She choreographed TheBest Little Whorehouse In Texas, Into the Woods, and played Fastrada in "Pippin" while stricken with mononucleosis! Her Senior Project was the direction and choreography of Sweet Charity. As a member of the acappella group The Skidmore Accents, she was awarded "Best Soloist" during the International Competition of Collegiate Acappella. Also during college, Emily took a semester off to study at the National Theatre Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center and with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford, England.  She spent summers doing work-study at Broadway Dance Center and studying Viewpoints and Suzuki with Anne Bogart and the SITI Company.  After a successful NETC audition during her senior year, she landed her first professional job at The American Theatre Festival in Nashua, NH. During that Season she did a little of everything from playing the Witch in Into the Woods, to singing “Live Free Or Die” in a world premiere musical about the State of New Hampshire.  (Red, White, and Blaine anyone??)  Sadly, that theatre no longer exists but the memories of that musical live on.

Before moving to NYC, she was an apprentice at Williamstown Theatre Festival, where she attempted her first stand up act under the direction of uber comedian Lewis Black (The Daily Show.) She also had the honor of working with esteemed Musical Directors' James Sampliner (Brooklyn, Wedding Singer, Legally Blonde) and Charlie Alterman (Fame Becomes Me, Almost Heaven.) On September 6, 2001, Emily moved to NYC... as they say, timing is everything; but even the fearsome tragedy of that week did not deter this leggy blonde Tin Man. Soon she was a singing waitress at the famous Ellen's Stardust Diner in Times Square and well on her way... Where? We're not sure, but everywhere Emily performs, whether in the Regions or Off-Broadway, audiences and critics agree she is an irresistible performer and indeed, a rising star. This was confirmed when, after 11 weeks of competition with some of New York's best and brightest young vocalists, Emily was voted #1 in the American Idol-esque XL Star competition. As the XL Star, she has established herself not only as a singular talent, but also as a reigning "fag hag" of NYC.

Check back often to see what Emily is up to!