Artist Spotlight: Deedee Magno Hall
Note: Deedee Magno Hall is swinging with us again at FASO Swing the Night Away 2018 on Sunday, May 20 at the Signature Banquet Hall in Granada Hills, California! Cocktails at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. For ticket info, check out the event page!
"Swing the Night Away" is less than a week away, so we'd like you to get to know one of our featured artists, vocalist and actor Deedee Magno Hall! Remember to watch her perform this Saturday, March 18 at the Glendale Hilton. Cocktails at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m.! Get your tickets here.
1. Deedee grew up in musical family
Born in Portsmouth, Virginia and raised in San Diego, Deedee grew up in a family that loves to sing and dance. There was always music playing, on the radio, in the house and in the car! Her father, a chief in the U.S. Navy, taught himself how to play guitar and piano. Despite her musical upbringing, when Deedee was little, she wanted to become a dentist!
2. Deedee was an original cast member on the Disney Channel’s ”All-New Mickey Mouse Club (MMC)!"
This 1989 “Mickey Mouse Club” reboot was taped for a live audience at MGM Studios (currently known as Hollywood Studios) in Orlando, Florida. As she reminisces on those days, she thanks her loving and supportive family for moving across country with her. She also recalls that she was grateful to do what she loves — acting, singing and dancing — as a job, but was oblivious to the lack of Asian representation on TV at the time. Here at FASO, we're certain that Deedee's presence on MMC inspired young Asians and Asian-Americans to claim space on TV and beyond. Here’s an MMC feature on Deedee from back in the day.
3. Deedee was one of five Mouseketeers chosen to join a pop group called The Party.
The Party was one of the first artists on Disney's label Hollywood Records. The group recorded four albums and toured the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. They also opened for Vanilla Ice, Taylor Dayne, and Color Me Badd!
4. When Deedee was a high school senior, she asked MMC alum and ‘N Sync member JC Chasez to prom.
He said yes!
5. More recently, Deedee has found great success in TV, film and on stage!
She's played Kim in “Miss Saigon” on Broadway and on tour. Deedee has also appeared in "Wicked" as Nessarose during its first U.S. tour, and in "If/Then" both on Broadway and tour. In Los Angeles, Deedee played Diana Goodman in East West Player’s production of “Next to Normal” and co-founded the mommy singing group, Mama Bares. Deedee also voices the perfectionist Gem warrior Pearl on the acclaimed TV show "Steven Universe" on Cartoon Network!! At the 2015 Behind the Voice Actor Awards, Deedee won the award for “Best Female Lead Vocal Performance in a Television Series - Comedy/Musical” for her performance as Pearl. "Steven Universe" has quite a few beautiful musical numbers and Deedee lends her amazing vocals to them. Watch Deedee (as Pearl) train her young ally in the way of the sword.
Catch Deedee in action with us on Saturday, March 18 at the Glendale Hilton. Cocktails at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m.! Get your tickets here.