Courtney Reed

Courtney Rhodes Reed, born August 10, 1984, in Elgin, Illinois, is an American actress and singer best known for originating the role of Princess Jasmine in Disney's Aladdin on Broadway. Her father is Caucasian American, and her mother, who is of Vietnamese descent, was born and raised in Thailand. Reed began performing at age six, taking on the role of a mouse in a Children's Theatre of Elgin production of Cinderella. A subsequent community theater casting as Annie motivated her to pursue a professional career in musical theater. She went on to study Musical Theatre at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where she also participated in the theater conservatory program.

Reed's Broadway career spans from 2001 to 2022. Her early stage credits included serving as a replacement understudy for the roles of Lisa and Ali in Mamma Mia!, as well as joining the final Broadway cast of In the Heights as an understudy and replacement for the roles of Vanessa, Nina, and Carla. Though she had considered relocating to Los Angeles under the assumption that television work was a prerequisite for Broadway success, she found herself cast in stage productions quickly.

Her most prominent role began in 2011, when she joined the original cast of Aladdin as Princess Jasmine at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle. The production expanded through regional and international engagements in 2012, followed by a Toronto tryout the next year. Reed continued in the role when Aladdin opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway on March 20, 2014, remaining with the production until January 11, 2018. She subsequently reprised the role on the North American Tour for a limited engagement and appeared in the West End production as part of its closing cast in 2019. Reed returned to the Broadway production for an additional limited engagement, beginning October 16, 2019, and took her final bow as Princess Jasmine on October 27, 2019.

Reed joined the North American touring cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical as Satine in September 2021, performing alongside Conor Ryan as Christian. She later assumed the role on Broadway beginning August 1, 2023, opposite Casey Cott as Christian. Her film work includes the role of Candy 1 in the 2007 film Crime Fiction and Ryder in the 2014 film A New York Love Story. Her television appearances include a guest role as Alana Gonzalez in a Law & Order: SVU episode titled "Above Suspicion," as well as appearances in White Collar and The Affair. Reed is also the founder of Gagged Chokers, a company offering a collection of chokers organized around seasonal and holiday themes, among other designs.