New ‘Girl’ in Town: Jessie Fisher to Go from Standby to Leading Lady of Broadway’s Once

Jessie Fisher will raise her hopeful voice on June 17 when she assumes the role of Girl in the Broadway production of Once. Fisher currently serves as the stand-by for the role, which she will assume full-time after Joanna Christie plays her final performance on June 15. Paul Alexander Nolan will continue to star as Guy.

Fisher makes her Broadway debut with Once. She has previously worked in Chicago with Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and Lookingglass Theatre Company. She is half of the folk duo Erik and Jessie.

Based on the award-winning 2006 indie film, Once tells the story of a whirlwind romance between an Irish street musician (known as “Guy”) and a Czech immigrant (known as “Girl”). Directed by John Tiffany and featuring music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova with a book by Enda Walsh, Once is the winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

In addition to Nolan and Christie, the current cast features Adam Wesley Brown, Laurel Griggs, David Patrick Kelly, Katrina Lenk, Brandon McGibbon, Anne L. Nathan, Madeleine Pace, Andy Taylor, Ryan Vona, Erikka Walsh, Paul Whitty and J. Michael Zygo.