Shoshana Bean was born in Olympia, WA and raised in Beaverton, OR. She attended the prestigious University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where she earned a BFA in Musical Theater. Upon moving to New York, she was cast in the 2000 off-broadway revival of GODSPELL, and soon after went on to tour the country in a production of LEADER OF THE PACK. Shoshana was an original cast member of the Tony Award winning broadway musical HAIRSPRAY, and after having been the standby for Idina Menzel in WICKED, Bean took over the role of Elphaba full-time in January '05. She was a back up singer for Michael Jackson's 30th anniversary concert and for KTU's Miracle on 34th street for pop artists such as Michael Jackson, Usher, Luther Vandross, Christina Aguilera, Whitney Houston and countless others. She performed alongside Brian Mcknight honoring Aretha Franklin at the Lady of Soul Awards and was featured in the Soultrain Christmas Starfest, both in 2005. Shoshana is currently writing and recording her solo album.