Peyton Ella

Peyton Ella, age 7, is excited and grateful to have been cast in the role of Gretl in NBC's Sound of Music airing live on December 5th. She is currently in rehearsal in New York City with a star-studded cast including the amazing Carrie Underwood, Stephen Moyer. Audra McDonald, Christian Borle and Laura Benanti.

Peyton is loving every second of this amazing journey which started from an open call audition where she was #545 in line.

The youngster says the best part of this experience is learning every day from her "on set" Von Trapp siblings, which include Ariane Rinehart, Ella Watts-Gorman, Michael Nigro, Joe West, Sophia Caruso & Grace Rundhaug.

Peyton has been dancing long before she could walk and singing long before she could talk. Instead of wanting birthday parties, she would ask to see Broadway shows to celebrate the milestones in her young life.

It wasn't long before Peyton began asking how she, too, could perform on stage someday. Her mom knows exactly what that passion to perform feels like. Peyton is proud to be following in the footsteps of her mother, who also began her theatrical career at the same age of 7. Ironically, her mom's first role was in Richard Rodgers's last Broadway musical entitled
"I Remember Mama". It is very similar situation to Peyton, who also now has the privilege of singing Richard Rodgers' songs in a professional atmosphere.

Prior to Peyton's first professional auditions, she trained rigorously, often several days a week at studios in Manhattan. Dance lessons began at age 3, and singing lessons started at age 6.

The first role Peyton landed was in the Random Farms Kids Theater's prestigious "mainstage" in Westchester County, NY. Peyton was cast as young Shrek, Grumpy the dwarf, & ensemble in SHREK THE MUSICAL, and gained invaluable, hands-on theatrical experience. In addition, Peyton performed the title role in CINDERELLA, also for RFKT, and played a Who-girl in a local production of SEUSSICAL. Next, she was cast as one of the "Young Cosettes/Young Eponines" in a regional production of LES MISERABLES, which has been a dream role since since seeing the movie last year.

Peyton would like to thank the incredible teachers at her school who have supported her in this journey, as well as the team of professional singing, acting and dance teachers in New York City, without whom none of this would be possible.

Much gratitude to Peyton's great representatives, Nancy Carson and the Carson-Adler team, as well as Kim Pedell/Zoom Management. Finally, Peyton is forever grateful to Bernard Telsey, Abbie Brady-Dalton, & Telsey & Co. for giving her a chance.

Peyton is the fourth daughter out of five children, and is in 2nd grade.