5/3/2022
Performances and Artists
Award-Winning Actress, Singer and Comedian Colleen Ballinger Performs as Miranda Sings on June 11
She’s more than just a pair of red lips.
Teens and young adults nationwide recognize Miranda Sings by her overdrawn lipstick, off-key vocals and adorably obnoxious opinions.
And while this fictional character’s antics have earned more than 50 million followers on social media, her fans might be even more impressed by Sings’ creator – the highly talented singer, actress and comedian Colleen Ballinger.
Ballinger returns to The Smith Center by high demand on June 11 for another of her beloved live shows starring Sings (and also featuring Ballinger as herself). In anticipation of this performance, check out several surprising facts about Ballinger below.
She’s a Classically Trained Vocalist
While Miranda Sings’ ear-splitting vocals make for easy laughs, Ballinger in fact boasts a tremendous singing voice. She graduated from Azusa Pacific University as a vocal performance major, and her live shows give a glimpse of her true talent when she breaks out of the Sings persona to belt an impressive showtune.
In fact, Ballinger based the Miranda Sings character off of other students she met in college, who gave highly questionable singing tips and posted YouTube videos showcasing more confidence than talent.
She Recently Made Her Broadway Debut
If anyone needs more persuading about Ballinger’s vocal (and acting) abilities, she made her Broadway debut in “Waitress” in 2019. She won over audiences and critics alike playing the quirky role of Dawn Louise Pinkett, which gave Ballinger an uproarious solo song befitting her comedic stylings.
Ballinger’s “Waitress” costar and close friend Todrick Hall initially reached out to her about taking on the role, which she says fulfilled a lifelong dream.
“I grew up loving theater, and I also lived (in New York) for years auditioning,” she says. “So the thought of just getting an email to be asked to be in it was really unbelievable to me, after how long and hard I've worked to try to be on Broadway.”
She’s a Bestselling Author
Ballinger has taken her clever Sings-isms to the page, with two bestselling books written from Miranda Sings’ perspective.
Hailed by reviewers as outrageously funny, her book “My Diahhre” chronicles hilarious stories of Sings’ infancy and rise to fame. Her additional book “Selp-Helf” delivers Sings’ signature sass in her misguided life lessons and tutorials.
She Has Broken All New Ground
What could be better than billions of views on YouTube? How about your own Netflix show? Ballinger starred as Miranda Sings in her own hit Netflix Original series “Haters Back Off,” which she also created and executive produced. With two popular seasons, this show made Ballinger the very first YouTuber to land a scripted series, making her a groundbreaking force for internet stars.
Her Netflix stardom didn’t end there. Ballinger also filmed a one-hour comedy special for Netflix at the Kennedy Center, “Miranda Sings Live…Your Welcome.”
Surely more greatness awaits Ballinger on the stage and screen, and beyond.