Lea Michele's Broadway debut occurred in 1995 as a replacement cast member of the original production of Les Miserables (Cosette). This was followed by her creation of the role of Tateh's daughter, the Little Girl, in the 1998 original Broadway cast of Ragtime (musical). In 2004, Lea played Shprintze and understudies Chava in the revival of the musical Fiddler on the Roof.
Regionally she has appeared in The Diary of Anne Frank as Anne. Lea's Television appearances to date include "Third Watch" and "Guiding Light". At age 14 Lea won the part of Wendla in the workshop for Duncan Sheik's musical version of Spring Awakening.
[4] She was part of two subsequent workshops for the same part and was eventually offered the originating Broadway role in 2006. As luck would have it, she was also invited to perform the role of Eponine in the Broadway revival of "Les Miserables". She chose to remain with Spring Awakening which debuted December 10, 2006.
(The part of Eponine went to Celia Keenan-Bolger.) In April of 2007 Ms. Michele was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performance in Spring Awakening as Lead Actress in a Musical.[3] Ms. Michele can also be heard on the Original Broadway Cast Recordings of Ragtime (musical), Fiddler on the Roof and Spring Awakening.