Introduction
Charissa Hogeland built her name on some of the biggest musical theater stages in the country, and her path from Los Angeles kid to Broadway performer is one worth knowing. Charissa Hogeland joined the original off-Broadway cast of Heathers: The Musical, then went on to understudy Elsa in Frozen on Broadway. That range, from scrappy downtown theater to a Disney mainstage, tells you a lot about her work ethic.
Along the way she picked up national tour credits, television appearances, and a side career as a vocal coach and dance educator. This article walks through her early life, her training, her stage credits, and the teaching work she does today, so you get a full and accurate picture of who Charissa Hogeland is.
Who is Charissa Hogeland?
Charissa Hogeland is an American actress, singer, and dancer known for her work in musical theater, including Heathers: The Musical off-Broadway and an understudy run as Elsa in Broadway’s Frozen. Born in Los Angeles in 1990, she trained formally in acting at UCLA before heading east to build her career in New York theater. Her breakout came with the original off-Broadway cast of Heathers, where she started as Dance Captain and Goth Girl before stepping into understudy roles for Veronica Sawyer and Heather Chandler, performing both leads multiple times during the run.
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Since then, Hogeland has expanded well beyond that first credit. She played Nicola in the first national tour of Kinky Boots, took on Sally Bowles in a critically praised regional production of Cabaret, and appeared in Showboat at Lincoln Center and The Cher Show at both Ogunquit Playhouse and Gateway Playhouse. As of 2026, she also teaches on the faculty at Joffrey Ballet School in New York City and performs solo concerts as a singer-songwriter, giving her a career that spans performing, touring, and coaching the next generation of musical theater performers.
Quick Facts About Charissa Hogeland
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Charissa Hogeland |
| Nickname | Charissa Hogeland |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of Birth | February 9, 1990 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 36 |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California |
| Hometown | Los Angeles, California |
| Current Residence | Harlem, New York City |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White / European Descent |
| Education / Degree | Bachelor’s degree in Acting, UCLA |
| Profession | Actress, singer, dancer, vocal coach |
| Languages Spoken | English |
| Hobbies & Interests | Hiking, thrifting, live baseball games |
| Siblings | Has a sister |
Charissa Hogeland Early Life in Los Angeles
Charissa Hogeland was born on February 9, 1990, in Los Angeles, California. She grew up as a self-described California girl, with an early pull toward music and performance that stuck with her through school. That upbringing on the West Coast shaped her sense of humor and her work ethic long before she ever set foot on a New York stage.
Her family life outside of her career has stayed largely private, and she has not shared extensive details about her parents or upbringing in interviews. What is known is that she has a sister, though further family background has not been made public. As of 2026, Hogeland keeps most personal details about her childhood out of the press, which is consistent with how she handles her private life today.
Physical Appearance
| Physical Appearance | Details |
|---|---|
| Height (Feet/Inches) | 5 feet 9 inches |
| Height (cm) | 175 cm |
| Weight (kg) | 61 kg |
| Weight (lbs) | 135 lbs |
| Eye Color | Hazel |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Body Type | Athletic / Toned |
| Skin Tone | Fair / Light |
| Shoe Size | US Women’s 8.5 (EU 39) |
| Piercings | Earlobe piercings |
| Distinctive Features | Short wavy brown hair, hazel eyes, defined facial features, delicate features, and a warm natural smile. |
Charissa Hogeland Education and Acting Training
Before her professional career took off, Charissa Hogeland studied acting formally rather than jumping straight into auditions. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Acting from the University of California, Los Angeles, a program known for producing working actors across film, television, and theater.
That UCLA training gave her a foundation in vocal technique and scene study that she still draws on today, both as a performer and as a coach. In fact, her current teaching work leans heavily on the fundamentals she picked up there. Her academic background also explains why she has been able to move so fluidly between musical theater, straight plays, and screen work over the course of her career.
Career Beginnings in Heathers the Musical
Charissa Hogeland’s professional break came with Heathers: The Musical, where she joined the original cast at New World Stages in New York City. She started out as Dance Captain and as Goth Girl in the ensemble, and she later stepped into understudy roles for Veronica Sawyer and Heather Chandler.
She performed those leading roles multiple times during the run, which gave her real exposure as a lead well before she had top billing. That kind of ensemble-to-understudy path is common in off-Broadway theater, but it takes discipline to actually land the part when the call comes. Her work in Heathers put her on the radar of casting directors working in bigger houses, and it remains one of the credits she is best known for among musical theater fans.
Charissa Hogeland Broadway Debut in Frozen
As of 2026, Charissa Hogeland’s most prominent Broadway credit is her run in Disney’s Frozen, where she served as an understudy for the role of Elsa. Stepping into Elsa on Broadway, even as an understudy, is a significant achievement given the vocal demands of the role and the scale of the production.
Understudying a lead in a Disney musical means learning blocking, choreography, and vocal arrangements built for a specific singer, then making the part her own on short notice. She has performed the role in Broadway in Bryant Park events as well, giving fans outside the theater a chance to hear her take on songs like “Let It Go.” This credit remains a highlight of her Broadway career and a frequent reference point in her professional bio.
National Tour Success in Kinky Boots
Hogeland took her talents on the road with the first national tour of Kinky Boots, where she played Nicola. Touring productions demand a different kind of stamina than sitting in one city for a long run, since the cast performs in a new venue nearly every week.
That tour exposed her to audiences across the country who might never see an off-Broadway or Broadway show in New York. Playing Nicola in Kinky Boots also broadened her range, since the role sits in a very different musical and emotional register than the material she had tackled in Heathers. It’s one more example of how Charissa Hogeland has built a career on versatility rather than repeating the same type of role.
Regional Theater and the Role of Sally Bowles
Regional theater has given Charissa Hogeland some of her most acclaimed work, especially her turn as Sally Bowles in Cabaret at the Arden Theatre. Critics praised her performance as sensual and daring while still grounded in real emotional stakes, and reviewers singled out her rendition of the title song for its impact.
She also appeared in Showboat at Lincoln Center and took on the role of Lady in The Cher Show, first at Ogunquit Playhouse and later reprising it at Gateway Playhouse. Regional runs like these let her dig into complex characters without the pressure of an open-ended commercial run. Reviewers have consistently highlighted her ability to bring humor and vulnerability to the same role, which is part of why regional theaters keep bringing her back.
Television and Screen Appearances
Beyond the stage, Charissa Hogeland has built a modest but notable television résumé. She appeared in NBC’s live broadcast of Jesus Christ Superstar, Live!, a high-visibility production that required the same live-performance discipline as theater but for a national television audience.
She has also had roles connected to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and AMC’s The Son, both prestige television productions set in specific historical periods. Working across live TV events and scripted period dramas shows a different side of her range than her stage work alone. As of 2026, her television credits remain a smaller part of her overall body of work compared to theater, but they demonstrate she can adapt her performance style for the camera.
Film Debut in The Truth About You
Charissa Hogeland made her feature film debut in the 2014 independent comedy The Truth About You, directed by Andrea Fellers. Indie film work often requires actors to do more with less, since budgets and shooting schedules are tighter than studio productions.
That first film credit came early in her career, around the same period she was building her stage résumé in Los Angeles before her move to New York. It’s a smaller part of her public profile today compared to her theater work, but it marks an important credit for anyone tracking her full filmography. She has largely stayed focused on stage and live performance since that debut.
Solo Concerts and Singer Songwriter Work
Charissa Hogeland is also a singer-songwriter in her own right, not just a book-musical performer. She kicked off 2014 with a solo concert at Rockwell Table and Stage in Los Feliz, California, which sold out and turned into a standing-room-only show.
That kind of solo concert work lets her perform original material alongside theater standards, giving audiences a more personal look at her artistry than a cast role typically allows. She has continued to build a concert set list that blends her own songs with numbers from shows like Frozen, Heathers, and Cabaret. This side of her career runs in parallel with her stage work and has helped her build a direct following independent of any single production.
Charissa Hogeland Teaching Career and Coaching
In recent years, Charissa Hogeland has become known as a vocal coach and performance teacher alongside her acting work. She serves on the faculty at Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, where she works with young performers on musical theater technique.
She has also led guest workshops at institutions including NYU and Western Connecticut State University. Her coaching focuses on helping performers manage audition nerves, break down songs technically, and build confidence under pressure, drawing directly on lessons from her own career navigating understudy tracks and high-stakes auditions. As of 2026, teaching has become a steady, ongoing part of her professional life alongside performing.
Professional Memberships and Representation
Charissa Hogeland is a professional member of both Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, the two major unions covering stage and screen performers in the United States. Union membership at that level reflects a sustained, professional-level career rather than occasional or amateur work.
She is represented by KMR Talent Agency, which handles her bookings for concerts, masterclasses, and workshop appearances in addition to traditional acting and singing work. That representation structure lets her balance performing, teaching, and concert work without managing every booking herself. It also signals that, as of 2026, she remains active and available for professional engagements across multiple areas of the entertainment industry.
Personal Information of Charissa Hogeland
This section covers the confirmed personal details available about Charissa Hogeland as of 2026. Where information has not been made public, that is noted honestly rather than guessed at.
Full Name
Charissa Hogeland’s full name is Charissa Hogeland.
Date of Birth
She was born on February 9, 1990.
Age
As of 2026, Charissa Hogeland is 36 years old.
Birthplace
She was born in Los Angeles, California.
Nationality
Charissa Hogeland holds American nationality.
Education
She completed a bachelor’s degree in Acting at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Hobbies
She enjoys hiking, thrifting for vintage finds, and attending Yankees games.
Siblings
Charissa Hogeland has a sister.
Physical Appearance
Charissa Hogeland has not publicly confirmed detailed physical statistics such as height and weight. Rather than estimate these figures, the details below are marked accordingly.
Height
Charissa Hogeland’s height is 5 feet 9 inches(175cm).
Weight
Her weight is 135lbs(61kg).
Eye Color
Charissa Hogeland’s eye color is Hazel.
Hair Color
Charissa Hogeland is generally seen with brown hair.
Body Type
Charissa Hogeland’s body type is Athletic (Toned).
Skin Tone
Charissa Hogeland’s skin tone is Fair / Light.
Shoe Size
Charissa Hogeland’s shoe size is US Women’s 8.5 (EU 39).
Piercings
Charissa Hogeland has earlobe piercing.
Distinctive Features
Charissa Hogeland is known for her Short wavy brown hair, hazel eyes, defined facial features, delicate features, and a warm natural smile..
Social Media Profiles
Charissa Hogeland is active on Instagram and maintains an official website for booking inquiries.
@charisssahogeland
Official Website
charissahogeland.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Charissa Hogeland?
Charissa Hogeland is an American actress, singer, and dancer known for her work in musical theater, including Heathers: The Musical off-Broadway and an understudy run as Elsa in Broadway’s Frozen.
How old is Charissa Hogeland?
As of 2026, Charissa Hogeland is 36 years old, having been born on February 9, 1990, in Los Angeles, California.
Where did Charissa Hogeland go to school?
She earned a bachelor’s degree in Acting from the University of California, Los Angeles.
What is Charissa Hogeland famous for?
Charissa Hogeland is best known for originating ensemble and understudy roles in Heathers: The Musical, understudying Elsa in Frozen on Broadway, and playing Nicola in the national tour of Kinky Boots.
Did Charissa Hogeland play Elsa on Broadway?
She served as an understudy for the role of Elsa in Disney’s Frozen on Broadway, performing the part when the principal actress was out.
What TV shows has Charissa Hogeland been in?
Charissa Hogeland has appeared in NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live!, and has credits connected to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and AMC’s The Son.
Is Charissa Hogeland a teacher?
Yes, She teaches on the faculty of Joffrey Ballet School in New York City and has led guest workshops at NYU and Western Connecticut State University.
What was Charissa Hogeland’s film debut?
Charissa Hogeland made her feature film debut in the 2014 independent comedy The Truth About You, directed by Andrea Fellers.
Where is Charissa Hogeland from?
Charissa Hogeland is from Los Angeles, California, and now lives in Harlem, New York City.
Is Charissa Hogeland married?
Charissa Hogeland has not publicly shared information about her marital status as of 2026.
What agency represents Charissa Hogeland?
She is represented by KMR Talent Agency for bookings including concerts, masterclasses, and workshops.
Does Charissa Hogeland perform solo concerts?
Yes, Charissa Hogeland performs solo concerts as a singer-songwriter, including a sold-out show at Rockwell Table and Stage in Los Feliz, California.
Conclusion
Charissa Hogeland’s biography and career shows what a steady, versatile path through musical theater actually looks like, from an off-Broadway ensemble track in Heathers to an understudy run as Elsa in Frozen on Broadway. She has added national tour work, regional leads, television appearances, and a growing teaching practice to that foundation, all while keeping her personal life largely out of the spotlight. That balance of public performance and private life is part of what makes Charissa Hogeland’s story worth following. If you want to see where her career goes next, her official website and Instagram remain the most reliable places to check for upcoming shows, concerts, and teaching workshops.
