Charleene Closshey

Early life

Closshey was raised in Plant City, Florida and started playing piano and reading music at age 2. She spent much of her childhood learning to play various instruments, including the flute, clarinet, harp, and viola. One of Closshey's baby photos appeared on the wrapping of Northern Bathroom Tissue.

Closshey graduated valedictorian of her high school class at Lois Cowles Harrison Center for the Visual and Performing Arts in Lakeland, Florida in 1999, where she was president of the National Honor Society and her Senior Class. Closshey subsequently obtained a Bachelor of Science degree Summa Cum Laude with concentrations in both Marketing Management and Exercise Science from Florida Southern College in 2002. She continued her artistic education in extension courses through the Juilliard School, Circle in the Square Theatre School, New York University, and Berklee College of Music.

Closshey competed in the Miss Florida America pageants, winning the local titles of Miss Orlando, Miss Tampa and Miss Tampa Bay. She won Preliminary Talent and was Top Ten at Miss Florida, receiving multiple academic and community service awards.

Following her 2002 graduation from Florida Southern College, Closshey co founded Ideas & Innovations, a strategic consulting and marketing management firm. Closshey was appointed to the Florida Film and Entertainment Advisory Council. In 2005, she was awarded "30 Under 30" by the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Acting

In 2014, Closshey joined the cast of Tony Award-winning musical Once (musical), understudying the roles of Reza and ExGirlfriend. She made her debut on April 8, 2014 onstage at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, the same stage where Madonna, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, and Julia Roberts all made their Broadway debuts (1988, 2004, and 2006 respectively).

Closshey appeared in the 2012 feature film thriller "A Thousand Cuts" starring Michael O'Keefe. Closshey starred in her next feature-length film An Evergreen Christmas in 2013 produced by Kim Waltrip with Academy Award nominee Robert Loggia, country music singer Naomi Judd, Booboo Stewart, Tyler Ritter, and Greer Grammer. Closshey also co produced the film and composed the musical score. Closshey starred in and produced 2016 indie dramedy "No Postage Necessary" with George Blagden, Robbie Kay, Stelio Savante, with Michael Beach and Raymond J. Barry.

In 2012, Closshey appeared in, executive produced and composed the musical score of the short art film "Walking with Francis" written and directed by Jeremy Culver, a film that recounts the last days of the man who would become St. Francis of Assisi.

Closshey and Jeremy Culver combined forces again, creating the musical Feather which was subsequently invited to show during the 2013 New York Musical Theatre Festival held Off Broadway at the Pershing Square Signature Center in the Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre. Closshey composed the original music and co-produced the show, starring alongside Broadway veteran Richard H. Blake and Papua New Guinean artist Jeffry Feeger.

Music

Closshey utilized her classical training to play violin with artists including Josh Groban, Charlie Daniels, Mannheim Steamroller, Frank Sinatra, Jr., and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra among others.

At age 24, Closshey began classical vocal training and later sang in Rome, Italy with the Operafestival di Roma and with the St. Petersburg Opera in productions of La bohème and Die Fledermaus (Sally).

In 2011, Closshey released a jazz cabaret album titled “Smile." Her first instrumental album, “Glimpse" (2012), was commissioned for yoga sessions at the 13th Annual Association of Comprehensive Energy Psychology conference.

Philanthropy/Activism

Closshey actively supports animal rescue organizations and other charitable causes. She frequently supports The Spring of Tampa Bay. She is currently sponsoring a golden Labrador puppy throughout her training to become a seeing eye dog through Southeastern Guide Dogs.