Mimi Bessette

Early life

Born in Midland, Michigan to French Canadian parents, Mimi has four siblings; three sisters and one brother. Her eldest sister, Denise Bessette, is a locally renowned expert kayaker. Bessette grew up in Ridgefield, Connecticut. She was the first to win the title of Miss Ridgefield and went on to be 2nd Runner Up in the Miss Connecticut pageant. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas Christian University with a BFA in Theater. She also attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) for her Junior Year Abroad. It was there she acquired her British Certification in Fencing and Unarmed Combat with Honors and has since received American Certification as well.

Bessette got her professional start at Dallas Summer Musicals in the Harold Rome musical extravaganza Gone With the Wind. She was in New York City for just a year when she got cast in the first national tour of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. She played the role of Dawn for 6 months and then got promoted to the role of Angel, opposite Alexis Smith. On her return to New York, she was invited to join the Broadway company of Whorehouse as Dawn and understudy to Angel.

In New York, Bassette studied acting with William Esper and credits him with the strong foundation that she has used throughout her career.

Later career

Bessette went on to perform in almost every major regional theater in the United States, appearing in roles such as: Emma in Bonnie & Clyde, Patsy Cline in Always...Patsy Cline, Mrs. Lyons in Blood Brothers, Maria in The Sound of Music, Lee in Cowgirls and Young Woman in Woody Guthrie's American Song which earned her a Carbonell Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.

Mimi has been on four national tours; Keep On the Sunny Side (Maybelle Carter), Parade (Ensemble), Big River (Susan, Mary Jane, Joanna –standby) and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Angel). She's also done a number of shows off Broadway including Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors and Denise in Smoke On The Mountain.

As a recording artist, she has recorded three cast albums; Bonnie & Clyde, Keep On the Sunny Side and Woody Guthrie's American Song. She has been a featured vocalist on a number of others and sang the theme song In The Garden for the independent film Twilight's Last Gleaming. She was the executive producer and singer on her own album Lullabies of Broadway which was nominated for Best Children's Album at the New York Music Awards and received a Parent's Choice Seal of Approval.

Bessette sang with Bruce Springsteen as part of Woody Guthrie's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She can also be heard on the live album from this performance called Till We Outnumber 'Em. She's done a number of jingles, including a 5 part spot for Barringer's Chocolates that aired on WNPR.