{{Short description|American actress and singer}} {{Infobox person | name = Isabella Esler | image = IsabellaEslerShayla.jpg | caption = Esler performing in the Palace Theatre in 2025 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2004|2|20}} | birth_place = Roseburg, Oregon | education = | occupation = Actress, singer | years_active = 2022–present | website = {{URL|https://www.isabellaesler.com/}} }}
'''Isabella Esler''' (born February 20, 2004) is an American actress and singer of Colombian descent.<ref name=Perez2023/> She starred as Lydia Deetz in the first national tour of ''Beetlejuice''.<ref name=Childs/>
== Early life and education == Esler was born in Roseburg, Oregon and grew up in San Jose, California.<ref name=Perez2023>{{cite web |last1=Perez |first1=Andrea |title=Meet Isabella Esler, the young Latina who lit up Broadway as the star of ‘Beetlejuice’ |url=https://www.hola.com/us/celebrities/20231116352469/isabella-esler-leading-role-broadways-beetlejuice/ |website=Hola! Magazine |access-date=20 February 2025 |date=16 November 2023}}</ref> She attended Archbishop Mitty High School, graduating in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harrington |first1=Jim |title=San Jose teen makes triumphant homecoming in starring role of hit musical |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/07/19/san-jose-teen-makes-triumphant-homecoming-in-starring-role-of-hit-musical/ |website=Mercury News |access-date=20 February 2025 |date=19 July 2023}}</ref> She had planned to attend Pace University but withdrew after being cast in the national tour of ''Beetlejuice''.<ref name=Harrington2023b>{{cite web |last1=Harrington |first1=Jim |title=Isabella Esler graduates to ‘Beetlejuice’ tour, now at Playhouse Square |url=https://www.news-herald.com/2023/01/12/san-jose-teen-who-just-graduated-high-school-gets-big-broadway-break/ |website=The News-Herald |access-date=20 February 2025 |date=13 January 2023}}</ref>
At age six, Esler began performing with Children's Musical Theater San Jose, appearing in youth productions of musicals such as ''Urinetown'', ''Once Upon a Mattress'', and ''American Idiot''.<ref name=Harrington2023b/> In 2022, she played Sandy Cheeks in a production of ''The SpongeBob Musical'' with the same company.<ref name=Perez2023/> At her high school, Esler participated in numerous theatre productions, including a leading role in ''Mamma Mia!''. For her performance, she received the National Youth Theatre Award for Best Lead Performance in a Musical.<ref>{{cite web |title=Performing Arts Awards |url=https://www.mitty.com/performing-arts/awards |website=Archbishop Mitty High School |access-date=6 April 2025}}</ref>
==Career== Upon graduating high school, Esler was cast in the first national tour of ''Beetlejuice'' as Lydia Deetz.<ref name=Childs>{{cite web |last1=Childs |first1=Holly |title=“We’re All Just Learning and Getting Better”: Isabella Esler’s Broadway Journey and Finding Her Path |url=https://showstopper.vip/were-all-just-learning-and-getting-better-isabella-eslers-broadway-journey-and-finding-her-path |website=Showstopper Magazine |access-date=20 February 2025 |date=16 May 2024}}</ref> The tour began in December 2022, and she remained with the tour until August 2024.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} Esler's performance received critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Chris |title=Review: ''Beetlejuice the Musical'' at the Auditorium is unstoppable – nothing this critic can do |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2023/11/09/review-beetlejuice-the-musical-at-the-auditorium-is-unstoppable-nothing-this-critic-can-do/ |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 April 2025 |date=9 November 2023}}</ref>
Esler next starred as Alice Carter in a Toronto engagement of the musical ''Life After''. The musical opened at the Ed Mirvish Theatre on April 16, 2025 and played until May 10, 2025.<ref name=LifeAfter2025>Gans, Andrew. [https://playbill.com/article/photos-get-a-1st-look-at-isabella-esler-jake-epstein-more-in-life-after-musical-in-toronto "Photos: Get a 1st Look at Isabella Esler, Jake Epstein, More in ''Life After'' Musical in Toronto"], ''Playbill'', April 17, 2025</ref> In February 2025, a music video of Esler performing "Poetry", a song from the show, was released.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rosky |first1=Nicole |title=Exclusive: Isabella Esler Sings 'Poetry' from Broadway-Aimed ''Life After'' |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Exclusive-Isabella-Esler-Sings-Poetry-from-Broadway-Aimed-LIFE-AFTER-20250205 |website=BroadwayWorld |access-date=20 February 2025 |date=5 February 2025}}</ref> For her performance, Esler is nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Individual at the 2025 Dora Awards.<ref name="2025Doras">{{cite web |last1=Wright |first1=Joshua |title=Nominations Announced For The 2025 Dora Mavor Moore Awards |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/toronto/article/Nominations-Announced-For-The-2025-Dora-Mavor-Moore-Awards-20250528 |website=BroadwayWorld |access-date=29 May 2025 |date=28 May 2025}}</ref>
Esler made her off-Broadway debut as Veronica Sawyer in ''Heathers the Musical'', stepping into the role on April 27, 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-09 |title=Isabella Esler and John Cardoza Joining the Cast of Heathers - TheaterMania.com |url=https://www.theatermania.com/news/isabella-esler-and-john-cardoza-joining-the-cast-of-heathers_1827134/ |access-date=2026-05-08 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Theatre credits == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year(s) !Production !Role !Location !Notes !{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | 2022–2024 | ''Beetlejuice'' | Lydia Deetz |colspan=2 | First National Tour | <ref name=Childs/> |- | 2025 |''Life After'' | Alice Carter | Ed Mirvish Theatre | Pre-Broadway engagement: Toronto |<ref name=LifeAfter2025/> |- | 2026 | ''Heathers: The Musical'' | Veronica Sawyer | New World Stages | | |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Esler, Isabella}} Category:2004 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American actresses Category:American musical theatre actresses Category:Actresses from San Jose, California Category:American people of Colombian descent