Carole Demas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carole Demas
Demas in 2008
Born	(1940-05-26) May 26, 1940 (age 85) Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1960–present
Spouse(s)	Stuart Allyn ​ (m. 1983)​

Carole Demas (born May 26, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American actress. She is famous for playing Sandy in the original 1971 Broadway musical Grease. She also starred in the children's TV show The Magic Garden for many years. Carole has had many roles on prime-time TV and in hundreds of commercials. Her career journey has taken her from being Miss Vermont to starring roles across the country. She also performs in concerts and cabaret shows to help raise money for good causes.

About Carole Demas

Carole Demas was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1940. She went to Midwood High School in Brooklyn. She earned a degree in English from the University of Vermont. She also studied at New York University. For several years, she worked as a teacher in New York City schools. She even taught at P.S. 198 in Brooklyn, which she had attended as a student.

Carole started her acting career at the Champlain Shakespeare Festival. Later, she performed with the New York Shakespeare Festival Elizabethan Singers. There, she was part of a singing group with Paula Janis, who would later become her co-star on The Magic Garden. Talent agents noticed her during these performances. This led to her first big role in the musical Morning Sun. While at the University of Vermont, she even competed to become Miss Vermont in the Miss Universe pageant.

Carole's Acting Career

Theater Roles

Carole Demas began her theater career in 1963. She played the main young female role in Morning Sun. She also starred Off-Broadway in shows like Rondelay and How to Steal an Election. She then played "Luisa (The Girl)" in The Fantasticks for over two years. This is one of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows ever.

In 1971, Carole was chosen to play Sandy in the original Broadway production of Grease. She worked with the writers to make Sandy's character right for Broadway. At 31, she was the oldest main cast member. For her role in Grease, Carole and the rest of the original Broadway cast were honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

After Grease, Carole joined a new musical called The Baker's Wife. This show was planned for Broadway but faced many problems. It never made it to Broadway. She also performed in many other plays across the country. These include Barefoot in the Park and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. In 2011, she reunited with some of the original Grease cast for a special performance.

Television and Film

While working on Grease, Carole and her friend Paula Janis started a children's TV show. It was called The Magic Garden and aired on WPIX-TV in New York City. They hosted this popular show every day from 1972 to 1984. They also continued to perform live concerts long after the show stopped airing. They even wrote and starred in two TV specials, A Magic Garden Christmas and The Magic Garden—Still Growing.

Carole has also appeared on many other TV shows. These include Barnaby Jones, Kojak, Mannix, Blue Bloods, and Allegiance. She has played all kinds of characters, from victims to detectives. She also appeared in films like The 300 Year Weekend.

Concerts and Cabaret

In recent years, Carole has focused on concerts and cabaret shows. She performs her own one-woman show called Summer Nights. She also often appears in Broadway tribute shows and concerts that raise money for good causes. She has performed all over the world, including on cruise ships and in places like Barbados.

In 2017, she created a show called Thank You For Your Love with fellow Broadway star Sarah Rice. This show honored the creators of The Fantasticks. It won an award and was planned for a tour before the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2020, she has been doing a monthly online concert series called Live from Skylight Run.

Carole's Performances

Recordings

• Grease - Original Broadway Cast Album (1972)
• How to Steal an Election - Original Off-Broadway Cast Album
• Carole and Paula in the Magic Garden - Original Cast Album
• Carole and Paula: Tales from the Storybox
• Carole and Paula: Musical Goose on the Loose
• Green Songs - Champlain Shakespeare Minstrels
• Festival Line Singers In Concert - New York Shakespeare Festival Line Singers
• Hidden Treasures-Jones and Schmidt - 2018

Other Facts

• Carole Demas was added to the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2010.
• She is on the advisory board for The New York Children's Theatre Festival.

Personal Life

Carole Demas lives in Westchester County, New York, with her husband, Stuart Allyn. Stuart is a sound designer and producer. They have a rescued cat and a turtle named "Tompson." Carole continues to work as an actress, singer, writer, and producer.