Helen Jean Russell

Co-Deviser, Original Cast

Helen studied music and dance in Maryland before relocating to New York City, where she temporarily switched her focus to acting. Eventually returning to her musical roots, she co-founded The City Singers, an a capella choir that was featured on the Blues Traveler platinum album Save His Soul. Helen is also a theatrical producer and her company, Ten to One Productions, has staged more than fifteen original shows that raised over $50,000 for NYC charities. She is an original cast member of Woody Sez and was part of its 2007 debut in Edinburgh, as well as numerous productions since, in the US and abroad. In 2013, she was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Best Lead Actress for her role in the show. She sings and plays the bass with Mr. Lutken in his bluegrass/folk group, ‘The Seat of the Pants’ Band (seatofthepantsband.com) and plays keyboards with The French Collective. At home in Manhattan, Helen is an actor, teacher, musical director and publishing technology consultant. Her debut CD, Holly Days, was released in 2008, and between gigs, she is trying very hard to finish up a second. Having been a part of a previous “guitar theater” production in 1994, as well as touring a Woody Guthrie show with the Vienna’s English Theatre’s Schooltours in 2005/06, Helen is delighted to be back on the main stage at V.E.T. Cheers!