Michele began working professionally as a child actress on Broadway in productions such as Les Misérables, Ragtime, and Fiddler on the Roof. in 2006, she originated the lead role of Wendla in the Broadway musical Spring Awakening. Michele was born in the Bronx, New York City. She grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey. Michele was home schooled one year while working in Toronto, Ontario on Ragtime. On May 18, 2008, Michele left Spring Awakening with her co-star Jonathan Groff, where they were both replaced the next day by Michele’s understudy Alexandra Socha and newcomer Kyle Riabko. She portrayed Eponine in the Hollywood Bowl’s Les Misérables concert in August 2008.
