WICKED's Dina Bennett Passes Away After Cancer Battle

BroadwayWorld.com is sad to report that WICKED actress, Dina Bennett, who had recently toured as the midwife, and understudying 'Madame Morrible' in the show's National Tour passed away after a battle with cancer.

According to The Shreveport Times, "in 2009 she endured the first health challenge in her path to success - a diagnosis of breast cancer. Dina continued to work in Los Angeles while taking treatments for her cancer, and was declared cancer free. She enjoyed good health for about four years, getting periodic checkups and thinking she had beaten it for good. Then in 2013 she got the new diagnosis - the cancer had returned and spread."

The actress had (bravely) blogged much of her journey on tour, and fighting cancer at http://msdinadeluxe.blogspot.com

Prior to WICKED, she was heard on popular jazz and swing radio stations performing selections with the popular band Red and the Red Hots as well as her very own group, Dina Deluxe and the Mood Swings. An international recording artist, Dina was seen and heard in a number of genre worldwide. A frequent performer in Europe and in Japan, she toured with and sung on stage with such great artists as Perry Como, Les Brown, Jr. and the Band of Renown, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Neil Diamond, Peebo Bryson, Red and the Red Hots, The Ladd McIntosh Swing Orchestra, and The Billy Vaughn Orchestra. Recently, she opened for Tony Bennett singing with the Alumni Big Band at the St Judes Childrens Hospital fundraiser at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Paramount Studios features Dina with her Mood Swings (jazz and swing band) at events under the beautiful historic studio gate.

On stage, she appeared in Bat Boy: The Musical for the Musical Theatre Guild at: The Alex Theatre
Glendale, CA, A Rubicon Family Christmas at the Rubicon Theatre Company, And the World Goes 'Round at the
River City Repertory Theatre and more.

Dina's Andrew Sisters style girls trio of singers, the 40s Flygirls, have also toured the world performing with well-known big bands.

A native of Louisiana, Dina's musical influences include jazz, classic rock, and country. LA Times critic Philip Brandes defined her approach as "finessing gossamer melodies as if they were arias...Gorgeous." "With a phenomenal voice and a relaxed presence on stage, Bennett proves a first rate performer," states Vicki Paris Goodman of the Signal Tribune.

According to Press Telegram's Shirle Gottleib, Dina is, "a natural born comic with terrific talent". And, Marchelle Hammack of the Long Beach Beachcomer says, "(Dina Bennett) steals the show every time she sings."