While maintaining her 36-year career as a singer/actor, Leslie Castay returned to her native New Orleans in 2007. She is owner of the Wine Institute of New Orleans, the city’s premier wine store/wine bar/wine school. She sang the National Anthem for the Allstate Sugar Bowl 2020 opening ceremonies
Leslie Castay is a multi-talented Broadway, television and film actress. She is also a graduate of Uptown’s Ursuline Academy, which was founded in 1727 and is the oldest continuously-operating school for girls in the country.
Castay’s dazzling résumé includes appearing on Broadway in performances such as 42nd Street, 3Penny Opera, Guys and Dolls and Beauty and the Beast. She has also been a soloist at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops and has starred in numerous national tours, Off-Broadway and regional productions.
Even with her impressive performance credits, she shows her excitement to perform tonight’s Star-Spangled Banner.
“Having grown up here and following football, the Sugar Bowl looms large in my childhood,” Castay said. “It’s such an honor to be asked to do it. I really can’t wait. The Sugar Bowl is iconic and it’s a jewel in the crown of college football.”
Castay has extensive experience performing the national anthem, but a massive indoor venue like the Mercedes-Benz Superdome presents unique challenges.
“I’ve sung the national anthem previously at the Superdome and it’s always quite fun,” she said. “The reverb is so wild. I’ve sung in large arenas before – Camden Yards in Baltimore, Candlestick Park in San Francisco. But when I was first on the floor of the Superdome and started singing and actually heard my voice coming back at me, much louder than I was actually singing, it was quite an experience. I’ll be prepared for that this time.”
| Credit Type | Production | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Actor | Second Hurricane | 1985-86 Season |