She has originated a number of main and featured roles in Broadway musicals, including Allison in Cry-Baby and Dyanne in Million Dollar Quartet.

In 2020, Stanley was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Mary Jane Healy in Jagged Little Pill.

[8][9] Stanley originated the role of Mary Jane Healy in the American Repertory Theater production of Jagged Little Pill, a musical based on Alanis Morissette's album of the same name.

[16] In 2022, Stanley, Nikki Renee Daniels, Jeff Kready, and Tamar Greene performed renditions of songs from the satirical animated series South Park with a 30-piece orchestra, celebrating the show’s 25th anniversary.

[18][19] Stanley was born in Cedar Rapids and grew up in Denison, Iowa[8] and Camp Point, Illinois.