Kristin Chenoweth
Kristin Chenoweth’s career is quickly rising. She has already exhibited so many personas that she is practically uncategorizable.
A versatile singer, classically trained but equally at home in pop, old standards and Broadway musicals, Tony Award-winning actress Kristin Chenoweth made her solo recording debut with the release of Let Yourself Go for Sony Classical. On Let Yourself Go, she harkens back to the golden age of Broadway and Tin Pan Alley in a selection of well-known standards and less familiar songs by Irving Berlin, the Gershwins, Rodgers & Hart, Kern, Youmans, Ellington and others. The disc also includes new numbers written by a trio of exciting new composers – Jeanine Tesori, Ricky Ian Gordon and Richard Dworsky – who are bringing a new energy and sound to the golden-age style of American song. Rob Fisher conducted The Coffee Club Orchestra on the recording. Chenoweth’s next album will be released next year from Sony. The CD will be a country music album with a slant towards inspirational songs.
With numerous other projects on the horizon, Chenoweth recently starred in the hit Broadway production of Wicked, the back-story to The Wizard of Oz. Chenoweth plays Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Variety’s review stated “Chenoweth steals the show whole. She is allowed to be funny and is, spectacularly.” The New York Times review stated “It’s amazing how Chenoweth keeps metamorphosing before your eyes and ears. Her voice shifting between operetta-ish trills and Broadway brass, her posture melting between prom-queen vampiness and martial arts moves, she evokes everyone from Jeanette MacDonald to Cameron Diaz, from Mary Martin to Madonna.” The show is the much-hyped musical adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s best-selling novel. The performance earned a 2004 Tony Nomination for Best Performance by a leading Actress in a Musical.
In May 2004, Chenoweth starred with the New York Philharmonic in Candide based on Voltaire’s novelette, with music by Leonard Bernstein which garnered rave reviews.
Chenoweth recently wrapped production on “The Pink Panther” for MGM starring opposite Steve Martin, Kevin Kline and Beyonce Knowles that will premiere July 2005. The film, directed by Shawn Levy, follows the story of Chief Inspector Dreyfus who needs an idiot to take over the investigation on the missing legendary ‘Pink Panther’ diamond ring, which was stolen from the manager of a French soccer team. Chenoweth will star as the sexy, French public relations executive for the soccer team who gets mixed up in the investigation.
Chenoweth is currently in production opposite Nicole Kidman in Columbia Pictures’ feature film adaptation of the popular TV series “Bewitched” which will premiere July 2005. Chenoweth will play Kidman’s nosey next-door neighbor Marie in the production, which co-stars Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine and Will Ferrell.
Most recently, Chenoweth landed a major recurring role on NBC’s four-time Emmy winning series “The West Wing” where she plays Annabetth Schott, who brings savvy image advice and plucky attitude to her new job as a White House media consultant. In her media consultant role, Annabeth will prep staff for Sunday morning news shows, offer advice on crafting final-year messages, and occasionally step up to the podium to take on the press herself.
Chenoweth will then begin her new project as the lead as a spoiled rich girl in the independent movie-musical “Asphalt Beach”, written and directed by Peter Spears who made a splash at last year’s Sundance Film Festival with his standout short film “Ernest & Bertram.” Described as being in the spirit of “Hairspray” and “Grease,” the story revolves around two girls from opposite sides of the social spectrum whose paths cross at a very strict Catholic school.
Chenoweth has also begun work on Disney’s animated movie musical Rapunzel with acclaimed composer Jeanine Tesori.
Chenoweth took the stage in a one night only concert at Carnegie Hall on September 10th 2004. She performed many of the old standards her audiences has come to love, and she added some more pop/country songs to her repetoire for the evening.
As if she weren’t busy enough, Chenoweth will also star in the LA Opera’s original production of Alice in Wonderland for the 2006 season.
Chenoweth appeared on the 22nd annual “A Capitol Fourth Concert” on PBS. The concert offered one of the most exciting musical salutes to take place on Independence Day in the nation’s Capitol featuring memorable patriotic tunes ranging from the classics to rock’n roll, country, bluegrass and folk.
Chenoweth was seen in the ABC movie-version of Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man opposite Matthew Broderick. She played Marian the librarian who attracts the romantic interest of a lovable con man.
Chenoweth can also be seen on Sesame Street as Ms. Noodle and in Elmo's video/DVD “Elmo’s World: Happy Holidays!”. This is the first ever Elmo’s World Holiday special.
Last year, Chenoweth received rave reviews for her eagerly-awaited concerts for Lincoln Center’s 5th American Songbook where she performed selections from her album. She also received critical acclaim for her performance in City Center Encores! 10th Anniversary Bash.
Chenoweth was in London for a theater production of Divas at Donmar for director Sam Mendes which opened to rave reviews. Following her triumph in London, Chenoweth appeared at the highly anticipated Actor’s Fund Benefit Concert of the musical Funny Girl in New York City.
Chenoweth was a part of ABC's An American Celebration at Ford's Theater with Kelsey Grammer, NBC's Salute to the Olympic Winners, The Kennedy Center Gala honoring Julie Andrews and an episode of Frasier on NBC.
Chenoweth continues to tour the country with her acclaimed concerts. She performed with the Kansas City Symphony, the Virginia Symphony and the National Symphony Orchestra. Chenoweth also performed at the Hollywood Bowl and the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. In early 2003, Chenoweth performed with the Tulsa Symphony, The Washington Symphony, and the Boca Raton Symphony.
Acclaimed for her distinctive comedic gifts as well as her wide-ranging musical abilities, Chenoweth made her Broadway debut in a production of Moliere’s Scapin starring Bill Irwin, followed in the spring of 1997 by the Kander and Ebb musical Steel Pier, for which she won a Theatre World award. The next season, she appeared in the City Center Encores! production of Strike Up the Band and the Lincoln Center Theater production of A New Brain. During the 1998-99 season, she created the role of Sally in the first Broadway production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, sweeping the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards as the season’s “Best Featured Actress in a Musical.” Next, she starred in the Broadway comedy Epic Proportions, followed by acclaimed appearances in the ABC television adaptation of the musical Annie (as Lily St. Regis) and in the leading role of the City Center Encores! production of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. Chenoweth has also performed leading roles at the Goodspeed Opera House and the Guthrie Theatre, and she was chosen by the late Jerome Robbins as the guest soloist in his West Side Story Suite of Dances at New York City Ballet. On television, Chenoweth also starred in her own series Kristin, for NBC.
A native of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Kristin Chenoweth studied at Oklahoma City University, earning a bachelor’s degree in musical theater and a master’s degree in opera performance, performing a number of roles in the lyric coloratura category. She performed in the stage revue at Opryland and won a “most talented up-and-coming singer” award in the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions, which resulted in a full scholarship to Philadelphia’s Academy of Vocal Arts. En route to Philadelphia, she auditioned for an Off-Broadway show and got the part. She decided to forgo her scholarship to pursue a career on Broadway; a short time later, she was accepting a Tony Award. |
