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Katrina Lenk

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Katrina Lenk
Lenk in 2018
Born (1974-11-26) November 26, 1974 (age 49)
Alma materNorthwestern University
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • dancer
Years active2000–present
AwardsEmmy Award
Grammy Award
Tony Award

Katrina Lenk (born November 26, 1974)[1] is an American actress, singer, dancer, musician, and songwriter.

Lenk originated the role of Dina in the Broadway musical The Band's Visit, a performance for which she won the 2018 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She also performed the lead role of Bobbie in the 2021 gender-swapped revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical Company.[1] Lenk's additional stage credits include roles in the Broadway productions of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Once, and Indecent, as well as roles in regional theater productions.

Early life and education

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Lenk was born in Chicago, Illinois to a family of Eastern European descent. Though it has been claimed that she is of a Russian ethnic background, she has preferred to discuss her heritage with ambiguity.[2][3][4] She attended Barrington High School in Barrington, Illinois. After enrolling at the School of Music at Northwestern University, she graduated in 1997 while majoring in viola performance and studying voice and musical theatre.[5][4][6][7]

Career

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Lenk appeared as Yitzak in Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the Broadway Theatre, Chicago, in May 2001.[8] She performed as Linda Lovelace in the musical Lovelace: A Rock Musical in 2008 at the Hayworth Theatre, Los Angeles, about which the L. A. Weekly wrote: "As Linda, Katrina Lenk is sensational—she has a dozen nuanced smiles that range from innocent and shattered to grateful, in order to express whatever passes as kindness when, say, a male co-star (Josh Greene) promises to make their scene fun."[9]

She made her Broadway debut in The Miracle Worker in March 2010 as the understudy for the roles of Annie Sullivan and Kate Keller.[10] She joined the cast of the Broadway musical Once in May 2013, in the role of Réza, the violinist.[11]

In 2015 she appeared in the Yale Repertory Theatre world premiere of Indecent by Paula Vogel.[12] She then appeared in the 2016 Off-Broadway production at the Vineyard Theatre,[13] followed by the Broadway production at the Cort Theatre in 2017.[14][15] In her review for Newsday, Linda Winer noted the "...dancing, singing actors as the earthy, sensual Katrina Lenk."[16] For her performance she received the 2017 Theatre World Award Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence.[10] A performance of the play was filmed for television and broadcast on PBS in November 2017.[17]

Lenk appeared on Broadway as Dina in the 2017 musical The Band's Visit, for which she won the 2018 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Craig Nakano of the Los Angeles Times wrote: "For Lenk, the role is another turning point. After studying music and theater at Northwestern University, Lenk devoted herself to theater in California.... it’s her poignant, heart-aching turn as Dina that is poised to make her a star."[18]

She is the creator of musical persona and stage act Moxy Phinx.[19][20]

Lenk starred in the lead role of Bobbie, opposite Patti LuPone as Joanne, in a gender-swapped revival of Stephen Sondheim's Company,[21] which started previews on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on March 2 and was scheduled to open on March 22, 2020, until delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.[22][23] The production resumed previews on November 15, 2021, for an opening date of December 9, 2021.[citation needed] Lenk also appeared in the final season of Ozark, playing the role of Clare.

Theatre

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Year(s) Production Role Location Category
2000 Gigi Gigi Theatre at the Center, Munster, Indiana Regional
Proposals Sammii Theatre at the Center, Munster, Indiana Regional
2001 Hedwig and the Angry Inch Yitzhak Broadway Theatre, Chicago Regional
42nd Street Peggy Sawyer Theatre at the Center, Munster, Indiana Regional
2002 A Christmas Carol Fiddler/Ensemble Goodman Theatre, Chicago, Illinois Regional
2005 Lost Land Anna Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago, Illinois Regional
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Maggie/Mae (understudy) Geffen Playhouse, Los Angeles, California Regional
The Caucasian Chalk Circle Grusha South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa, California Regional
2006 Camille Camille Bard SummerScape, New York Regional
2007 Safety Tanya Closet Space Theater, Los Angeles, California Regional[24]
iWitness Margaret Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles Regional
Chicago Velma Kelly Hudson Backstage Theatre, Hollywood, California Regional[25]
2008 Lovelace: A Rock Musical Linda Lovelace Hayworth Theatre, Los Angeles, California Regional
2009 Creature from the Black Lagoon: The Musical Kay Universal Studios Hollywood, Los Angeles, California Regional[26]
2010 Lovelace: A Rock Musical Linda Lovelace Edinburgh Fringe, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK International Festival
Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up Mrs. Darling/Slightly The Alley Theatre, Houston, Texas Regional[27]
The Miracle Worker Annie Sullivan, Kate Keller (understudy) Circle in the Square Theatre Broadway
2011 Cabaret Fräulein Kost Freud Playhouse at UCLA, Los Angeles, California Regional[28]
2012 Cloudlands Caroline South Coast Repertory Orange County, California Regional[29]
Elemeno Pea Michaela South Coast Repertory Orange County, California Regional[30]
2012–2013 Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Arachne (replacement) Lyric Theatre Broadway
2013–2015 Once Réza (replacement) Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre Broadway
2015 Indecent Manke Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, Connecticut Commissioned
La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego, California Regional
2016 Vineyard Theatre Off-Broadway
2016–2017 The Band's Visit Dina Atlantic Theater Company Off-Broadway
2017 Indecent Manke James Earl Jones Theatre Broadway
2017–2019 The Band's Visit Dina Ethel Barrymore Theatre Broadway
2020 Company Bobbie Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre Broadway
2021–2022

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 The Acedia Thing Poet
2004 Liar! Moira Short film
Volare Candy patron No. 1 Short film
2005 Space Daze Elania Hoffman Video
2006 Kiss Me in the Dark Woman Short film
2007 Crime Fiction Lauren Short film
The Grand Inquisitor Auditioning Jesus
2009 White Widow Short film
Preservation Viola/Vera Short film
Love on the Tundra Alexia Short film
2010 Chateau Belvedere Genevieve Masolowski Short film
Happy. Thank You. More. Please. Music credit only: "Phosphorescent Green"
2012 Arthur and the Bunnies Sara Short film
2013 One for My Baby Actress Short film
2014 The Vigilante Agent Stansfield Short film
2015 FracKtured Del Short film[31]
2016 Élan Vital Christine [32]
Evol: The Theory of Love Yolanda
2019 Love Is Blind Dr. Shine

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 Will & Grace Marta the Maid Episode: "Fagmalion Part 4: The Guy Who Loved Me"
2005 Studio House Starlet TV movie
2006 According to Jim Nurse Episode: "Belaboring the Point"
2009 Ruby & the Rockits Lady No. 2 Episode: "Hot for Spanish Teacher"
2014 The Blacklist Carrie Anne Beck Episode: "The Front (No. 74)"
2015 Elementary Sonia Episode: "The Illustrious Client"
2016 Miss Teri Meta Episode: "Pilot" (Web series, co-creator, writer)[33][34]
2017 The Get Down Ruby Con Episode: "Gamble Everything"
Indecent Manke TV production of stage play[35][36][37]
2017–2018 The Good Fight Naftali Amato Recurring role; 3 episodes[38]
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Cosma Episodes: "Put That on Your Plate!", "All Alone"
2019 The Village Claire Danville Recurring role; 4 episodes[39]
2020 Tommy Kiley Mills Recurring role; 5 episodes[40]
Little Voice Mary King Episodes: "Sea Change", "Sing What I Can't Say"
2022 Ozark Clare Shaw 10 episodes
2024 Apples Never Fall Lucia Fortino Miniseries; 4 episodes

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2017 Theatre World Award Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theatre Honoree [41]
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Indecent Nominated [42]
Outstanding Actress in a Musical The Band's Visit Nominated [42]
Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical Won [43]
2018 Tony Award Best Actress in a Musical Won [44]
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated [45]
Chita Rivera Award for Dance and Choreography Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show Nominated [46]
2019 Grammy Award Best Musical Theater Album Won [47]
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program (with the cast of The Band's Visit) Won [48]

References

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  1. ^ McPhee, Ryan (May 10, 2021). "In Comes Company: Gender-Swapped Revival Confirms Return to Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  2. ^ Haun, Harry (November 7, 2017). "Rising Star Katrina Lenk Finds Her Rhythm in Broadway's 'The Band's Visit'". Observer. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  3. ^ Blank, Matthew (January 28, 2014). "PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: Once Cast Member Katrina Lenk". Playbill. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Murphy, H. Lee (November 16, 2001). "'42nd Street' feeling like home to actress". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  5. ^ Vincentelli, Elisabeth (September 7, 2017). "Katrina Lenk Can Quietly Break Your Heart". The New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  6. ^ Levitt, Hayley (May 12, 2017). "The Season That Put Katrina Lenk on Our Radar — and Why It's About Time". TheaterMania. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  7. ^ Kulke, Stephanie (June 11, 2018). "Northwestern alum Katrina Lenk wins Tony for Best Actress in 'The Band's Visit'". Northwestern Now. Northwestern University.
  8. ^ Christiansen, Richard (April 17, 2001). "'Hedwig' Finally Makes It To Broadway, In Chicago". Chicago Tribune.
  9. ^ Nicholson, Amy (October 27, 2008). "Theater Reviews: Lovelace: A Rock Opera, U.S. Drag, How Cissy Grew". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on November 2, 2008.
  10. ^ a b "Katrina Lenk". Playbill. 2020.
  11. ^ Snetiker, Marc (May 6, 2013). "Once Welcomes Spider-Man's Katrina Lenk to the Broadway Cast". Broadway.com.
  12. ^ Gold, Sylviane (October 15, 2015). "'Indecent' Opens Yale Repertory Theater Season". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  13. ^ Sommer, Elyse (May 12, 2016). "Indecent". CurtainUp. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017.
  14. ^ Clement, Olivia (April 18, 2017). "Indecent Opens on Broadway April 18". Playbill. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  15. ^ Robinson, Mark A. (June 23, 2017). "Paula Vogel's Indecent to Continue". Broadway Direct. Nederlander Organization. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  16. ^ Winer, Linda (April 18, 2017). "'Indecent' review: Gripping, extraordinary play about a play". Newsday. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  17. ^ Lichtenbaum, Elisa (November 17, 2017). "Five Reasons Indecent is a Must-See Play". PBS. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  18. ^ Nakano, Craig (June 7, 2018). "Katrina Lenk: Her first Tony nomination, but don't expect it to be her last". Los Angeles Times.
  19. ^ ""The Wanting" with moxy phinx: A Dancehelp Review". DanceHelp.com. 2009. Archived from the original on October 26, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  20. ^ Wontorek, Paul (April 17, 2018). "Octopus Obsession, Feeling Moxy and More Things We Learned from The Band's Visit Star Katrina Lenk on Show People". Broadway.com. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  21. ^ Paulson, Michael (August 30, 2019). "'Company' Returning to Broadway, With a Woman at Its Center". The New York Times. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  22. ^ McPhee, Ryan (August 30, 2019). "London's Gender-Bent Company Will Play Broadway With Katrina Lenk and Patti LuPone". Playbill. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  23. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (March 25, 2020). "Tony Awards to Be Rescheduled Due to Coronavirus Shutdown". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  24. ^ "Safety". OnStage411. 2007. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  25. ^ "Chicago the Musical". OnStage411. 2007. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  26. ^ Verini, Bob (July 14, 2009). "Creature From the Black Lagoon". Variety. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  27. ^ Hetrick, Adam (October 6, 2010). "Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up Opens at The Alley Oct. 6". Playbill. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  28. ^ Perr, Harvey (September 16, 2011). "Los Angeles Theatre Review: Cabaret (Reprise)". Stage and Cinema. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  29. ^ "Cloudlands". South Coast Repertory. 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  30. ^ "Elemeno Pea". South Coast Repertory. 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  31. ^ "About". FracKtured. Del Valle Productions. 2015. Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  32. ^ "Élan Vital". Kaylium. 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  33. ^ "Miss Teri". Strangeland Films. 2015. Archived from the original on November 14, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  34. ^ "ONCE Cast Members Premiere Pilot Episode of Web Series MISS TERI; Launch Seed&Spark Campaign". BroadwayWorld. November 11, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  35. ^ "About Indecent". WNET. 2017. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  36. ^ Voss, Brandon (August 20, 2017). "Lesbian-Themed Broadway Play "Indecent" Coming To TV". NewNowNext. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  37. ^ News Desk (January 3, 2018). "Uncensored Director's Cut of INDECENT Will be Available on BroadwayHD Late January". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  38. ^ Petski, Denise (April 3, 2018). "'The Good Fight' Casts Katrina Lenk; Mike Castle Joins 'Pandas In New York'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  39. ^ Porter, Rick (December 20, 2018). "Tony-Winner Katrina Lenk Moves Into 'The Village' at NBC (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  40. ^ Evans, Greg (November 25, 2019). "'Tommy': Broadway's Tony Winning Katrina Lenk Cast In Recurring Role On CBS Drama". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  41. ^ Carrubba, Philip (May 11, 2017). "2017 Winners Have Been Announced!!!" (Press release). New York, NY: Theatre World Awards. Richard Hillman Public Relations. Archived from the original on May 31, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2018. (name misspelled as Katrina Lenz)
  42. ^ a b "Awards For 2016-2017". Outer Critics Circle. May 2017. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  43. ^ Cox, Gordon (May 8, 2017). "Tony-Nominated 'Oslo' Tops Off Broadway's Lortel Awards (Full List)". Variety. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  44. ^ "The Latest: 'The Band's Visit' wins Tony for best musical". Associated Press. June 10, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  45. ^ "The 84th Annual Drama League Awards". The Drama League. 2018. Archived from the original on June 4, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  46. ^ News Desk (May 20, 2018). "Who Won Big at the 2018 Chita Rivera Awards? - Full List of Winners!". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  47. ^ McPhee, Ryan (February 10, 2019). "The Band's Visit Cast Recording Wins 2019 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album". Playbill. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  48. ^ Gordon, David (May 6, 2019). "Original Company of The Band's Visit Receive Daytime Emmy Award". TheaterMania. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
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