Stephanie J. Block
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| Stephanie J. Block | |
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| Born | Stephanie Janette Block September 19, 1972 California, U.S. |
| Spouse(s) | Sebastian Arcelus (2007—present) |
| Official website | |
Stephanie J. Block (born Stephanie Janette Block on September 19, 1972) is an American stage actress and member of Actors Equity and the Los Angeles Musical Theater Guild. She most recently played Grace "Grania" O'Malley in the Broadway show The Pirate Queen and is currently reprising her role as Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway. For this role she has received excellent reviews.
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[edit] Biography
Block debuted on Broadway in 2003, playing the role of Liza Minnelli opposite Hugh Jackman's Peter Allen in the acclaimed musical The Boy from Oz. Immediately prior to this, she served as the understudy for Idina Menzel as Elphaba and was part of the ensemble in Wicked while the show was in its pre-Broadway tryout at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco. Block had also worked with Stephen Schwartz on Wicked , as Elphaba, while the musical was still in early development during readings. In the spring of 2005, Block originated the role in the First National Tour of Wicked and performed with the company for a year. She was awarded the 2006 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Non-Resident Production and the 2007 Carbonell Award for Best Non-Resident Actress for this role. Block is currently reprising her role as Elphaba in the Broadway production of Wicked. Block began her run on October 9, 2007 and replaced Julia Murney.
Her many regional stage credits include Funny Girl, Crazy for You, Oliver!, James Joyce's The Dead, The Grass Harp, Bells Are Ringing (Reprise!) and I Love a Piano. Block was the original Belle in the Disneyland production of Beauty and the Beast and has done voice work for numerous commercials, including the singing voice of Barbie.
Block was most recently seen in the new Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil musical The Pirate Queen, in which she starred in the title role of Grania (also known as Grace O'Malley). She performed in The Pirate Queen in its tryout run in Chicago, Illinois as well as on Broadway.
Ms. Block appeared in a benefit performance celebrating Andrew Lippa, and the 25th Anniversary of the internationally renowned performing troupe 'The Kids Next Door' at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, CA in Dec. 2006 (appearing alongside other 'KND' alumni Matthew Morrison, Terron Brooks, Kamilah Martin, Jessica Burrows and others). The performance benefited The California Conservatory of the Arts, a non-profit arts education organization providing pre-professional training for young performers, selected by audition, in southern California.
Musical fact: Stephanie J. Block is a mezzo-soprano who attests to having a three-octave range with a low note of E3 (the lowest note in "I'm Not That Girl," a song from the musical Wicked).
She married Wicked tour costar Sebastian Arcelus on October 25, 2007. Arcelus recently starred alongside Block in the Broadway company of Wicked from October to December 2007 (Block is starring in the titular role of Elphaba and Arcelus played Fiyero).
Block sang the "National Anthem" at the June 25, 2007 New York Mets game at Shea Stadium in Flushing, NY.
She is currently reprising her role in Wicked on Broadway opposite former tour co-star Kendra Kassebaum as Glinda. Block will play her final performance as Elphaba on June 15, 2008 and she will be replaced by London's Elphaba Kerry Ellis.
In late 2008, Block will join Emmy-winning The West Wing star and Tony-nominee Allison Janney, fellow Wicked star Megan Hilty, and Broadway veteran Marc Kudisch in the new musical, 9 to 5 (musical). Based on the film of the same name, the production will be directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello (Wicked, Assassins) and will have its pre-broadway run at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles beginning September 21st. Block will star as Judy Bernly, the frazzled divorcee, a part played by Jane Fonda in the original film. Dolly Parton, seven-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician, who appeared in the original film has written the music and lyrics for the new musical.[1]
[edit] Roles
[edit] Theatre
- 9 to 5…as Judy Bernly ...2008-?
- Wicked…as Elphaba ...2005-2006, 2007-2008
- The Pirate Queen…as Grace (Grania) O'Malley...2006 - 2007
- How the Nurse Feels…reading of the new musical, in concert with the California Conservatory of the Arts...2006
- In This House…reading of the new musical...2006
- The Boy From Oz…as Liza Minnelli...2003
- Godspell…as Robin/Dance Captain...2002
- Crazy For You…as Polly...1998, 2002
- Oliver…as Nancy...2001
- Fiddler on the Roof…as Tzietle...2001
- Wicked…reading of the new musical...2000
- Funny Girl…as Fanny Brice...2000
- James Joyce’s “The Dead”…as Mary Jane...2000
- Bells Are Ringing…as Gwynne...1999
- Bye Bye Birdie…as Rosie...1999
- Damn Yankees…as Gloria Thorpe...1997
- Grease…as Rizzo
- Haven...as Ruth Gruber
- Mary Poppins...as Mary Poppins
- Let Me Sing…as Molly
- I Love a Piano…as Ginger
- The Grass Harp…as Baby Love
- Triumph of Love…as Corine
- Call Me Madam…as ensemble/Sally Adams (u/s)
- Joseph…as the Narrator
- Pygmalion: the True Story…as Aphrodite
- Guys & Dolls…as Sarah Brown
- Will Rogers Follies…as Ziegfeld’s Fav (u/s Betty Blake)
- South Pacific…as Nellie Forbush
- Little Shop of Horrors…as Audrey
[edit] Concerts
- Block Party…at Birdland (August 27 2007)
- Billy Stritch and the Girls…at Birdland (July 29 2007)
- The Broadway Musicals of 1925 (June 18 2007)
- An Evening with Andrew Lippa (December 2006)
- Block Party…at Birdland (June 2006)
- Broadway Comes to Tampa (April 29 2006)
- Valentine…at Birdland (February 2005)
- All Smiles…at Birdland (August 2004)
[edit] Film/Television
- 2004 Tony Awards…Performer
- Three’s Company: Behind the Scenes…Documentary Interviewer
- General Hospital…Featured
- Port Charles…Featured
- Life Goes On…Sarah
- American Teacher Awards…Lead Singer/Dancer
- The Man Who Knew Too Much…Too Late…Lead
[edit] Discography
[edit] Cast Recordings/Collaborative Projects
- The Pirate Queen - Original Broadway Cast
- The Boy From Oz – Original Broadway Cast
- The Broadway Musicals of 1925
- The Broadway Musicals Cut-Outs
- Broadway Unplugged 2004
- Thankful (Kids Next Door's 2005 Holiday CD)
[edit] Albums
Stephanie is currently working on her first solo album (title unknown). She also recently worked with Scott Alan on his CD Dreaming Wide Awake and performed the song Never Neverland.
[edit] Awards and Nominations
[edit] The Pirate Queen
- 2007 Drama League Award (Distinguished Performance Award) Nominee
- 2007 Broadway.com Audience Award (Favorite Diva Performance) Nominee
[edit] Wicked
- 2006 Helen Hayes Award (Best Actress in a Non-Resident Production) WINNER
- 2007 Carbonell Award (Best Actress in a Non-Resident Production) WINNER
- 2008 Broadway.com Audience Award (Favorite Replacement: Female) Nominee
[edit] Crazy For You
- 2002 L.A. Ovation Award (Best Actress) Nominee
[edit] Triumph of Love
- 2002 L.A. Robby Award (Best Supporting Actress) WINNER
[edit] Oliver!
- 2001 Critics' Table Award (Best Actress) WINNER
[edit] Funny Girl
- 2000 L.A. Robby Award (Best Actress) WINNER
[edit] References
- ^ broadwayworld.com Parton's '9 to 5' Musical Premieres in LA 2008; Janney, Block, Hilty & Kudisch Star Nov 15, 2007, retrieved Nov 16, 2007
