| Gwen Stewart | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 5, 1963 Newark, New Jersey |
Gwen Stewart (born September 5, 1963)[1] is an American stage actress. She made her Broadway debut as the character Canibelle in the original cast of Starmites. She is perhaps best known for her role in the hit Broadway musical, Rent. She was the first to play the role of Mrs. Jefferson, and Seasons of Love soloist. After the original Joanne, Fredi Walker-Browne, departed the cast in November 1997, Stewart took over the role. Her other Broadway credits include Truly Blessed, as an ensemble member, and the revival of Big River, as Alice.[2]
Stewart returned to Rent on April 29, 2007, the anniversary of Rent's opening, to reprise her role as the Seasons of Love soloist, a role which she also reprised in the final cast of Rent, which was filmed for Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway. She finished a national tour of Rent, along with former castmates Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, reprising her role yet again.[3] She reprised it for the fourth time in another production directed by Neil Patrick Harris from August 6–8, 2010.[4]
Stewart won the 2008 Ovation Award for Best Featured Actress In a Musical for her role as Sylvia in All Shook Up.