| Nicole Parker | |
|---|---|
Nicole Parker, September 2006 |
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| Born | Nicole Frances Parker February 21, 1978 Irvine, California, United States |
| Occupation | Actress, comedienne, writer |
| Years active | 2003–present |
Nicole Frances Parker (born February 21, 1978) is an Emmy Award-winning actress and singer best known for her work on Fox's sketch comedy show MADtv. In July 2009, she concluded her run as Elphaba in the Broadway production of Wicked. She can currently be seen in the new Broadway musical, The People in the Picture.[1]
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In her hometown of Irvine, California, she performed at South Coast Repertory and Laguna Playhouse. She also studied Theatre and Voice at Indiana University and performed in an improv troupe called Full Frontal Comedy. After college, Parker performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Second City in Chicago, Bloemendaal, Unhinged Academy and Groningen. In addition, she and some college friends formed a theater company in New York called Waterwell Productions. Parker moved to Amsterdam for two years, where she performed in the comedy show Boom Chicago alongside MADtv alumni Ike Barinholtz and Jordan Peele.
Parker joined the cast of MADtv in 2003 as a featured performer for the ninth season. She was promoted to cast member status the following season. Parker's most noteworthy characters include Inside Looking Out host Pat-Beth LaMontrose and the carefree yet naive Disney Girl.
She has a long celebrity impressionist list, often imitating pop-music stars in parody music videos. Parker left the show on the first week of November 2008, but appeared in pretaped sketches until MADtv's series finale in 2009.
Parker also impersonated many celebrities. Some of her more popular impersonations included Britney Spears, Ellen DeGeneres, Paula Abdul, Kathy Griffin, Lauren Conrad in various parodies of Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County and The Hills. She also is known for her James Blunt parody of his song 'You're Beautiful'.
In 2004 Parker was Nominated for Jeff Award nomination for Best Actress in a Principal Role: Musical, for her performance in The People vs. Friar Laurence, The Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet.
From July 2006 to January 2007, Parker performed in Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me comedy musical.
In 2009 Parker played the role of Elphaba in the Broadway production of the musical Wicked, for a six month run, opposite Alli Mauzey as Glinda from January 16 through July 19.[2]
Parker is currently starring in the new musical The People in the Picture, which began performances at Studio 54 on April 1, 2011 and officially opened on April 28, 2011.[3]
Parker frequently guest performs in the improvisational comedy show Cookin' With Gas at The Groundlings Theatre in Hollywood, CA.
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Fuenteovejuna | Laurencia | Musical (Regional) |
| 2003 | Stuck | Director | Improv Play (Regional) |
| 2004 | The Magic Flute | Pamina | Musical (Regional) |
| 2004 | Romeo and Juliet Musical: The People vs. Friar Laurence, The Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet | Juliet | Musical (Regional) |
| 2006–2007 | Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me | Various Characters | Comedy Musical (Broadway) |
| 2008 | Proposition 8: The Musical | California Gays and The People That Love Them | Comedy Musical |
| 2007–2008 | Suitcase Full of Lies | Jillane Jenkins | Comedy Musical (Regional)[4] |
| 2009 | Wicked | Elphaba | Musical (Broadway) |
| 2010 | Suitcase Full of Lies | Jillane Jenkins | Comedy Musical (Regional) |
| 2010 | "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" | Rosemary | Musical (Limited Engagement)[5] |
| 2011 | The People in the Picture | Red | Musical (Broadway)[6] |
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes | Episode Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–2009 | MADtv | Various Characters | Sketch Comedy | 113 Episodes |
| 2005 | Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List | Herself | Comedy/Reality | 1 Episode |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Box Office Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Four Years | as Stacy | Short Film Comedy Movie | |
| 2008 | Meet the Spartans | as Britney Spears, Paula Abdul, Paris Hilton and Ellen DeGeneres | Parody Movie | $84,021,565 |
| Disaster Movie | as Enchanted Princess, Jessica Simpson, Amy Winehouse | Parody Movie | $31,683,375 | |
| 2009 | Weathered | as Weather Wellington | Short Film Drama Movie | |
| Funny People | as Dawn | Comedy-Drama Movie | $50,200,497 |
| Year | Result | Award | Category | Nominated Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Nominated | Jeff Award[7] | Best Actress in a Principal Role | Musical, The People vs. Friar Laurence, The Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet |
| 2006 | Won | Emmy Award[8] | Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics | MADtv, for the song "A Wonderfully Normal Day" – for episode #1111 |
| 2007 | Nominated | Emmy Award[8] | Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics | MADtv, for the song "Merry Ex-Mas" – for episode #1209 |
| 2009 | Won | GLAAD Media Awards[9] | Special Recognition | Prop 8: The Musical |
| 2009 | Won | Damah Film Festival[10] | Best Actress (Audience Award) | Short film, Weathered |