Kristen Vigard

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Kristen Vigard (born May 15, 1963) is an American actress and singer. She is known for her two year run as "Morgan Richards" on The Guiding Light.[1] She toured as a backup singer with Fishbone and the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the 1980s and sang the lead vocals for Illeana Douglas for the 1996 film Grace of My Heart, including "God Give Me Strength", which was nominated for Best Original Song at the 1st Golden Satellite Awards.

Early life

Vigard was born on May 15, 1963 in St. Paul, Minnesota.[2] In the late 1960s, she moved with her family to New York City where she made her acting debut at the age of 6 playing a carrot in a production starring Holly Woodlawn, Candy Darling and Jackie Curtis.[2] Vigard continued performing in theatre, appearing in productions with Ruby Dee, Joanne Woodward and Shirley Knight. She also became one of the first clients to be signed to the children's division of the Ford Modeling Agency, along with Brooke Shields and Ricky Schroder.

Musical theatre

In 1976, she created the title role in the musical Annie at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut. However, the producers soon decided that Vigard's genuinely sweet interpretation was not tough enough for the street-smart character. After a week of performances, Vigard was replaced by Andrea McArdle, who played one of the orphans.[3][4] Vigard later went on to become McArdle's Broadway understudy.[5]

In 1977, Vigard played "Crissy" in the short-lived revival of Hair. Though the show met with mostly negative reviews, Vigard received some of the best notices. The New York Times wrote, "The very best song of all, and perhaps the best performance as well, is Miss Vigard in the stony and touching saga of a teenybopper, 'Frank Mills.' Miss Vigard looks like an ancient 12 year old; she sings in a clear, clean style that cuts most satisfyingly through the general lushness."[6] Newsweek noted, "Angel-faced Kristen Vigard is the nicest of [the] cast."[citation needed]

In May 1979, she returned to Broadway as Johanne in I Remember Mama with Liv Ullman. Although show was the last musical to be written by Richard Rodgers, it received mixed reviews.

Television and film

In 1980, Vigard was cast as Morgan Richards on the daytime soap opera The Guiding Light. That same year, she appeared on the cover of People as one of the "Torrid Teens on the Soaps".[7] She remained on the show for two years.

Vigard made her film debut in the 1979 film The Black Stallion[8] and later appeared alongside Henry Fonda in the TV movie Home to Stay. She continued her work on television on Fame, The Equalizer, Amazing Stories and a two-year stint on One Life to Live. In 1983, she appeared in her first major screen role playing Walter Matthau's daughter in the film The Survivors.

Singing career

Vigard then pursued a music career and in the 1980s toured as a backup singer with Fishbone and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.[1] In 1988, she released her eponymous debut album. It was chosen as one of the top 100 albums of the year by Playboy and reached the Billboard top 30. In 1996, she sang the lead vocals for Illeana Douglas for the film Grace of My Heart.[9][10] In 2004, Vigard released her second album, God, Loves and Angels.

In popular culture

Vigard's short-lived role as Annie is mentioned in the 2008 film Phoebe in Wonderland.[11]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Newcomb, Roger (January 29, 2012). "Interview: Kristen Vigard Reminisces About Her Time At Guiding Light". We Love Soaps. Retrieved November 12, 2012. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Kristen Vigard". LoveCohen Group. March 6, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2012. 
  3. ↑ Weber, Bruce (March 2, 1997). "Forget It, Kid. Maybe Tomorrow.". The New York Times. Retrieved November 12, 2012. 
  4. ↑ Ferri, Josh (October 27, 2012). "Annie Yesterday, Today and ‘Tomorrow’: All About Broadway's Favorite Little Orphan". Broadway Buzz (Broadway.com). Retrieved November 12, 2012. 
  5. ↑ Annie at the Internet Broadway Database
  6. ↑ Eder, Richard (October 1977). "Stage: Revived Hair Shows its Gray 60s Grow Again". The New York Times. Retrieved November 12, 2012. 
  7. ↑ "People Archive". People.com. Retrieved November 12, 2012. 
  8. ↑ "The Black Stallion - Cast, Crew, Director and Awards". NYTimes.com. Retrieved November 12, 2012. 
  9. ↑ Maslin, Janet (September 13, 1996). "Grace of My Heart". The New York Times. Retrieved November 12, 2012. 
  10. ↑ Powers, Ann (September 22, 1996). "Paying Tribute To the Music That Never Died". The New York Times. Retrieved November 12, 2012. 
  11. ↑ "Phoebe in Wonderland quotes". Subzin.com. Retrieved November 12, 2012. 

Further reading

  • Rein, Richard K.; Birnbaum, Gail; Lardine, Bob (October 27, 1980). "Sexy and Sweet". People 14 (17). Retrieved November 12, 2012. 

External links

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