Karen Ziemba
Encyclopedia
Karen Ziemba is an American
actress, singer and dancer, best known for her work in musical theatre
.
, and went on to attend the University of Akron
(in Ohio
), where she studied dance and joined the Ohio Ballet in her sophomore year.
Her Broadway debut was in A Chorus Line
as Diana Morales. Later, she played the lead of Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street
. While appearing in "42nd Street", she was featured in the October 1984 issue of Playboy in the article "Babes of Broadway", in which she posed partially nude.
Ziemba went on to win a Drama Desk Award
for the Kander and Ebb
revue And The World Goes 'Round
(1991) and receive a Drama Desk nomination for I Do! I Do!
(1996). The next year, she was nominated for another Drama Desk Award and a Tony for her role in Steel Pier
. In 2000, Ziemba won the Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance in Susan Stroman
's Contact
. Four years later, she received another Tony nomination for Never Gonna Dance
. In 2007, she portrayed the heartwarming lyricist Georgia Hendricks in Curtains
, earning her fourth Tony award nomination.
Ziemba's other Broadway roles include Polly Baker in Crazy for You
, Roxie Hart in Chicago
, and Belle Hagner in Teddy & Alice
. In addition, she has performed with the New York City Opera
in 110 in the Shade
and The Most Happy Fella
. She has appeared in several New York City Center
Encores!
musicals-in-concert. She also starred in the staged reading of Vincent Crapelli's Otherwise, with Beth Leavel
and Laura Bonarrigo-Koffman
.
On television she has appeared on Law & Order
and on film in The Producers (2005)
and the ill-fated, never released remake of the classic The Devil and Daniel Webster
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress, singer and dancer, best known for her work in musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
.
Biography
Ziemba was born in St. Joseph, MichiganSt. Joseph, Michigan
St. Joseph is a city in the US state of Michigan. It was incorporated as a village in 1834 and as a city in 1891. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,789. It lies on the shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the St. Joseph River, about east-northeast of Chicago. It is the county...
, and went on to attend the University of Akron
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
(in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
), where she studied dance and joined the Ohio Ballet in her sophomore year.
Her Broadway debut was in A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line is a 1975 musical about Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. The book was authored by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante, lyrics were written by Edward Kleban, and music was composed by Marvin Hamlisch....
as Diana Morales. Later, she played the lead of Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street
42nd Street (musical)
42nd Street is a musical with a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, lyrics by Al Dubin, and music by Harry Warren. The 1980 Broadway production, directed by an ailing Gower Champion and orchestrated by Philip J. Lang, won the Tony Award for Best Musical and became a long-running hit...
. While appearing in "42nd Street", she was featured in the October 1984 issue of Playboy in the article "Babes of Broadway", in which she posed partially nude.
Ziemba went on to win a Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
for the Kander and Ebb
Kander and Ebb
Kander and Ebb were a highly successful songwriting team consisting of composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb . Known primarily for their stage musicals, Kander and Ebb also scored several movies including their most famous song, the theme song from Martin Scorsese's New York, New York...
revue And The World Goes 'Round
And the World Goes 'Round
And the World Goes 'Round is a musical revue showcasing the songs of John Kander and Fred Ebb. The revue takes its title from a tune the songwriting team wrote for Liza Minnelli to sing in the film New York, New York-Productions:...
(1991) and receive a Drama Desk nomination for I Do! I Do!
I Do! I Do!
I Do! I Do! is a musical with a book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt which is based on the Jan de Hartog play The Fourposter. The two-character story spans fifty years, from 1895 to 1945, as it focuses on the ups and downs experienced by Agnes and Michael Snow throughout their...
(1996). The next year, she was nominated for another Drama Desk Award and a Tony for her role in Steel Pier
Steel Pier
Steel Pier is a amusement pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey, located opposite The Boardwalk from Trump Taj Mahal.The pier was owned by Trump Entertainment Resorts until 2011, when it was sold to the Catanoso Family under the "Steel Pier Associates, LLC" name. The Catanosos previously leased the...
. In 2000, Ziemba won the Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance in Susan Stroman
Susan Stroman
Susan Stroman is an American theatre director, choreographer, film director, and performer. She has won the Tony Award for both her choreography and direction, notably for the stage musical The Producers.-Early years:...
's Contact
Contact (musical)
Contact: The Musical is a musical "dance play" that was developed by Susan Stroman and John Weidman, with its "book" by Weidman and both choreography and direction by Stroman. It ran both off-Broadway and on Broadway in 1999 - 2000. It consists of three separate one-act dance...
. Four years later, she received another Tony nomination for Never Gonna Dance
Never Gonna Dance
Never Gonna Dance is a Broadway musical featuring the music of Jerome Kern. The musical was based on the 1936 Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers film Swing Time. Lyricists include Oscar Hammerstein, Ira Gershwin, P. G...
. In 2007, she portrayed the heartwarming lyricist Georgia Hendricks in Curtains
Curtains (musical)
Curtains is a musical with a book by Rupert Holmes, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander, with additional lyrics by Kander and Holmes....
, earning her fourth Tony award nomination.
Ziemba's other Broadway roles include Polly Baker in Crazy for You
Crazy for You
Crazy for You is a musical with a book by Ken Ludwig, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and music by George Gershwin. Billed as "The New Gershwin Musical Comedy", it is largely based on the songwriting team’s 1930 musical, Girl Crazy, but interpolates songs from several other productions as well...
, Roxie Hart in Chicago
Chicago (musical)
Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal"...
, and Belle Hagner in Teddy & Alice
Teddy & Alice
Teddy & Alice is a musical with a book by Jerome Alden, lyrics by Hal Hackady, and music adapted from the work of the late John Philip Sousa, with some new songs by Richard Kapp...
. In addition, she has performed with the New York City Opera
New York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
in 110 in the Shade
110 in the Shade
110 in the Shade is a musical with a book by N. Richard Nash, lyrics by Tom Jones, and music by Harvey Schmidt.Based on Nash's 1954 play The Rainmaker, it focuses on Lizzie Curry, a spinster living on a ranch in the American southwest, and her relationships with local sheriff File, a cautious...
and The Most Happy Fella
The Most Happy Fella
The Most Happy Fella is a 1956 musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Frank Loesser. The story, about a romance between an older man and younger woman, is based on the play They Knew What They Wanted by Sidney Howard...
. She has appeared in several New York City Center
New York City Center
New York City Center is a 2,750-seat Moorish Revival theater located at 131 West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan, New York City. It is one block south of Carnegie Hall...
Encores!
Encores!
Encores! Great American Musicals in Concert is a program that has been presented by New York City Center since 1994. Encores! is dedicated to performing the full score of musicals that rarely are heard in New York City...
musicals-in-concert. She also starred in the staged reading of Vincent Crapelli's Otherwise, with Beth Leavel
Beth Leavel
-Biography:Leavel was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. She attended Meredith College, earning a degree in social work. She completed a graduate theatre degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1980. She acted during college, appearing in productions such as Cabaret and Hello,...
and Laura Bonarrigo-Koffman
Laura Koffman
Laura Bonarrigo-Koffman is an American actress.-Early life:Laura Koffman was born in Brookline, Massachusetts. She became a member of The Shoestring Players, a professional children’s theatre group, while still in grade school. While in high school, her family moved from Massachusetts to a large...
.
On television she has appeared on Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
and on film in The Producers (2005)
The Producers (2005 film)
# "Overture" - Orchestra# "Opening Night" - Opening Nighters# "We Can Do It" - Max and Leo# "I Wanna Be a Producer" - Leo, Accountants, Mr. Marks and Dancing Chorus Girls# "Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop" - Franz, Max, and Leo...
and the ill-fated, never released remake of the classic The Devil and Daniel Webster
The Devil and Daniel Webster
"The Devil and Daniel Webster" is a short story by Stephen Vincent Benét. This retelling of the classic German Faust tale is based on the short story "The Devil and Tom Walker", written by Washington Irving...
.