Katie Rose Clarke
Encyclopedia
Katherine "Katie" Rose Clarke (b. August 25, 1984) is an American
musical theater actress. Originally from Friendswood
, Texas
, she first came to national attention for her portrayal of Clara Johnson in the Broadway
production, the live PBS broadcast, and the national tour of The Light in the Piazza. She made her Broadway debut in The Light in the Piazza on December 9, 2005, at the age of 21, at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre
in New York City
under the name "Katie Clarke". Clarke replaced Kelli O'Hara
in the part of Clara Johnson, after O'Hara had left the show to play Babe Williams opposite Harry Connick, Jr.
in The Pajama Game
.
She got her start acting at the United Methodist Church
.
Clarke is a graduate of Sam Houston State University
. Her other theater credits include Craig Lucas
' 2007 play Prayer for my Enemy at the Long Wharf Theatre
in New Haven
, Connecticut
and the Deborah Abramson/William Finn
musical revue "Travels With My Discontent" at the Barrington Stage Company. She also performed in the regional production of TUTS Houston Anything Goes
in the ensemble.
She was profiled in The New York Times
in January 2006.
Katie portrayed the role of Glinda
on the first national tour of hit musical Wicked
. She replaced Christina DeCicco on November 6, 2007 and starred alongside Carmen Cusack
as Elphaba, who was later replaced by Donna Vivino
. She played her final performance in San Diego on August 16, 2009 and was replaced by Chandra Lee Schwartz
. She most recently reprised the role of Glinda at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway. She replaced Erin Mackey
on January 14, 2010. Clarke took medical leave in March/April 2011, during which time the role was played by Laura Woyasz. She starred alongside Dee Roscioli
, Mandy Gonzalez
and Teal Wicks
during her run, which came to an end on September 25, 2011. Direct from the national tour, Schwartz again acted as her replacement. Clarke returned to the 1st national tour of Wicked as Glinda beginning November 15, 2011 and was joined by Kyle Dean Massey
, who played the role of Fiyero alongside her in the Broadway production.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musical theater actress. Originally from Friendswood
Friendswood, Texas
Friendswood is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The city lies in Galveston and Harris counties. As of the 2000 U.S...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, she first came to national attention for her portrayal of Clara Johnson in the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production, the live PBS broadcast, and the national tour of The Light in the Piazza. She made her Broadway debut in The Light in the Piazza on December 9, 2005, at the age of 21, at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre
Vivian Beaumont Theatre
The Vivian Beaumont Theater is a theatre located in the Lincoln Center complex at 150 West 65th Street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The structure was designed by Finnish American architect Eero Saarinen, and Jo Mielziner was responsible for the design of the stage and interior.The Vivian...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
under the name "Katie Clarke". Clarke replaced Kelli O'Hara
Kelli O'Hara
Kelli O'Hara is an American actress, singer, and songwriter.O'Hara has been nominated for three Tony Awards: for her performance as Clara Johnson in The Light in the Piazza; for her performance as Babe Williams in the Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of The Pajama Game, where she starred...
in the part of Clara Johnson, after O'Hara had left the show to play Babe Williams opposite Harry Connick, Jr.
Harry Connick, Jr.
Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr. is an American singer, big-band leader/conductor, pianist, actor, and composer. He has sold over 25 million albums worldwide. Connick is ranked among the top 60 best-selling male artists in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America, with...
in The Pajama Game
The Pajama Game
The Pajama Game is a musical based on the novel 7½ Cents by Richard Bissell. It features a score by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story deals with labor troubles in a pajama factory, where worker demands for a seven-and-a-half cents raise are going unheeded...
.
She got her start acting at the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
.
Clarke is a graduate of Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University was founded in 1879 and is the third oldest public institution of higher learning in the State of Texas. It is located in Huntsville, Texas. It is one of the oldest purpose-built institutions for the instruction of teachers west of the Mississippi River and the first...
. Her other theater credits include Craig Lucas
Craig Lucas
Craig Lucas is an American playwright, screenwriter, theatre director, musical actor, and film director.-Biography:...
' 2007 play Prayer for my Enemy at the Long Wharf Theatre
Long Wharf Theatre
Long Wharf Theatre is a nonprofit institution in New Haven, Connecticut, a pioneer in the not-for-profit regional theatre movement, the originator of several prominent plays, and a venue where many internationally known actors have appeared....
in New Haven
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and the Deborah Abramson/William Finn
William Finn
William Alan Finn is an American composer and lyricist of musicals. His musical Falsettos received the 1992 Tony Awards for Best Music and Lyrics and for Best Book.-Biography:...
musical revue "Travels With My Discontent" at the Barrington Stage Company. She also performed in the regional production of TUTS Houston Anything Goes
Anything Goes
Anything Goes is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The original book was a collaborative effort by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, heavily revised by the team of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The story concerns madcap antics aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London...
in the ensemble.
She was profiled in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
in January 2006.
Katie portrayed the role of Glinda
Glinda
Glinda is a fictional character in the Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. She is the most powerful sorceress of Oz, ruler of the Quadling Country south of the Emerald City, and protector of Princess Ozma.- Literature :Baum's 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
on the first national tour of hit musical Wicked
Wicked (musical)
Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West , a parallel novel of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard...
. She replaced Christina DeCicco on November 6, 2007 and starred alongside Carmen Cusack
Carmen Cusack (Actress)
Carmen Cusack is a musical theater actress and singer, best known for playing Elphaba in the Chicago, National Tour and Melbourne productions of the hit musical Wicked.-Early life and Career:...
as Elphaba, who was later replaced by Donna Vivino
Donna Vivino
Donna Vivino is a theatre actress and singer, who recently starred as Elphaba on the First National Tour of Wicked, and is currently the standby for the role on Broadway....
. She played her final performance in San Diego on August 16, 2009 and was replaced by Chandra Lee Schwartz
Chandra Lee Schwartz
Chandra Lee Schwartz is an American theatre performer, who most recently played Glinda on the first National Tour of Wicked from Friday, 21 August 2009, through Sunday, 17 April 2011. She originally starred alongside Donna Vivino as Elphaba, who was later replaced by Jackie Burns...
. She most recently reprised the role of Glinda at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway. She replaced Erin Mackey
Erin Mackey
Erin Mackey is a stage actress/singer, best known for playing the role of Glinda in the Chicago, Los Angeles and Broadway productions of Wicked.-Career:...
on January 14, 2010. Clarke took medical leave in March/April 2011, during which time the role was played by Laura Woyasz. She starred alongside Dee Roscioli
Dee Roscioli
Dee Roscioli is an American singer and actress, who is known for her performances as "Elphaba" in the Chicago, San Francisco, Broadway and national touring productions of the musical Wicked.-Education:She graduated from Wilson Area High School in 1995 and DeSales University in 1999...
, Mandy Gonzalez
Mandy Gonzalez
Mandy Gonzalez is an American actress and singer, who most recently finished a 10-month run as Elphaba in the Broadway musical Wicked.-Early life and education:...
and Teal Wicks
Teal Wicks
Teal Wicks is an American singer and stage actress, best known for her performance as Elphaba in the Broadway, San Francisco, and Los Angeles productions of the musical Wicked.-Education:...
during her run, which came to an end on September 25, 2011. Direct from the national tour, Schwartz again acted as her replacement. Clarke returned to the 1st national tour of Wicked as Glinda beginning November 15, 2011 and was joined by Kyle Dean Massey
Kyle Dean Massey
Kyle Dean Massey is an American theatre performer, best known for playing Gabe in the Broadway musical Next To Normal, and for appearing in the ensemble and as the understudy for Fiyero in Wicked on Broadway and on the first North American tour...
, who played the role of Fiyero alongside her in the Broadway production.