Kate Baldwin Biography

Kate Baldwin (born c. 1975) is an American actress and singer known for her work in musical theatre.

Biography

Born in Shorewood, Wisconsin, Baldwin graduated from Shorewood High School in 1993, and from the theatre program at Northwestern University in 1997.

Career

Baldwin made her Broadway debut in The Full Monty in 2000, followed by appearances in Thoroughly Modern Millie and Wonderful Town. She frequently performs in regional theater and was nominated for the Helen Hayes Award for her portrayal of Nellie Forbush in the 2002 Arena Stage production of South Pacific. Additional credits include The Sound of Music and The Music Man at The Muny in St. Louis, Missouri and Charlotte in A Little Night Music at Centre Stage in Baltimore.

Baldwin played the role of Sharon in the 2009 Encores! staged concert production of Finian's Rainbow. New York Times critic Charles Isherwood called her a "discovery" and praised her performance, noting she sang the role "beautifully... her rich, pure soprano riding the crests of the melodies with ease." She reprised the role in the Broadway revival that brought the Encores production to the St. James Theatre in October 2009. Her performance received positive notices again, as well as a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in Musical.

In October 2009, Baldwin released her first solo album, Let's See What Happens, a compilation of songs written by Burton Lane and E. Y. Harburg.

The premiere of the new musical Paradise Found, featured Baldwin in a production co-directed by Harold Prince and Susan Stroman at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London (May 19 - June 26, 2010). The Telegraph reviewer wrote of her performance: "The best performance comes from Kate Baldwin, who is both affecting and a succulent feast for the eye, as Mizzi."

Baldwin appeared in the musical I Do! I Do! at the Westport Country Playhouse (August 10 - September 4, 2010). She appeared at the Dallas Theater Center, in a co-production with the Public Theater, in a new musical version of Giant, with music by Michael John LaChiusa and the book by Sybille Pearson. Performances started on January 18, 2012 in previews and ran through February 19, with direction by Michael Greif. She appeared in the Arena Stage's (Washington, D.C.) production of The Music Man as Marian. Performances ran from May 11, 2012 to July 22.

Personal

She married actor Graham Rowat on October 2, 2005. On April 19, 2011 she gave birth to a son, Colin James.

Awards and nominations

Baldwin received both a 2010 Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical and a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for her performance in Finian's Rainbow.

Additional credits

• Opening Doors concert, Zankel Hall, October 2004
• Miss Saigon, Paper Mill Playhouse, 2002
• Hello, Dolly!, Paper Mill Playhouse, June 2006
• Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Muny, St. Louis, August 2006
• The Pajama Game, The Muny, St. Louis, July 2007
• White Christmas, San Francisco, November 2005-December 2005 and Toronto, November 2007-January 2008
• She Loves Me, Huntington Theatre Company and Williamstown Theatre Festival, Massachusetts, May 2008-June 2008
• My Fair Lady, Sacramento Music Circus, August 2008
• The Broadway Musicals of 1927, "Broadway By the Year" February 22, 2010, The Town Hall, New York