| Stephanie J. Block | |
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| Born | Stephanie Janette Block September 19, 1972 California, U.S. |
| Spouse(s) | Sebastian Arcelus (2007—present) |
| Official website | |
Stephanie J. Block (born September 19, 1972) is an American actress and singer. She is most well known for her work on the Broadway stage and for originating the role of Elphaba in the early workshops of Wicked. She has additionally been nominated for a Drama Desk Award and a Drama League Award. She released her debut solo album through PS Classics in June 2009.
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Professional career
Block started her professional musical theater career with regional theater where her credits included Funny Girl, Crazy for You, Oliver!, James Joyce's The Dead, The Grass Harp, Bells Are Ringing (Reprise!) and I Love a Piano. Block was additionally the original Belle in the Disneyland production of Beauty and the Beast and did voice work for numerous commercials, including the singing voice of Barbie.
In 2000 Block read the part of Elphaba in the first reading of the new musical Wicked. After some time she was replaced by Idina Menzel, a decision that left Block devastated. She was Menzel's understudy in the San Francisco world premiere in 2003, but left the show prior to opening on Broadway when she was offered a lead role in the The Boy From Oz.
Block debuted on Broadway in 2003, playing the role of Liza Minnelli opposite Hugh Jackman's Peter Allen in the musical The Boy from Oz. The show received mixed reviews, but proved to be a hit with audiences playing on Broadway for close to a year.
In spring 2005, Block originated the role of Elphaba in the first national tour of Wicked. She was awarded the 2006 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Non-Resident Production and the 2007 Carbonell Award for Best Non-Resident Actress for this role. Block received great reviews for a show stopping performance. After performing with the tour for a year Block left the production on March 5, 2006 and was replaced by Julia Murney.
In 2007 Block was seen in the title role of the new musical The Pirate Queen. Written by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, the show received harsh reviews and poor box office, but Block was praised by critics for a courageous performance. She received a nomination for a Drama League Award. Later that year Block reprised the role of Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway beginning October 9, 2007 where she replaced Julia Murney. She left the production after eight months on June 15, 2008 and was succeeded by Kerry Ellis.
Block most recently starred alongside Allison Janney, Megan Hilty, and Marc Kudisch in the new musical adaptation of the 1980 film 9 to 5. The production was directed by Joe Mantello, with music written by Dolly Parton. The show opened on Broadway in April 2009 at the Marquis Theatre. Receiving mixed reviews and average ticket sales the show closed in September 2009. Block starred as Judy Bernly, the frazzled divorcée, the role played by Jane Fonda in the film. For this role Block was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical.
In 2009, Block released her debut album through PS Classics entitled This Place I Know. Although the album failed to chart, it was a hit with critics with some hailing it as the best album that has come out of the Broadway community in some time.
Recently, Block was asked to reprise her role of Elphaba in Wicked for a two week engagement in the London production, as the lead, standby, and understudy where all frequently away due to illness, but this never happened.[1] Block still went to London anyway as she was scheduled for some concert work there.
Personal life
Block was born to on September 19, 1972, and has one sister, Renee. She grew up in California and attended an all girls Catholic private school for her secondary education. Block married actor Sebastian Arcelus on October 25, 2007. Arcelus starred alongside Block in the First National Tour of Wicked as the Fiyero replacement from January to October 2006, and again on Broadway from October to December 2007. They have a dog, a Yorkie/Maltese mix named Macaco.
Credits
Broadway
- 9 to 5 as Judy Bernly (2009)
- Wicked as Elphaba (2007-2008)
- The Pirate Queen as Grace O'Malley (2007)
- The Boy From Oz as Liza Minnelli (2003-2004)
Readings
- 9 to 5 as Judy Bernly (2007)
- Bye Bye Birdie as Rosie Alvarez (2007)
- How the Nurse Feels (2006)
- In This House (2006)
- Wicked as Elphaba (2000)
Regional Theater
- 9 to 5 as Judy Bernly (2008)
- The Pirate Queen as Grace O'Malley (2006)
- Wicked as Elphaba (standby) (2003)
- Godspell as Robin (2002)
- Crazy for You as Polly (2002)
- Oliver as Nancy (2001)
- Fiddler on the Roof as Tzeitel (2001)
- Funny Girl as Fanny Brice (2000)
- James Joyce's The Dead as Mary Jane (2000)
- Bells Are Ringing as Gwynne (1999)
- Bye Bye Birdie as Rosie (1999)
- Damn Yankees as Gloria Thorpe (1997)
- Grease as Rizzo
- Haven as Ruth Gruber
- Mary Poppins as Mary Poppins
- Let Me Sing as Molly
- I Love a Piano as Ginger
- The Grass Harp as Baby Love
- Triumph of Love as Corine
- Call Me Madam as Sally Adams (understudy)
- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as Narrator
- Pygmalion: the True Story as Aphrodite
- Guys & Dolls as Sarah Brown
- Will Rogers Follies as Betty Blake (understudy)
- South Pacific as Nellie Forbush
- Little Shop of Horrors as Audrey
Concerts
- xoxoXMAS at Birdland (2009)
- Scott Alan: Just Me...And Them at the Leicester Square Theatre (2009)
- True Colors Cabaret (2009)
- Nothing Like a Dame at New World Stages (2009)
- Visa Signature Tony Awards Preview Concert at the Hudson Theatre (2009)
- Defying Inequality at the Gershwin Theatre (2009)
- Yellow Brick Road Not Taken at the Gershwin Theatre (2008)
- Mr. Green's Opus at Birdland (2008)
- Block Party at Birdland (2007)
- Billy Stritch and the Girls at Birdland (2007)
- The Broadway Musicals of 1925 (2007)
- An Evening with Andrew Lippa (2006)
- Block Party at Birdland (2006)
- Broadway Comes to Tampa (2006)
- Valentine at Birdland (2005)
- All Smiles at Birdland (2004)
Filmography
- 63rd Tony Awards as Herself (2009)
- Good Day New York as Herself (2009)
- The Visa Signature Tony Awards Season Celebration as Performer (2009)
- The View as Herself (2009)
- CMT Insider as Herself (2008)
- Entertainment Tonight as Herself (2008)
- James Marshall's Cinderella as Narrator (2006)
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as a Musical Guest (2005)
Discography
Cast Recordings
- 9 to 5: The Musical
- The Pirate Queen
- The Boy From Oz
Collaborative Projects
- Wicked: 5th Anniversary Cast Recording
- The Broadway Musicals of 1925
- The Broadway Musicals Cut-Outs
- Broadway Unplugged 2004
- A Joyful Christmas
- Thankful
- Dreaming Wide Awake
Solo Albums
- This Place I Know
Awards and nominations
Awards
- 2000 LA Robby Award for Best Actress - Funny Girl
- 2001 Critics Table Award for Best Actress - Oliver
- 2002 LA Robby Award for Best Supporting Actress - Triumph of Love
- 2006 Helen Hayes Award for Best Actress in a Non-Resident Production - Wicked
- 2007 Carbonell Award for Best Actress in a Non-Resident Production - Wicked
Nominations
- 2002 LA Ovation Award for Best Actress - Crazy for You
- 2007 Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Diva Performance - The Pirate Queen
- 2007 Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance - The Pirate Queen
- 2008 Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Female Replacement - Wicked
- 2009 Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Diva Performance - 9 to 5
- 2009 Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Leading Actress in a Broadway Musical - 9 to 5
- 2009 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical - 9 to 5
- 2009 Grammy Award for Best Cast Show Album - 9 to 5 (with Dolly Parton, Allison Janney, Megan Hilty and others)
References
External links
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