About Kristin
Born and raised in Broken Arrow, Okla., Kristin Chenoweth knew from an early age that she wanted to be a singer. She sang in the church and school choirs and eventually attended Oklahoma City University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Musical Theatre and a Masters in Opera Performance. She was headed to the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia to pursue a career in opera, but while helping a friend move into his apartment in New York, she went on an audition, just for the experience, and was offered the part! Abandoning AVA for the Great White Way, she took the part and made her New York debut in the PaperMill Playhouse production of ANIMAL CRACKERS. A series of smaller roles followed before she won the part of Sally Brown in the Broadway Revival of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN. Her performance earned her a Clarence Dewitt Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, a Drama Desk Award, and a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
With the new recognition came a record deal with Sony Classical, and the release of her first album, Let Yourself Go. She kept busy over the next several years, starring in the short-lived NBC sitcom KRISTIN, and appearing in Disney’s remake of ANNIE, and the made-for-TV remake of THE MUSIC MAN before returning to Broadway in the smash hit WICKED. Her portrayal of Glinda the Good led to another Tony nomination, and a slew of movie offers, including 2005’s BEWITCHED, and 2006’s RV, RUNNING WITH SCISSORS and DECK THE HALLS.
She also landed a role as a regular on NBC’s long-running drama THE WEST WING. For the show’s final two seasons, she appeared as media consultant Annabeth Schott, first serving in the White House communications department, then joining the Santos-McGarry campaign staff. The role drew even more attention, and in early 2006 Kristin could be seen in a series of Old Navy ads, on the cover of FHM Magazine, and on talk shows all across late night to promote her new movies – she even inspired an entire musical episode of The Ellen Degeneres Show!
Kristin has been keeping busy with concert appearances and a brief return to Broadway this past winter in Roundabout's revival of THE APPLE TREE at Studio 54, and the Encores! production of STAIRWAY TO PARADISE: 50 YEARS OF REVUE IN REVIEW. She can currently be seen on ABC's new series, PUSHING DAISIES.
For a more complete look at Kristin’s career, check out our overview below. Click on a keyword to take you to her work in that field, or browse the whole list to get an idea of her impressive career!
Past Projects
Theatre
Music
Television
Movies
THEATRE
Kristin has often said that she feels more at home on stage than anywhere else, and with all the theatre credits under her belt, that’s no surprise. She performed in the school plays during high school, and was onstage again in college, taking her first turn in her dream role of Cunegonde in Leonard Bernstein’s CANDIDE. In a story she loves to re-tell, Kristin landed her New York debut on a chance audition, and had a short two weeks to shift gears from preparing for a conservatory study to moving to the Big Apple!
Theatre Credits:
ANIMAL CRACKERS – 1993 – Paper Mill Playhouse – Arabella Rittenhouse.
STEEL PIER – 1997 – Richard Rodgers Theatre – Precious McGuire.
SCAPIN – 1997 – Laura Pels Theatre – Hyacinth.
STRIKE UP THE BAND – 1998 – City Center Theatre – Anne Draper.
A NEW BRAIN – 1998 – Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre – Nancy.
YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN – 1999 – Ambassador Theatre – Sally.
EPIC PROPORTIONS – 1999
EARTH GIRLS ARE EASY – 2001 – Workshop reading – Val
WICKED – 2003 – Gershwin Theatre – Glinda the Good.
CANDIDE – 2004 – Avery Fisher Hall – Cunegonde.
THE APPLE TREE – 2005 – City Center Theatre – Eve/Barbara/Passionella.
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN – 2006 – Workshop Reading – Elizabeth
THE APPLE TREE - 2006 - Studio 54 - Eve/Barbara/Passionella.
STAIRWAY TO PARADISE - 2007 - City Center Theatre - Various Characters
MUSIC
Music is Kristin’s first love, and anyone who has spent five minutes in her presence, even at a stage door, has probably heard her sing a note or two. She began singing in church as a child, then continued in the school choir, and moved on to a more focused vocal study in college where she was introduced to voice teacher Florence Birdwell. Mrs. Birdwell horrified poor teenage Kristin at her audition, when she told her, “I can’t wait to teach you how to sing!” She was the teacher who taught Kristin that good singing was more than just a pretty voice, and helped shape her into the powerhouse that she is today. After winning her Tony for YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN, Kristin signed a recording contract with Sony Classical, and has put out two albums, with a third on the way. She has also lent her voice to a slew of other recordings and concerts, and currenltly keep up her vocal study (yes, that's right, even Kristin still takes voice lessons) with vocal coach Joan Lader.
Recordings:
LET YOURSELF GO (May 29, 2001)
AS I AM (April 5, 2005)
Concert Work:
CARNEGIE HALL, New York City, NY (September 10, 2004)
DISNEY HALL, Los Angeles, CA (February 26, 2005)
THE GREEK THEATRE, Los Angeles, CA (July 9, 2005)
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE New York City, NY (January 19, 2007)
TELEVISION
Good things come to those who win Tonys – in Kristin’s case it was both a record deal and a TV sitcom pilot. The short-lived series KRISTIN aired in the summer of 2001, and Kristin appeared in the occasional guest spot on shows like Frasier and Baby Bob (now there’s one for you hardcore fans to try tracking down!), and in a few televised concerts. She also had a memorable performance in the made-for-tv version of THE MUSIC MAN. After WICKED, she landed a role on NBC’s THE WEST WING, her most prestigious small screen role to date.
KRISTIN - NBC - 2001
THE MUSIC MAN - 2003 - ABC
THE WEST WING - 2004-2006 - NBC
PUSHING DAISIES - 2007-PRESENT - ABC
MOVIES
The years since WICKED have seen Kristin’s debut on the silver screen, and it seems every time we turn around, she’s announcing her involvement in another big screen project! Here's the list so far, but keep checking back -- we're sure there will be more soon!
BEWITCHED - 2005
THE PINK PANTHER - 2006
RV - 2006
RUNNING WITH SCISSORS - 2006
STRANGER THAN FICTION - 2006
DECK THE HALLS - 2006
