Heidi Blickenstaff (born December 28, 1971) is an American actress and singer based in New York City best known for playing a version of herself in the musical [title of show] during its Off-Broadway and Broadway runs, as well as for originating the role of Bea in the 2015 musical Something Rotten!. She co-starred with Cozi Zuehlsdorff in the Disney Channel musical version of Freaky Friday which was broadcast on August 10, 2018.
Heidi Blickenstaff | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | December 28, 1971 |
| Alma mater | Duke University |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Spouse |
Nicholas Rohlfing (m. 2015) |
Her further Broadway credits include The Little Mermaid as Ursula, The Addams Family as Alice, and Jagged Little Pill as MJ.
Personal life
editBlickenstaff grew up in Fresno, California, and got her start in musical theater at Good Company Players, where her roles included "Annie" in the musical of the same name.[1][2] She is a graduate of Roosevelt High School in Fresno, Calif., and Duke University's Department of Theater Studies.[3][4]
Her father, Dale Blickenstaff, is the former District Attorney of Fresno County.[1] In 2015, Blickenstaff married Nicholas Rohlfing.[5] She has two stepsons, Jonah and Malcolm Rohlfing.
Career
editBlickenstaff is a Broadway performer who gained widespread notice for her work in [title of show] after some years of working in understudy, supporting, and ensemble roles.[6] The musical documents its own creation by Broadway fans Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell, who want to enter the New York Musical Theatre Festival and struggle to complete the show in three and a half weeks with their two actress friends. The actors are also the writers and characters of the musical. Blickenstaff has said her character in [title of show], a struggling actor also named "Heidi", is a "concentrated version" of her actual personality.[7]
She also has credited her experience in [title of show] with easing her chronic stage fright, a form of self-doubt immortalized in one of the show's songs, "Die Vampire Die". "I also have a stage fright vampire", she told TheaterMania in 2006, during [title of show]'s extended off-Broadway run at the Vineyard Theatre. "Certainly, [title of show] has been great medicine, because we talk about that stuff."[8]
Other work
editBlickenstaff's other Broadway credits include The Full Monty on Broadway (as Susan Hershey) and The Little Mermaid (as Carlotta/Ensemble and u/s for Ursula).
In 2006, she starred in the musical Meet John Doe at the Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., winning a Helen Hayes Award for her performance.[9]
Of Blickenstaff's performance in the musical—an adaptation of the 1941 Frank Capra film of the same name—Peter Marks wrote in the Washington Post: "She's a dynamite successor to the movie's Barbara Stanwyck: It's a star performance, in fact. There's an effortless kind of kick to Blickenstaff's readings of Ann's sharp-elbowed lines. And she can sing, to boot."[10]
Blickenstaff's other regional credits include roles in The Girl in the Frame at the Goodspeed Opera House, Bat Boy at Theatreworks in Palo Alto, California, and Prairie at New York Stage and Film.[citation needed]
She has also performed in touring productions of The Full Monty, Jekyll & Hyde (as the understudy for the role of Lucy Harris), Steel Pier, Dreamgirls, and The Who's Tommy.[3] It was during the Tommy tour that Blickenstaff met her future [title of show] co-star (and the musical's co-creator/composer) Jeff Bowen.[7]
She has appeared in a television commercials for Nationwide Insurance[citation needed] and Foster Grant.[11]
Blickenstaff replaced Sherie Rene Scott as Ursula in the Broadway production of The Little Mermaid on January 27, 2009, and stayed with the show until April 5, 2009.[12] She was succeeded by Faith Prince.
She replaced Carolee Carmello as Alice Beineke in The Addams Family on March 8, 2011.[13]
Blickenstaff was a member of the original cast of the review First You Dream: The Music of Kander and Ebb, which premiered at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia, in 2009,[14] and the revival that played at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in June 2012.[15]
In July 2013, Blickenstaff played Diana in Next to Normal at the Weston Playhouse in Weston, Vermont.[16][17]
In April 2014, she played Cleo in the City Center Encores! staging of The Most Happy Fella with Laura Benanti and Cheyenne Jackson.[18]
Blickenstaff played Jane/Bonnie in the world premiere of Dog and Pony at The Old Globe Theatre from May through July 2014 with Nicole Parker, Beth Leavel, Jon Patrick Walker, and Eric William Morris. Dog and Pony has a book by Rick Elice and music and lyrics by Michael Patrick Walker, and was directed by Roger Rees.[19]
From November 2014 to January 2015, Blickenstaff played Emily Hobbs in Paper Mill Playhouse's production of Elf: The Musical.[20]
Blickenstaff returned to Broadway in March 2015, originating the role of Bea in Something Rotten!, alongside Christian Borle and Brian d'Arcy James.[21]
In the fall of 2017, Blickenstaff filmed the new Disney Channel musical version of Freaky Friday as the mother whose personality "swaps" with her daughter, played by Cozi Zuehlsdorff. The film was broadcast on Disney Channel in August 2018.[22]
Blickenstaff can be heard on the cast recordings of [title of show], Now. Here. This., Meet John Doe, The Little Mermaid, and Something Rotten!. She also sang on the recordings "Sweet Bye and Bye," featuring the music of Vernon Duke; "Jerome Kern: The Land Where the Good Songs Go"; Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond's "Out of Our Heads"; "Keys: The Music of Scott Alan"; and Georgia Stitt's "My Lifelong Love."[23] Heidi also recorded a stand alone track to Uninvited with the Original Broadway Cast of Jagged Little Pill that was released in the fall on 2022.
Theatre
edit| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Mame | Ensemble | Carousel Dinner Theatre |
| 1996 | The Who's Tommy | Ensemble Mrs. Walker (u/s) | National tour |
| 1997 | Dreamgirls | Ensemble | National tour |
| 1998 | Steel Pier | Shelby Stevens | National tour |
| 1999 | Jekyll & Hyde | Ensemble
Lucy Harris (u/s) |
National tour; left in 2000 |
| 2000 | The Full Monty | Susan Hershey
Vicky Nichols |
National tour; left in 2001 |
| 2002 | Broadway; closed in 2002 | ||
| 2003 | Bat Boy: The Musical | Meredith Parker | Theatreworks, Jul. 19 - Aug. 10, 2003 |
| Prairie | Caroline Ingalls | New York Fringe Festival | |
| 2004 | [title of show] | Stacia | New York Musical Theatre Festival, Sep. 2004 |
| 2005 | The Girl in the Frame | Goodspeed Opera House | |
| [title of show] | Heidi | Eugene O'Neill Theater Center | |
| Off-off-Broadway; Sep. 2005 | |||
| 2006 | Off-Broadway; Feb. 26 - Oct. 1, 2006 | ||
| Meet John Doe | Ann Mitchell | Ford's Theatre | |
| The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas | Dogette | Broadway concert | |
| 2007 | The Little Mermaid | Carlotta
Ursula (u/s) |
Broadway; Nov. 3, 2007 - Apr. 21, 2008 |
| 2008 | [title of show] | Heidi | Broadway; Jul. 17 - Oct. 8, 2008 |
| 2009 | The Little Mermaid | Ursula | Broadway; Jan. 27 - Apr. 6, 2009 |
| First You Dream: The Music of Kander and Ebb | Performer | Signature Theatre | |
| 2011 | The Addams Family | Alice Beineke | Broadway; Mar. 7 - Dec. 31, 2011 |
| 2012 | First You Dream: The Music of Kander and Ebb | Performer | Kennedy Center |
| Now. Here. This. | Heidi | Off-Broadway; Mar. 7 - Apr. 28, 2012 | |
| 2013 | Next to Normal | Diana | Weston Playhouse Theatre Company |
| 2014 | The Most Happy Fella | Cleo | Encores!, Apr. 2014 |
| Dog and Pony | Jane/Bonnie | Old Globe Theatre, May - July 2014 (world premiere) | |
| Elf | Emily Hobbs | Paper Mill Playhouse, Nov. 2014 - Jan. 2015 | |
| 2015 | Something Rotten! | Bea Bottom | Broadway; Apr. 22, 2015 - July 16, 2016 |
| 2016 | Freaky Friday | Katherine Blake | Signature Theatre; Oct. 4 - Nov. 20, 2016 |
| 2017 | La Jolla Playhouse | ||
| 2021 | Jagged Little Pill | MJ Healy | Broadway; Broadhurst Theatre |
| 2022 | North American Tour |
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | The Rebound | Morning Mom | |
| 2013 | Sing Along | Ms. Kelly | Short |
| 2015 | First You Dream: The Music of Kander and Ebb | Performer | TV film |
| 2018 | Freaky Friday | Katherine Blake | TV film |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Hope & Faith | Woman | Episode: "The Dolly Mama" |
| 2008 | The 53rd Drama Desk Awards | Host | TV special |
| 2014 | Submissions Only | Diana Rioux | Episode: "Having Foresight" |
| 2015 | Renaissance Woman: Backstage at Something Rotten! with Heidi Blickenstaff | Self | 8 episodes |
Discography
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | [title of show] (Original cast recording) | On 14 tracks |
| 2008 | The Little Mermaid (Original Broadway cast recording) | Mainly background singing |
| 2012 | Now. Here. This. (Original cast recording) | On 14 tracks |
| 2015 | Something Rotten! (Original Broadway cast recording) | On four tracks |
| 2017 | Freaky Friday (musical) (Original cast recording) | On 13 tracks |
| 2018 | Freaky Friday (2018 film) (Film soundtrack) | On 8 tracks |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Helen Hayes Award | Best Actress in a Musical | Meet John Doe | Won |
| Obie Award | Special Citations | [title of show] | Won | |
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Nominated | ||
| 2009 | Broadway.com Audience Award | Favorite Ensemble Cast | Won | |
| Favorite Featured Actress in a Musical | Nominated | |||
| Favorite Diva Performance | Nominated | |||
| Favorite Breakthrough Performance (Female) | Nominated | |||
| Favorite Replacement (Female) | The Little Mermaid | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Something Rotten! | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ a b Munro, Donald (12 March 2006). "Theater veteran and Fresno native stars in a musical about a musical". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "Heidi Blickenstaff – GCP Alumna". Good Company Players. 1 December 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ a b title of show: The Players, titleofshow.com. Retrieved July 23, 2008.
- ^ "Heidi Blickenstaff (T'94)". theaterstudies.duke.edu. 2006. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ McPhee, Ryan (24 April 2015). "She Found Her 'Right Hand Man!' Something Rotten!'s Heidi Blickenstaff Marries Nicholas Rohlfing". Broadway.com.
- ^ Isherwood, Charles (18 July 2008). "Puttin' on the Put-On, With Tunes". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
- ^ a b Gans, Andrew (11 July 2008). "DIVA TALK: Chatting with [title of show]'s Heidi Blickenstaff Plus Heights and Pacific on CD". Playbill. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ Portantiere, Michael (19 July 2006). "Show Girls". TheaterMania. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ Lipton, Brian Scott (29 April 2008). "Blickenstaff, Irwin, Jones, Kudisch, Ruhl, et al. Win Helen Hayes Awards". TheaterMania. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ Marks, Peter (27 March 2007). "'John Doe' Makes for Some Names to Remember". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
- ^ "Foster Grant Readers TV Commercial, 'Menu' Featuring Brooke Shields". iSpot.tv. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
- ^ "Heidi Blickenstaff to Replace Scott as 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID in 2009". BroadwayWorld. 7 November 2008.
- ^ Healy, Patrick (28 October 2010). "Roger Rees to Replace Nathan Lane in 'The Addams Family'". The New York Times.
- ^ Adams, Mark Lee (15 September 2009). "Signature Theatre First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb". Show Biz Radio. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
- ^ "First You Dream: The Music of Kander and Ebb". The Kennedy Center. Archived from the original on 19 May 2012.
- ^ "Weston Playhouse's NEXT TO NORMAL with Heidi Blickenstaff to Open 7/11". BroadwayWorld. 3 July 2013.
- ^ Zuppinger, Karen (16 July 2013). "'Next to Normal' a next-to-perfect production that should not be missed". The Chester Telegraph. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "Casting Complete for The Most Happy Fella" (PDF). New York City Center.
- ^ "Dog and Pony Press Page". pressarchive.theoldglobe.org. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (30 November 2014). "Elf, Starring James Moye, Kate Fahrner, Paul C. Vogt, Heidi Blickenstaff, Robert Cuccioli Star, Opens at Paper Mill". Playbill. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ Hetrick, Adam (23 March 2015). "Something Rotten! Puts a Shakespearean Twist On Broadway Musical Comedy, Starting Tonight". Playbill.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (10 August 2018). "Disney Channel's Freaky Friday Movie Musical, Starring Heidi Blickenstaff, Premieres August 10". Playbill. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
- ^ Recordings amazon.com
