Leigh Ann Larkin
Encyclopedia
Leigh Ann Larkin is an American
actress and singer, best known for her performance as June Havoc
in the 2008 Broadway revival of the musical, Gypsy
.
. She graduated from North Hills High School in 1998. Larkin went on to study musical theater at the University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music, graduating in 2002. Shortly after, she moved to New York City
.
at the Pittsburgh Musical Theater
. She was seen on television in 2008 as Pepper Gleason on Lipstick Jungle
, as well as in The Flight of the Conchords in 2009.
In 2007, Larkin performed the role of June Havoc
in the Encores!
revival of Gypsy: A Musical Fable
, from July 9 to 29, 2007. The Encores! production transferred to Broadway, where it opened at the St. James Theatre
on March 27, 2008, despite Ben Brantley
's slightly negative review in The New York Times
. The show was originally scheduled to close in March 2009 on Patti Lupone's final performance, but closed on January 11, 2009 due to decreases in ticket sales. Larkin described her audition process in a March 2008 interview with Broadway.com:
Larkin next played the role of Petra in the 2009 Broadway revival of A Little Night Music
, starring Angela Lansbury
and Catherine Zeta-Jones
. The revival opened at the Walter Kerr Theatre
on December 13, 2009. The production temporarily closed on June 20, 2010, and resumed on July 13, with new stars Bernadette Peters
as Desiree Armfeldt and Elaine Stritch
as Madame Armfeldt. Peters and Stritch extended their contracts until January 9, 2011, when the production closed with 20 previews and 425 regular performances.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and singer, best known for her performance as June Havoc
June Havoc
June Havoc was a Canadian-born American actress, dancer, writer, and theater director. Havoc was a child Vaudeville performer under the tutelage of her mother. She later acted on Broadway and in Hollywood and stage directed . She last appeared on television in 1990 on General Hospital...
in the 2008 Broadway revival of the musical, Gypsy
Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Gypsy is a musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Gypsy is loosely based on the 1957 memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, the famous striptease artist, and focuses on her mother, Rose, whose name has become synonymous with "the ultimate show business...
.
Early life and education
Larkin was born Leigh Ann Wielgus on April 14 in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. She graduated from North Hills High School in 1998. Larkin went on to study musical theater at the University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music, graduating in 2002. Shortly after, she moved to 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...
.
Career
Larkin appeared in the Disney Theatrical national tour of On the Record, and returned to Pittsburgh in May 2007 to star as Belle in Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast (musical)
Beauty and the Beast is a musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice and a book by Linda Woolverton, based on the 1991 Disney film of the same name. Seven new songs were written for the stage musical...
at the Pittsburgh Musical Theater
Pittsburgh Musical Theater
Pittsburgh Musical Theater is a professional theatre company located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1990 with the purpose of providing high-quality productions of musicals featuring local professionals at affordable prices to residents, the company has since expanded with the educational...
. She was seen on television in 2008 as Pepper Gleason on Lipstick Jungle
Lipstick Jungle
Lipstick Jungle is a novel written by New York writer and socialite Candace Bushnell, that weaves the stories of Nico Reilly, Wendy Healy, and Victory Ford, who are numbers 8, 12, and 17 on the New York Post's list of New York's 50 Most Powerful Women...
, as well as in The Flight of the Conchords in 2009.
In 2007, Larkin performed the role of June Havoc
June Havoc
June Havoc was a Canadian-born American actress, dancer, writer, and theater director. Havoc was a child Vaudeville performer under the tutelage of her mother. She later acted on Broadway and in Hollywood and stage directed . She last appeared on television in 1990 on General Hospital...
in the Encores!
Encores!
Encores! Great American Musicals in Concert is a program that has been presented by New York City Center since 1994. Encores! is dedicated to performing the full score of musicals that rarely are heard in New York City...
revival of Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Gypsy is a musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Gypsy is loosely based on the 1957 memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, the famous striptease artist, and focuses on her mother, Rose, whose name has become synonymous with "the ultimate show business...
, from July 9 to 29, 2007. The Encores! production transferred to Broadway, where it opened at the St. James Theatre
St. James Theatre
The St. James Theatre is located at 246 W. 44th St. Broadway, New York City, New York. It was built by Abraham L. Erlanger, theatrical producer and a founding member of the Theatrical Syndicate, on the site of the original Sardi's restaurant. It opened in 1927 as The Erlanger...
on March 27, 2008, despite Ben Brantley
Ben Brantley
Benjamin D. "Ben" Brantley is an American journalist and the chief theater critic of The New York Times.-Life and career:...
's slightly negative review 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...
. The show was originally scheduled to close in March 2009 on Patti Lupone's final performance, but closed on January 11, 2009 due to decreases in ticket sales. Larkin described her audition process in a March 2008 interview with Broadway.com:
Larkin next played the role of Petra in the 2009 Broadway revival of A Little Night Music
A Little Night Music
A Little Night Music is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Inspired by the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night, it involves the romantic lives of several couples. Its title is a literal English translation of the German name for Mozart's Serenade...
, starring Angela Lansbury
Angela Lansbury
Angela Brigid Lansbury CBE is an English actress and singer in theatre, television and motion pictures, whose career has spanned eight decades and earned her more performance Tony Awards than any other individual , with five wins...
and Catherine Zeta-Jones
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Catherine Zeta-Jones, CBE, is a British actress. She began her career on stage at an early age. After starring in a number of United Kingdom and United States television films and small roles in films, she came to prominence with roles in Hollywood movies such as the 1998 action film The Mask of...
. The revival opened at the Walter Kerr Theatre
Walter Kerr Theatre
The Walter Kerr Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre. Located at 219 West 48th Street, it is owned and operated by Jujamcyn Theaters. One of the smaller auditoriums in the theatre district, it seats 975....
on December 13, 2009. The production temporarily closed on June 20, 2010, and resumed on July 13, with new stars Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters is an American actress, singer and children's book author from Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Over the course of a career that has spanned five decades, she has starred in musical theatre, films and television, as well as performing in solo concerts and recordings...
as Desiree Armfeldt and Elaine Stritch
Elaine Stritch
Elaine Stritch is an American actress and vocalist. She has appeared in numerous stage plays and musicals, feature films, and many television programs...
as Madame Armfeldt. Peters and Stritch extended their contracts until January 9, 2011, when the production closed with 20 previews and 425 regular performances.