Rebecca Luker
Encyclopedia
Rebecca Luker is an American
musical theatre
actress and soprano
who has appeared in several prominent Broadway
productions.
, near Birmingham
, to a high school treasurer mother and a construction worker father. She attended the University of Montevallo
, earning a B.A. in music, taking a year off to perform with the Michigan Opera Theatre
in 1984.
Luker's Broadway
debut was in The Phantom of the Opera
as an understudy
to Sarah Brightman
and eventual replacement in the leading role of Christine
(1988–91). Subsequent Broadway roles included Lily in The Secret Garden
(1991–93), Magnolia in Show Boat
(1994–97; the first actress to be nominated for a Tony Award
for this role), Maria in The Sound of Music
(1998–99), Marian in The Music Man
(2000–01), and Claudia in Nine
(2003). She recently played the role of Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins
(2006–10).
Luker has been nominated for three Tony Awards: two nominations were for Leading Actress in a Musical, the first for Show Boat and the second for The Music Man, and the third nomination was for Best Featured Actress in 2007 for her role in Mary Poppins. In addition, she has been nominated for two Drama Desk Award
s for The Secret Garden and The Music Man. The New York Times has compared her to actresses such as Barbara Cook
and Julie Andrews
.
Luker appeared in the Off-Broadway
plays The Vagina Monologues
, Indian Summer, X (Life of Malcolm X), Brigadoon and Can't Let Go. Her TV appearances include Matlock
, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
, and the Hallmark movie
Cupid & Cate. Among many recordings, Luker is featured on the Aria albums by Paul Schwartz.
Luker married Danny Burstein
in June 2000and has two stepsons.
She received a doctorate of fine arts, honoris causa on May 5, 2010 from her alma mater, the University of Montevallo.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
actress and soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
who has appeared in several prominent Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
productions.
Life and career
Luker was born in Helena, AlabamaHelena, Alabama
Helena is a city in Jefferson and Shelby Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. Helena is considered a suburb of Birmingham and part of the Greater Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan area. It is also one of three cities, along with Alabaster and Pelham, that make up the area known as "North Shelby" or...
, near Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, to a high school treasurer mother and a construction worker father. She attended the University of Montevallo
University of Montevallo
The University of Montevallo is a four-year public university located in Montevallo, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1896, it is Alabama's only public liberal arts college and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Programs are offered through the Michael E...
, earning a B.A. in music, taking a year off to perform with the Michigan Opera Theatre
Michigan Opera Theatre
Michigan Opera Theatre is Michigan's principal opera company. The company is based in Detroit, where it performs in the Detroit Opera House. Each year it presents an opera and dance season. The company usually presents five operas in their original language with English supertitles and hosts five...
in 1984.
Luker's Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
debut was in The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)
The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.The music was composed by Lloyd Webber, and most lyrics were written by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. Alan Jay Lerner was an early collaborator,...
as an understudy
Understudy
In theater, an understudy is a performer who learns the lines and blocking/choreography of a regular actor or actress in a play. Should the regular actor or actress be unable to appear on stage because of illness or emergencies, the understudy takes over the part...
to Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...
and eventual replacement in the leading role of Christine
Christine Daaé
Christine Daaé is the main female character in Gaston Leroux's novel The Phantom of the Opera , the young singer with whom the main character Erik, the Phantom of the Opera falls in love.- Character history :...
(1988–91). Subsequent Broadway roles included Lily in The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden (musical)
The Secret Garden is a musical based on the 1911 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The musical's book and lyrics are by Marsha Norman, with music by Lucy Simon...
(1991–93), Magnolia in Show Boat
Show Boat
Show Boat is a musical in two acts with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It was originally produced in New York in 1927 and in London in 1928, and was based on the 1926 novel of the same name by Edna Ferber. The plot chronicles the lives of those living and working...
(1994–97; the first actress to be nominated for a Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for this role), Maria in The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
(1998–99), Marian in The Music Man
The Music Man
The Music Man is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk before skipping town with...
(2000–01), and Claudia in Nine
Nine (musical)
Nine is a musical with a book by Arthur Kopit, music and lyrics by Maury Yeston. The story is based on Federico Fellini's semi-autobiographical film 8½...
(2003). She recently played the role of Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins (musical)
Mary Poppins is a Walt Disney Theatrical musical based on the similarly titled series of children's books by P. L. Travers and the Disney 1964 film. The West End production opened in December 2004 and received two Olivier Awards, one for Best Actress in a Musical and the other for Best Theatre...
(2006–10).
Luker has been nominated for three Tony Awards: two nominations were for Leading Actress in a Musical, the first for Show Boat and the second for The Music Man, and the third nomination was for Best Featured Actress in 2007 for her role in Mary Poppins. In addition, she has been nominated for two Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
s for The Secret Garden and The Music Man. The New York Times has compared her to actresses such as Barbara Cook
Barbara Cook
Barbara Cook is an American singer and actress who first came to prominence in the 1950s after starring in the original Broadway musicals Candide and The Music Man among others, winning a Tony Award for the latter...
and Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
.
Luker appeared in the Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
plays The Vagina Monologues
The Vagina Monologues
The Vagina Monologues is an episodic play written by Eve Ensler which ran at the Off Broadway Westside Theatre after a limited run at AFRICA in 1996. Ensler originally starred in the production which was produced by David Stone, Nina Essman, Dan Markley, The Araca Group, Willa Shalit, Mike Skipper...
, Indian Summer, X (Life of Malcolm X), Brigadoon and Can't Let Go. Her TV appearances include Matlock
Matlock (TV series)
Matlock is an American television legal drama, starring Andy Griffith in the title role of attorney Ben Matlock. The show originally aired from September 23, 1986 to May 8, 1992 on NBC, where it replaced The A-Team, then from November 5, 1992 until May 7, 1995 on ABC.The show's format was similar...
, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
, and the Hallmark movie
Hallmark Movie Channel
Hallmark Movie Channel is a digital cable channel that is a spin-off of its sister network Hallmark Channel that airs family friendly movies and other television programming.-Hallmark Movie Channel HD:...
Cupid & Cate. Among many recordings, Luker is featured on the Aria albums by Paul Schwartz.
Luker married Danny Burstein
Danny Burstein
Danny Burstein is a versatile American actor who is known for his work in theater, film and television. He won the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical and was nominated for the 2008 Drama Desk Award and 2008 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical...
in June 2000and has two stepsons.
She received a doctorate of fine arts, honoris causa on May 5, 2010 from her alma mater, the University of Montevallo.
External links
- Official Website
- Rebecca Luker Downstage Center XM radio interview by the American Theatre WingAmerican Theatre WingThe American Theatre Wing is a New York City-based organization "dedicated to supporting excellence and education in theatre," according to its mission statement...
, January 2007 - Playbill article DIVA TALK: Chatting with Rebecca Luker, April 2006
- Rebecca Luker interview: Performance Working in the Theatre CUNY-TV video at American Theatre WingAmerican Theatre WingThe American Theatre Wing is a New York City-based organization "dedicated to supporting excellence and education in theatre," according to its mission statement...
, September 2003 - 2006 review from NY Times
- BroadwayWorld.com interview with Rebecca Luker, June 9, 2007