Andy Karl | |
---|---|
Born | Andrew Karl Cesewski [1] August 27, 1974 [2] [3] |
Education | Towson High School |
Alma mater | Towson University |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1995–present |
Known for | Groundhog Day Legally Blonde Rocky the Musical |
Spouse | |
Partner | Elise McCann (2024–present) |
Website | www |
Andy Karl (born August 27, 1974 [2] [3] as Andrew Karl Cesewski [1] ) is an American actor and singer. He is best known for performing in musical theatre specifically musicals adapted from successful movies. He has received several accolades including a Laurence Olivier Award and a Drama Desk Award as well as nominations for three Tony Awards. He is also known for playing Sgt. Mike Dodds on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit from 2015 to 2016.
Karl made his Broadway debut as a replacement in the musical Saturday Night Fever (1999). He went on to receive three Tony Award nominations for his roles in Rocky (2014), On the Twentieth Century (2015), and Groundhog Day (2017), the latter of which earned him the Olivier Award for his performance in the original London production. Karl originated the roles of Kyle in Legally Blonde (2007), Joe in 9 to 5 (2009), and Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman: The Musical (2018). Karl also was a replacement actor in the Broadway productions of Wicked (2010), Jersey Boys (2011), Into the Woods (2022), and Moulin Rouge! (2025).
Karl was born on August 28, 1974 [3] in Baltimore, Maryland, to Walter Cesewski and Susan Weisman. [1] He attended Towson High School, where he was on the football team and performed in theater. In high school, he played Jud Fry in Oklahoma! and General Bullmoose in Li'l Abner . [4] At age 16 he performed as the title role in Aladdin at the White Marsh Dinner Theatre.[ citation needed ] After high school, he attended Towson University, where he studied voice and music. [5] Karl originally planned on becoming a voice teacher until the director of a show he was in at college told him he had what it took to be a professional actor. Karl continued to perform in shows while in college. He changed his name to Karl to honor his late great-grandfather, Andrew Karl, a Baltimore fireman. [1] In Winter 1993–1994, he played the 9-foot dragon in the children's musical The Reluctant Dragon at Toby's Dinner Theatre in Columbia, Maryland. [6]
Karl moved to New York in 1994. He was an understudy in the touring cast of The Who's Tommy [1] and in 1998 played Rum Tum Tugger in the touring cast of Cats . In February 2000 Karl was an understudy in the New York premiere of Stephen Sondheim's Saturday Night at the Second Stage Theatre. [7] He made his Broadway debut in 2000 as the replacement for Joey in Saturday Night Fever . [8] He continued with the production, this time in the role of Tony Manero, in its first national tour. In 2001 he performed in the musical stage production Me and Mrs. Jones at the Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia. [9]
Karl was next seen as Dino Del Canto in the world premiere of the musical Romeo and Bernadette at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, Florida. The show, which ran in January 2003, [10] garnered Karl a Carbonell Award for Best Actor in a musical. [11] He reprised the role at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey in February and March, 2003. [12]
Karl was also seen at the Paper Mill Playhouse in June and July of that year, when he performed as Danny Zuko in Grease . In January 2004 he performed in the musical revue Nights on Broadway II at Caesar's Palace in Atlantic City, New Jersey. [13] In September 2004, Karl played Luke in the premiere of Altar Boyz at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. He then left the New York area to tour in the original company of Disney's On the Record . Karl returned to New York to play Luke in the Off-Broadway production of Altar Boyz , which opened on March 1, 2005 at Stage 4 of Dodger Stages (now New World Stages). [14]
On September 26, 2005, Karl performed in the Actor's Fund Concert production of On the Twentieth Century . [15] Karl's next role was the title character Adam Patterson in the Off-Broadway musical Slut at the American Theatre of Actors in Fall 2005. [16] In January 2006 Karl was in the three-person cast of Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love, a celebration of the music of Elvis Presley, at the now-closed Au Bar. In June and July of that year, he starred as Tad in the musical Bright Lights, Big City at the Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia. [17] He then joined the Broadway cast of The Wedding Singer at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, where he played the roles of Drunk Dave and Bad Haircut Guy until the show closed at the end of 2006.
Karl's next role was in Legally Blonde , where he played Kyle "the UPS guy", Dewey, and Grandmaster Chad at the Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco, where the musical had its pre-Broadway tryout from January 23 to February 24, 2007. [18] He reprised his roles in the Broadway production, which started previews on April 3 and opened on April 29, 2007, at the Palace Theatre. He was also an understudy to Emmett and Professor Callahan. He left the show on July 20, 2008.
Karl briefly left Legally Blonde in June 2007 to work on 9 to 5 in its week-long workshop. [19] After leaving Legally Blonde, Karl continued working on the musical 9 to 5 . He played Joe, the love interest of Allison Janney's character, in the pre-Broadway tryout in Los Angeles. The show played at the Ahmanson Theatre from September 3 to October 19, 2008. [20] The show opened on Broadway on April 30, 2009, at the Marquis Theatre, and closed on September 6, 2009. [21]
Karl took over the role of Fiyero from Kevin Kern in the Broadway production of Wicked on February 2, 2010 [22] and played the role until January 2, 2011. [23] He took over the role Tommy Devito in the Broadway production of Jersey Boys on October 11, 2011. [24]
Karl played Neville Landless in the Broadway revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood which opened on November 29, 2012, at Studio 54. [25] For this performance, he was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical. [26]
Karl and Margo Seibert were featured as Rocky Balboa and Adrian in the new Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty musical Rocky the Musical , which opened on Broadway in February 2014. [27] In order to get into shape to play Rocky Balboa, Karl put on 12 pounds of muscle and worked with a trainer to get to a heavyweight fighter's weight. [28] Karl received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for this performance. [29]
Karl played the role of Bruce Granit in the 2015 Broadway revival of On the Twentieth Century [30] alongside Kristin Chenoweth in the role of Lily Garland/Mildred Plotka. He received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance. In 2015, Karl joined the recurring cast of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as the unit's new sergeant, Mike Dodds, who is the son of Peter Gallagher's Chief William Dodds. The role reunites Karl and Gallagher after working together on On the Twentieth Century . He left his role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, when his character died.
On January 28, 2016, it was announced that Karl would be playing the starring role of Phil in the musical adaptation of Groundhog Day , the role played in the 1993 movie by Bill Murray. [31] The musical ran at The Old Vic in London from Monday 11 July 2016 until Saturday 17 September 2016. Karl then reprised the role in the Broadway production of Groundhog Day, which opened on April 17, 2017. [32] For his performance in Groundhog Day in London, he received the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical. On August 15, 2017, the producers of Groundhog Day announced it would end its Broadway run on September 17, 2017, but that a national tour and a possible return to London would follow. [33]
In May 2018, it was announced that Karl would star as Edward Lewis in the Broadway production of Pretty Woman: The Musical , following Steve Kazee's departure. [34] In February 2020, he was in an Off-Broadway 50th anniversary concert version of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as Potiphar, he played opposite his wife Orfeh as Potiphar's Wife. [35]
On August 12, 2022, it was announced Karl would play the roles of the Big Bad Wolf and Cinderella's Prince from September 6-15 in the Broadway revival of Into the Woods filling in for Gavin Creel at the St. James Theatre. [36] On September 22, it was announced he would return to the production for a limited run from October 11-November 23 (a run that was later extended to December 2), [37] this time filling in for Joshua Henry as Rapunzel's Prince. [38] He reprised the role of Rapunzel's Prince during the opening weekend of the U.S. national tour's engagement in Washington, D.C., at the Kennedy Center this time filling in for Jason Forbach who went on for the Baker in the place of Sebastian Arcelus. [39]
From May to August 2023, he reprised the role of Phil in Groundhog Day at The Old Vic in London. From January to April 2024, he reprised the role again at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne, Australia.. [40] [41]
From January to July 2025, Karl is set to join the cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical as The Duke of Monroth at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on Broadway. [42]
Karl met his wife Orfeh while in the musical for Saturday Night Fever . They were married in January 2001 and reside in Manhattan. In addition to Saturday Night Fever, Karl and his wife have performed together in Me and Mrs. Jones,Nights on Broadway II, Bright Lights, Big City, Legally Blonde, [5] Pretty Woman: The Musical , and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat . In May 2024, they announced they had separated after 23 years of marriage. [43] Shortly after, Karl confirmed his relationship with Groundhog Day co-star Elise McCann. [44]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | New York, I Love You | Zoe's Boyfriend | Uncredited role |
2012 | Joyful Noise | Caleb | |
2014 | And So It Goes | Ted | |
2016 | Little Men | Unknown | Uncredited role |
2020 | Faraway Eyes | Michael | |
2020 | Here After | Michael | |
2023 | Atrabilious | Greg Meyers |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Legally Blonde: The Musical | Dewey/Kyle/Grandmaster Chad/Ensemble | TV film |
2015 | Forever | Sean Moore | Episode: "Diamonds Are Forever" |
2015–16 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Sgt. Mike Dodds [45] | Recurring role (15 episodes) |
2020 | Prodigal Son | Joseph | Episode: "Scheherazade" |
2021 | No Activity | Yohan (voice) | Episode: "Magnolia" |
2021 | The Good Fight | Jesse McFinley | Episode: "And the Fight Had a Détente..." |
2022 | Blue Bloods | Will Farmer | Episode: "Where We Stand" |
2022 | Gossip Girl | Guest Singer | Episode: "How to Bury a Millionaire" |
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | The Mystery of Edwin Drood | Nominated |
Broadway.com Audience Awards [63] | Favorite Onstage Pair (with Jessie Mueller) | Nominated | ||
2014 | Tony Award | Best Actor in a Musical | Rocky | Nominated |
Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Nominated | ||
Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Nominated | ||
Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Nominated | ||
Astaire Award | Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show | Nominated | ||
2015 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | On the Twentieth Century | Nominated |
Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Nominated | ||
Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Nominated | ||
Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Won | ||
2016 | Evening Standard Award | Best Musical Performance | Groundhog Day | Nominated |
2017 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actor in a Musical | Won | |
The Stage Debut Award | Best West End Debut | Nominated | ||
Tony Award | Best Actor in a Musical | Nominated | ||
Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Won | ||
Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Nominated | ||
Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Won | ||
2023 | Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards | Favorite Replacement (Male) | Into the Woods | Nominated |
John Cullum is an American actor and singer. He has appeared in many stage musicals and dramas, including Shenandoah (1975) and On the Twentieth Century (1978), winning the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for each. In 1966 he gained his first Tony nomination as the lead in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, in which he introduced the title song, and more recently received Tony nominations for Urinetown The Musical (2002) and as Best Featured Actor in the revival of 110 in the Shade (2007).
Gavin James Creel was an American actor, singer, and songwriter best known for his work in musical theater. Over his career he received a Grammy Award, a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award and a Laurence Olivier Award.
Stephanie Janette Block is an American actress and singer, best known for her work on the Broadway stage.
Orfeh is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She performed at the Lincoln Center's American Songbook Series in 2016, and in the Broadway musicals Saturday Night Fever, Legally Blonde, and Pretty Woman.
Christian Dominique Borle is an American actor and singer. He is a two-time Tony Award winner for his roles as Black Stache in Peter and the Starcatcher and as William Shakespeare in Something Rotten!. Borle also originated the roles of Prince Herbert, et al. in Spamalot, Emmett in Legally Blonde, and Joe in Some Like It Hot on Broadway, earning Tony nominations for the latter two. He starred as Marvin in the 2016 Broadway revival of Falsettos, which also earned him a Tony nomination. His first leading role on Broadway was Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie. He would later also star as Bert in Mary Poppins and Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He also portrayed Orin Scrivello in the Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors. Borle starred as Tom Levitt on the NBC musical-drama television series Smash and Vox in the adult animated black comedy musical series Hazbin Hotel.
Brian d'Arcy James is an American actor and musician. He is known primarily for his Broadway roles, including Shrek in Shrek the Musical, Nick Bottom in Something Rotten!, King George III in Hamilton, and The Baker in Into the Woods. He has received five Tony Award nominations for his work. On-screen, he is known for his recurring role as Andy Baker on the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, Officer Krupke in West Side Story, and reporter Matt Carroll in Spotlight.
Michael Jerrod Moore, known professionally as Michael Arden, is an American actor, singer, musician, and theatre director. Arden won a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical in 2023 for the revival of the musical Parade.
Andrew Scott Rannells is an American actor. He is best known for originating the role of Elder Kevin Price in the 2011 Broadway musical The Book of Mormon, for which he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical and won the 2012 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. He received his second Tony nomination in 2017 for his performance as Whizzer in the 2016 Broadway revival of Falsettos. Other Broadway credits include Hairspray (2005), Jersey Boys (2009), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2014), Hamilton (2015), The Boys in the Band (2018), and Gutenberg! The Musical! (2023). For his performance in the Off West End production of Tammy Faye, he was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award.
Legally Blonde is a 2007 musical with music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin and a book by Heather Hach. It is based on the novel Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown and the 2001 film of the same name.
Emily Skinner, also known as Emily Scott Skinner, is a Tony-nominated American actress and singer. She has played leading roles in 11 Broadway productions including New York, New York, Prince of Broadway, The Cher Show, Side Show, Jekyll & Hyde, James Joyce's The Dead, The Full Monty, Dinner at Eight, Billy Elliot, as well as the Actor's Fund Broadway concerts of Dreamgirls and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. She has sung on concert stages around the world and on numerous recordings.
Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer is an American musical theatre actress and singer. She was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance in the Broadway revival of Spamalot. Since 2024, she has voiced Rosie in the adult animated musical series Hazbin Hotel.
Richard H. Blake is an American actor and singer best known for his work in musical theatre.
Legally Blonde: The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods is an MTV program created in order to cast an actress to replace Laura Bell Bundy in the role of Elle Woods in the Broadway production of Legally Blonde: The Musical. The show debuted on June 2, 2008.
Aaron Kyle Tveit is an American actor and tenor singer. Tveit originated the lead role of Christian in the stage adaptation of Moulin Rouge! on Broadway, a performance for which he won the 2020 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and received a 2020 Grammy Award nomination. His other work on the Broadway stage includes originating the roles of Gabe in Next to Normal and Frank Abagnale Jr. in Catch Me If You Can, as well as the title role in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. He also played John Wilkes Booth in an Off West End production of Assassins.
Nikki Snelson is an American actress, who works mainly in stage musicals.
Joshua Anthony Charlton Henry is a Canadian-American actor and singer of stage and screen.
Jeremy Michael Jordan is an American actor and singer. He has performed on Broadway, in television and film, in concert, as well as in other theatrical productions.
Steven Michael Kazee is an American actor and singer. He is best known for starring as Guy in the musical Once for which he was awarded the 2012 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical. Kazee began his professional acting career in the mid-2000s, and from 2005 until 2013 acted in a series of Broadway productions including Spamalot, 110 in the Shade, and Once. Following the success of Once, Kazee acted on multiple television series, most notably playing Gus Pfender in the fifth season of Shameless. Kazee returned to theater in 2018, starring as Edward in the Chicago tryout of Pretty Woman: The Musical.
Groundhog Day is a musical with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and a book by Danny Rubin. It is based on the 1993 film of the same name, which featured a screenplay co-written by Rubin.
Kate Rockwell is an American actor, dancer, and singer. She is known for her work on Broadway and for originating the roles of Skylar in Bring It On: The Musical in 2011 and of Karen Smith in the 2018 musical Mean Girls, for the latter of which she received Drama Desk Award and Helen Hayes Award nominations.