Mary Kate Morrissey

Last updated
Mary Kate Morrissey
Born (1989-06-18) June 18, 1989 (age 35)
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
NationalityAmerican
CitizenshipAmerican
Education Bishop Shanahan High School
Alma mater Syracuse University
Occupation(s)Stage actress, acting and voice instructor
Years active2013-present
Known forPlaying Elphaba in "Wicked (musical)"
Spouse
Trevor Blake
​
(m. 2021)​
FatherJohn Morrissey

Mary Kate Blake [1] (born June 18, 1989), known by her maiden name Mary Kate Morrissey, is an American stage actress. Born in Pennsylvania, Morrissey began her career when she starred as Sheila in the musical Hair and Janis in the Mean Girls musical. She played Elphaba on the national tour of Wicked before serving as the Elphaba standby on Broadway and eventually taking on the role full-time.

Contents

Early life

Mary Kate Morrissey was born in Downingtown, Pennsylvania on June 18, 1989. [2] [3] Her father is John Morrissey, a founding partner at Jackson Cross Partners. [4] She has Irish ancestry. [5] [6] When asked how she decided what career path she wanted to follow, Morrissey said, "My grandfather used to sing on the Irish Radio and play in a band, and my dad would dress us up like the Rolling Stones when my brothers and sister and I were little and we would put on full-blown lip sync concerts. My parents recognized the performer bug in me and put me in the local high school's production of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, where my second-grade self played a sheep!" [2]

As a child, Morrissey learned how to play the trombone. [6] In her later school years, she took voice lessons and joined numerous choirs such as the Philadelphia All Catholic Chorus and her high school band. [2] [7] [5] She attended Bishop Shanahan High School in Downington, Pennsylvania and later attended Syracuse University, where she achieved a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Musical Theater. [2] [7] [8] While at Syracuse University, Morrissey played Meg March in a musical version of the novel Little Women . [9]

Morrissey saw Shoshana Bean and Megan Hilty act in Wicked on Broadway sometime around 2004. Since then, she has been a fan of the play. [10]

Career

2013-present: Theater, tours, and special events

Morrissey's acting debut was in 2013, when she played Sheila in Broadway's US and Canada tour of Hair . [2] [11] [12] [9] [13] That same year, Morrissey attended attended the 2013 Emery Awards in New York City alongside Ty Defoe. [14] Morrissey acted in Tamar of the River at the Baruch Performing Arts Center in 2013. [9] [15] [16] In 2014, Morrissey played Sharon Falconer in a play of Elmer Gantry at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia and Lizzie Borden in Portland Center Stage's poorly-received rock musical, Lizzie. [9] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Morrissey played Janis Sarkisian in the Mean Girls musical national tour in 2019. [10] [21] [22] That same year, Morrissey served as a standby for Joan and Isabelle on the set of the musical Joan of Arc: Into the Fire. [23] [9] Also in 2019, Morrissey played Sara, the Magician's Lovely Assistant in The Disappearing Man at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Rehearsal Studio. [9] [24] [25]

Morrissey performed songs from Wicked at Side By Side: A Celebration of Service on May 25, 2019 in New York City to celebrate United States Army veterans and their families. [26] [27] In 2024, Morrissey performed "Defying Gravity" at New York City Pride while donning a shirt that read "Here, Queer, and Wicked". [28]

2015-present: Wicked

In 2015, Morrissey served as the standby for Elphaba on the national tour of Wicked . She began to play the role full-time in 2017 alongside Ginna Claire Mason as Glinda until 2018. [2] [9] [29] [30] During this time, Morrissey and Mason developed a strong friendship. [2] [31] In 2023, Morrissey became the official standby for Elphaba on Broadway. [29] On March 5, 2024, she began playing the role full-time alongside Alexandra Socha as Glinda. Morrissey replaced Alyssa Fox as Elphaba, and Socha replaced McKenzie Kurtz as Glinda. [11] [32] [33]

Morrissey confessed to initially having doubts about whether she could play Elphaba, but her family supported her along the way and she eventually got her dream. [10]

2020-present: Acting coaching

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Morrissey and Mason began Double Name Witches, a virtual theater and voice school for people ages 5-30. [10] [34] The program targets students who aspire to act on Broadway. [35] The program turned out to be successful, as Morrissey and Mason received over 100 students. [31]

Morrissey has taught several masterclasses and theater programs for aspiring actors across America. As well as online teaching, Morrissey teaches private lessons from her Brooklyn studio. [34]

Personal life

Morrissey has been vegan since 2012. [36]

In 2021, Morrissey revealed she had married her longtime boyfriend, Trevor Blake. [37] Though she changed her surname to Blake upon marrying him, she still goes by her maiden name, Morrissey. [1] She owns a puppy named Bear. [35]

Morrissey identifies as queer and is an advocate for queer rights and representation. [38] [28]

Related Research Articles

<i>Wicked</i> (Maguire novel) 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West is an American novel published in 1995, written by Gregory Maguire with illustrations by Douglas Smith. It is the first in The Wicked Years series, and was followed by Son of a Witch, A Lion Among Men, and Out of Oz.

<i>Wicked</i> (musical) 2003 musical by Stephen Schwartz

Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is a loose adaptation of the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which is in turn based on L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its 1939 film adaptation. The musical is told from the perspective of two witches, Elphaba and Glinda, before and after Dorothy's arrival in Oz. The story explores the complex friendship between Elphaba and Galinda. Their relationship is tested by their contrasting personalities, conflicting viewpoints, shared love interest, reactions to the corrupt rule of the Wonderful Wizard, and ultimately, Elphaba's tragic fall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kate Reinders</span> American actress and singer

Kate Reinders is an American actress and singer, who has performed as lead and understudy in several Broadway shows.

"Defying Gravity" is the signature song from the musical Wicked, composed by Stephen Schwartz, originally recorded by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth on November 10, 2003, and released on December 16, 2003. It is mostly a solo sung by the main character of the show, Elphaba, with two small duets at the beginning and in the middle of the song between Elphaba and her friend Glinda, and a chorus part at the end in which the citizens of Oz sing.

"For Good" is a musical number from the hit musical Wicked. It is sung as a duet between Elphaba and Glinda as a farewell. The song's score and lyrics were written by composer Stephen Schwartz.

"No Good Deed" is a musical number from the hit Broadway musical Wicked. It is sung by Elphaba, the main character of the show. It is widely regarded as the most powerful piece of the musical; and the most emotional.

"Something Wicked This Way Comes" is the sixth episode in season two of the dramedy series Ugly Betty, and the 29th episode in the series, which aired on November 1, 2007. The episode was written by Henry Alonso Myers and directed by Wendey Stanzler. The episode takes its title from the phrase "something wicked this way comes", as well as the fact that this episode features the popular Broadway musical Wicked as a date venue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexandra Socha</span> American actress (born 1990)

Alexandra Socha is an American actress who made her Broadway debut in the rock musical Spring Awakening in May 2008. Other notable stage appearances include Nora in the brief 2009 revival of Brighton Beach Memoirs, Daisy Fenton in the Off-Broadway run of Death Takes a Holiday, as Philoclea in Head over Heels. She was featured in a supporting role in the Amazon comedy TV series Red Oaks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katie Rose Clarke</span> American musical theater actress

Katherine "Katie" Rose Clarke is an American musical theater actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcie Dodd</span> American stage actress (born 1978)

Marcie Dodd is an American musical theatre actress, who is best known for playing Elphaba and Nessarose in various U.S. companies of the smash-hit musical Wicked.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erin Mackey</span> American stage actress and singer (born 1986)

Erin Ashley Mackey is an American stage actress and singer, known for playing the role of Glinda in the Chicago, Los Angeles, Broadway, and Second National Tour productions of the musical Wicked. She was also a double in 1998's The Parent Trap.

Donna Vivino is an American theatre, television, film actress and singer. She is known for playing Elphaba in the Broadway production of Wicked and as the original Young Cosette in Les Misérables on Broadway. She was seen on Law & Order in January 2023 as guest star Rachel Ford. She will be appearing in the upcoming films "Family Affair" and "Inappropriate Behavior" with Bobby Cannavale.

Jemma Rix is an Australian theatre performer, who has played the role of Elphaba in the Melbourne, Sydney, Australian and Asian touring companies of Wicked. Rix first performed the role in the shortened 30-minute version of the show at Universal Studios Japan. She was an original cast member of the Australian premiere production as the standby for Elphaba.

Louise Dearman is a British actress and singer, perhaps best known for playing Glinda and Elphaba in the West End production of the musical Wicked. Notably, she is the only actress to have played both witches in any production of Wicked full-time. She has a number of other professional stage and television credits, such as Eva Perón in Evita, Sarah Brown and Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, and Daisy Hilton in Side Show. She released her solo albums, You and I, Here Comes the Sun and It's Time, in 2005, 2012 and 2013 respectively.

Chandra Lee Schwartz is an American theatre performer, who played Glinda on the First National Tour of Wicked from Friday, 21 August 2009, through Sunday, 17 April 2011. She originally starred alongside Donna Vivino as Elphaba, who was later replaced by Jackie Burns. Schwartz recently reprised the role of Glinda in the Broadway production of Wicked beginning September 27, 2011. Her final performance was held on October 14, 2012 alongside former national tour co-star, Jackie Burns. She returned to the role of Glinda on the First National Tour, on July 29, 2014, with Emma Hunton as Elphaba. She closed the production, alongside Jennifer DiNoia as Elphaba, on March 15, 2015. She was recently cast as Annie in the upcoming world premiere of a musical adaptation of Sleepless in Seattle.

Jackie Burns is an American actress and singer best known for her work in musical theatre.

Carla Stickler is an American semi-retired musical theatre actress, who is best known for her work on the musical Wicked. She is mainly a software engineer who came back in 2022 to Broadway to fill in for Elphaba due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York.

Jennifer "Jenny" DiNoia is an American singer and stage actress. She is best known for her work in musical theatre, especially Wicked, playing the lead role of Elphaba in various productions around the world.

Caroline Bowman is an American theatre actress who has performed in multiple Broadway musicals, including Fame, Grease, Spamalot, Evita, Wicked, Kinky Boots, Sunset Boulevard, and the national tour of Frozen.

Alison Nicole Luff is an American singer and stage actress. She is best known for her extensive work in musical theatre, notably for her roles as Elphaba in the First National Tour of Wicked and Jenna in the Broadway production of Waitress. From 2021 to 2023, she has appeared in a lead role in the Starz drama series Heels.

References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Abigail (2018-07-07). "Meet the Actresses Behind Two of the World's Most Beloved Onstage Characters". The Everygirl. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  3. ↑ Person, Some. "Mary Kate Morrissey Net Worth, Age, Height, Bio, Birthday, Wiki!". ZestSync. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  4. ↑ "John Morrissey on LinkedIn: #wicked #jacksoncross #anniversary #20thanniversary | 15 comments". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  5. 1 2 "When the Little Girl in Me Connected with Elphaba: My Interview with Mary Kate". When the Little Girl in Me Connected with Elphaba. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  6. 1 2 "Double Name Witches — The Refuge Blog". The Refuge for DMST. 2020-12-17. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  7. 1 2 Hostutler, Mark (2019-11-27). "'Mean Girls' Musical Arrives in Philly, Stars Bishop Shanahan Grad". VISTA.Today. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  8. ↑ "Alumna MK Morrissey Stars on Broadway". www.shanahan.org. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Mary Kate Morrissey theatre profile". www.abouttheartists.com. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Penzer, Maia (22 August 2023). "3 Remarkable Ways Mary Kate Morrissey Defied the Odds in the Theatre Industry". www.theatrely.com. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  11. 1 2 "Mary Kate Morrissey and Alexandra Socha to Lead Wicked on Broadway; Donna McKechnie, Brad Oscar & More Join Cast". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  12. ↑ "Performance of musical 'Hair,' showing at Kingsbury Hall". FOX 13 News Utah (KSTU). 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  13. ↑ Wray, Tobias (23 February 2013). "REVIEW: Hair the Musical: It's Got Life". Fayetteville Flyer.
  14. ↑ "Mary Kate Morrissey at the 2013 Emery Awards with Ty Defoe". BFA.com.
  15. ↑ Gioia, Michael (12 August 2014). "Cast of Tamar of the River, Including Rocky's Margo Seibert, Will Reunite for Album Release Concert". Playbill.
  16. ↑ "Tamar of the River at Baruch Performing Arts Center 2013". www.abouttheartists.com. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  17. ↑ "Lizzie (Portland Center Stage)". Willamette Week. 2014-06-11. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  18. ↑ "Wonderful! Mary Kate Morrissey Will Star as Elphaba in the National Tour of Wicked". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  19. ↑ Oregonian/OregonLive, David Stabler | Special to The (2014-05-28). "'Lizzie Borden' rock opera closes Portland Center Stage's season". oregonlive. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  20. ↑ Brassell, Patrick. "BWW Reviews: LIZZIE Is a Bloody Mess at Portland Center Stage". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  21. ↑ Jones, Elinor. "Mean Girls: The Musical Star Mary Kate Morrissey Helps the Weird Art Kids Feel Less Alone". The Stranger. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  22. ↑ Medeiros, Linnae. "Meet MEAN GIRLS on Tour's Mary Kate Morrissey!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  23. ↑ Clement, Olivia (15 March 2017). "Joan of Arc: Into the Fire Opens at the Public". Playbill.
  24. ↑ "Sara, the Magician's Lovely Assistant, character in The Disappearing Man". www.abouttheartists.com. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  25. ↑ "The Disappearing Man at The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Rehearsal Studio 2019". www.abouttheartists.com. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  26. ↑ "Side By Side: A Celebration of Service 2019" (PDF).
  27. ↑ "Mary Kate Morrissey performs during the Side By Side: A Celebration..." Getty Images. 2019-05-25. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  28. 1 2 "Watch Mary Kate Morrisey sing 'Defying Gravity' at NYC Pride". www.pride.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  29. 1 2 Smith, Paul Art (16 April 2024). "MEET MARY KATE MORRISSEY AND ALEXANDRA SOCHA, WICKED'S NEWEST WITCHES". Broadway Direct.
  30. ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe. "Interview: WICKED's Mary Kate Morrissey on Why Taking on Elphaba Full-Time 'Feels Right'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
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  32. ↑ Hilton, Lauren. "Photos: Mary Kate Morrissey Shares Photos from Rehearsals for WICKED on Broadway". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  33. ↑ Gans, Andrew (5 March 2024). "Donna McKechnie Returns to Broadway in Wicked March 5 Alongside Mary Kate Morrissey, Alexandra Socha, More". Playbill.
  34. 1 2 "Mary Kate Morrissey | Stella Adler Studio of Acting". 2023-04-26. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  35. 1 2 "013. Actor: Mary Kate Morrissey". The Breakdown with Robbie. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  36. ↑ "what the heck happened?". almost vegan kitchen. 2012-12-05. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  37. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  38. ↑ Williams-Jent, Ryan (2020-02-13). "Mary Kate Morrissey talks 'Mean Girls,' 'Wicked' and queer representation". Watermark Online. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
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