Rebecca Spencer (singer)

Last updated
Rebecca Spencer's headshot Rebecca Spencer Headshot.jpg
Rebecca Spencer's headshot

Rebecca Spencer (born April 29, 1960) is an American singer and actress, known for her roles in musicals and cabaret productions. Over the course of her career, Spencer has performed principal roles in over 50 opera, national tour, regional and Off-Broadway productions, including co-starring in Hollywood Bowl's 2019 production of Into the Woods (in the role of Jack's Mother). She created the role of Lisa Carew in the world premiere of Frank Wildhorn's Jekyll and Hyde at the Alley Theatre, opposite Linda Eder and Chuck Wagner, and premiered the role of Madame Giry in the $35 million production of Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular , under the direction of Harold Prince. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Spencer was born the youngest of three children in Bristol, Pennsylvania, and raised in nearby Levittown. She graduated from Ithaca College in 1982 with a Bachelor of Music. While in college, Spencer began her professional theatre career, appearing in productions at Theatre By The Sea in Matunuck, Rhode Island, including West Side Story , Brigadoon , and Sweeney Todd .

Career

Following college, Spencer's early career included roles in productions at the Candlewood Playhouse in Connecticut, as Philia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum , Johanna in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, [2] and as Anna Held in Tintypes (at the Shawnee Playhouse in Pennsylvania).

Rebecca Spencer as Cunegonde in CANDIDE at the Paper Mill Playhouse Candide Cunegonde.jpg
Rebecca Spencer as Cunegonde in CANDIDE at the Paper Mill Playhouse

In 1985, Spencer played the role of Scrooge's fiancé, Belle, in A Christmas Carol at the Missouri Repertory Theatre, as well as Johanna in Sweeney Todd at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. In 1986 Spencer performed as the Matinee Cunegonde in Candide at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey. [3] and returned a year later to play the Matinee title role in Naughty Marietta.

In the late 1980s Spencer appeared as Marsinah in Kismet at the Equity Library Theatre [4] and in the Goodspeed Opera's national tour of Lady, Be Good! as Shirley. She embarked on her first national tour as Antonia in Man of La Mancha , starring Hal Linden, and appeared as Magnolia in Show Boat , opposite Davis Gaines, at both the Minnesota Opera and Opera Omaha.

Rebecca Spencer as Lisa Carew in Jekyll and Hyde Alley J&H.jpg
Rebecca Spencer as Lisa Carew in Jekyll and Hyde

In 1990, Spencer created the role of Lisa (Emma) Carew in the Alley Theatre world premiere of Frank Wildhorn's Jekyll and Hyde, [5] opposite Chuck Wagner and Linda Eder, and appeared as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz at Theatre Under the Stars in Houston, Texas, under the direction of Philip William McKinley. The early 1990s included roles as Marian Paroo in The Music Man at Theatre By The Sea in Matunuck, RI, opposite recent Tony Award winner Michael McGrath as Harold Hill, six months with the Hamburg, Germany company of Das Phantom der Oper as Carlotta (Harold Prince's company, performed in German), Christine in the Yeston Phantom at the TriArts in Pine Plains, New York and Theatre By The Sea in Matunuck, RI, Belle in A Christmas Carol at the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, directed by Richard Jenkins, and Rosabella in the Jupiter Theatre's production of The Most Happy Fella . [6] [7]

In the mid and late 1990s, she returned to the Jupiter Theatre in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and toured nationally as Antonia in Man of La Mancha (with John Cullum). In addition, she played Babe in the Virginia Musical Theatre's production of The Pajama Game , [8] and was a member of the Toronto workshop of Ragtime, directed by Frank Galati. [9]

On April 27, 1997, Spencer made her Broadway debut in Jekyll and Hyde, as the female swing. She performed numerous roles in the production, including as a replacement for Emma Carew, and eventually took over the principal role of Lady Beaconsfield. [10]

In the early 200s, her roles included Buttercup in HMS Pinafore at the Arizona Theatre Company, [11] Tessie Tura in Gypsy, at both the Cincinnati Playhouse and the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, [12] the Musicals Tonight! production of Irving Berlin's Watch Your Step, [13] Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music at the Helen Hayes Theatre in Nyack, NY, [14] Lady Beaconsfield in Jekyll and Hyde at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, and Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! at the Weston Playhouse in Vermont. [15]

In 2006 Spencer debuted Madame Giry in the premiere of Phantom-The Las Vegas Spectacular, under the direction of Harold Prince. While in Las Vegas, she appeared in a number of benefit concerts for various community groups, including the American premiere of Jerry Springer: The Opera performed at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. [16] and God Lives in Glass, by composer Keith Thompson. [17] In 2009, Spencer returned to New York City in Heaven in Your Pocket at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. [18]

In 2010 she relocated to Seattle, and subsequently appeared as Vicki in The Full Monty at the Village Theatre in Issaquah, WA, directed by Jerry Dixon, [19] Solange La Fitte in the Showtunes presentation of Follies , at the Moore Theatre in Seattle, [20] and Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Auburn, NY. [21]

In 2012, Spencer returned to her role as Madame Giry for the World Tour of Phantom of the Opera, produced by the Asia/Pacific arm of the Really Useful Company. [22] After performing in Manila from August through October 2012, Spencer continued on to Seoul, South Korea through early 2013.[ needs update ]

Rebecca relocated in 2013 to Los Angeles, where she starred in productions of The Music Man , S'Wonderful , Catch Me If You Can , and Mary Poppins at Musical Theatre West, and The Heir Apparent at International City Theatre in Long Beach. In 2016 she was the standby for Betty Buckley in Grey Gardens at the Ahmanson Theatre , directed by Michael Wilson. [23] In 2019 she starred as Jack's Mother in Into the Woods at the Hollywood Bowl. [24]

Rebecca Spencer as Jack's Mother in Into the Woods Rebecca Spencer Into The Woods.jpg
Rebecca Spencer as Jack's Mother in Into the Woods

Spencer's television credits include Third Watch and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit . [25]

Concerts and cabaret appearances

Spencer appeared in five ENCORES! Concerts at the City Center: Call Me Madame (1995), A Connecticut Yankee (2001), Carnival (2002), The New Moon (2003), and Pardon My English (2004). [26] She was a guest soloist in The Songs of Jerry Herman as part of the 92nd Street Y's Lyrics and Lyricists program in New York City and in the ensemble for the Ira Gershwin Centennial at Carnegie Hall, recorded for PBS. She was also featured at the Mabel Mercer Foundation’s 2004 & 2005 NYC Cabaret Conventions and appeared in the VOX series at the New York City Opera in 2002 (Lovers and Friends) and 2003 (The Old Majestic). [27]

Spencer has performed in concert as a guest soloist with the Syracuse, New Haven and Detroit Symphonies, and the Florida Orchestra, the Indianapolis and Naples Symphonies conducted by Keith Lockhart of the Boston Pops, and as the guest soloist for composer Marvin Hamlisch.

Her solo cabaret shows with her longtime musical director, Philip Fortenberry, [28] have been performed in Las Vegas [29] and around the country, including the Birdland Jazz Club in NYC, [30] Castle on the Hudson in Tarrytown, NY, [31] the Liberace Museum in Las Vegas, [32] and the Blue Heron Arts Center on Vashon Island, WA. [33] In Las Vegas, she conceived the script for the 2007 Liberace Piano Competitions and co-hosted the international competition. She was also a monthly performer in the Las Vegas Composer’s Showcase. In 2016 Rebecca headlined the inaugural season of The Sorting Room concert series at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. [34]

Rebecca Spencer with Philip Fortenberry at The Sorting Room at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Beverly Hills Rebecca Spencer at The Sorting Room.jpg
Rebecca Spencer with Philip Fortenberry at The Sorting Room at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Beverly Hills

Discography

Spencer has appeared on several recordings, including theatrical cast recordings and compilations. [35]

Awards and nominations

Spencer was awarded the 2004 Backstage Bistro Award for her debut solo recording, Wide Awake and Dreaming. [36] She was nominated for a Carbonell Award for her performance as Rosabella in The Most Happy Fella at the Jupiter Theatre in Florida.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Phantom of the Opera</i> (1986 musical) 1986 musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber

The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart, additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe and a libretto by Lloyd Webber and Stilgoe. Based on the novel of the same name by Gaston Leroux, it tells the tragic story of beautiful soprano Christine Daaé, who becomes the obsession of a mysterious but disfigured musical genius living in the subterranean labyrinth beneath the Paris Opéra House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colm Wilkinson</span> Irish singer and actor (born 1944)

Colm Wilkinson, also known as C. T. Wilkinson, is an Irish singer and actor who is best known for originating the lead role of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables and for creating the title role in The Phantom of the Opera (1985) preview at the Sydmonton Festival and the original Canadian production.

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

Andrea McArdle is an American singer and actress best known for originating the role of Annie in the Broadway musical Annie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christine Daaé</span> Fictional character

Christine Daaé is a fictional character and the female protagonist of Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel The Phantom of the Opera and of the various adaptations of the work. Erik, the Phantom of the Opera and Viscount Raoul de Chagny both fall in love with her.

Robert Cuccioli is an American actor and singer. He is best known for originating the lead dual title roles in the musical Jekyll & Hyde, for which he received a Tony Award nomination and won the Joseph Jefferson Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, the Drama Desk Award, and the Fany Award for outstanding actor in a musical.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katherine Shindle</span> American actress and former Miss America

Katherine Renee Shindle is an American actress, singer, dancer, and AIDS activist. From 2015 to 2024 she served as the President of the Actors' Equity Association. She was Miss America 1998 in 1998 and Miss Illinois in 1997.

Judy Kaye is an American singer and actress. She has appeared in stage musicals, plays, and operas. Kaye has been in long runs on Broadway in the musicals The Phantom of the Opera, Ragtime, Mamma Mia!, and Nice Work If You Can Get It.

Howard McGillin is an American actor. He is known for originating the role of John Jasper in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1985) and for portraying the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera from 1999 to 2009 on Broadway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer Strallen</span> British actress (b. 1985)

Summer Peta Vaigncourt-Strallen is an English actress who has performed various roles on stage and screen. Her most notable theatre credits include Meg Giry in the West End production of Love Never Dies and Maria von Trapp in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of The Sound of Music at the London Palladium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liz Robertson</span> Musical artist

Liz Robertson is an English actress and singer and the widow of playwright and lyricist Alan Jay Lerner. She is especially well known for her performances as Madame Giry, having played the role in the original cast of Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre, in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre and in The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christiane Noll</span> American actress and singer (born 1968)

Christiane Noll is an American actress and singer known for her work in musicals and on the concert stage. She originated the role of Emma Carew in Frank Wildhorn's Jekyll & Hyde, and had roles in Urinetown, Ragtime, and Dear Evan Hansen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sierra Boggess</span> American theater actress and singer (born 1982)

Sierra Marjory Boggess is an American theater actress, singer, and figure skater.

Meg Bussert is an American actress, singer and a university professor.

Karen Mason is an American musical theatre actress and singer. She has appeared on stage in Broadway theatre, notably as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, and is a multiple award-winning cabaret performer.

<i>Love Never Dies</i> (musical) 2010 musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Love Never Dies is a romantic musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater, and a book by Lloyd Webber, Ben Elton, Frederick Forsyth, and Slater. It is a sequel to the long-running 1986 musical The Phantom of the Opera and was loosely adapted from Forsyth's 1999 novel The Phantom of Manhattan.

Bradley Dean is an American stage and screen actor.

Gina Beck is a British stage actress and singer, mainly known for playing major roles in various West End musicals. She played the characters of Miss Honey in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Matilda the Musical, Magnolia Hawks in Daniel Evans' acclaimed production of the 1927 musical Show Boat, Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked, both in the London production and the 1st national tour, Christine Daaé in the West End production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical The Phantom of the Opera, and Cosette in Les Misérables.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brent Barrett</span> American actor and tenor

Brent Barrett is an American actor and tenor who is mostly known for his work within American theatre. Barrett has performed in musicals and in concerts with theatres, symphony orchestras, opera houses, and concert halls internationally. He starred in the original production of Maltby and Shire's hit Off-Broadway musical Closer Than Ever in 1989 and the 2001 West End revival of Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate. He has also appeared sporadically on television and in films.

Tener Brown is an American ballet coach of New Jersey Ballet. She is a former ballet dancer of American Ballet Theatre and actress.

References

  1. ↑ "Rebecca Spencer in LV Phantom". Playbill. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  2. ↑ Klein, Alvin (July 17, 1983). "A Sweeney Todd of Merit". The New York Times. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Candide, Paper Mill Production (1986)". Ovrtur. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  4. ↑ Bruckner, D.J.R. (November 4, 1987). "A Kismet Revival". The New York Times. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Jekyll Productions: Alley Theatre". Archived from the original on June 23, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  6. ↑ Sheffield, Skip (September 23, 1994). "Carbonell Nominations Announced". The News. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  7. ↑ Von Mauer, Bill (September 22, 1994). "Jupiter leads in Nominations for Carbonells". The Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  8. ↑ Gammon, Montague (September 21, 1996). "Pajama Game Dated But Enjoyable". The Virginian-Pilot. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  9. ↑ Hodges, Andrea. "Mazzie, La Chanze in Ragtime Workshop". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  10. ↑ Meynard, Jason. "Rebecca Spencer: The World of an American Diva". Cabaret Ville Magazine. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  11. ↑ Pela, Robert (January 11, 2001). "Punched-Up Topsy Turvy". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Gypsy: Production History Detail". Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Archived from the original on October 25, 2007. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Past Musicals - Watch Your Step". Musicals Tonight!. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  14. ↑ Topps, Cynthia (December 10, 2002). "Sound of Music Lovely Holiday Gift". Times Herald-Record. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Production History 2003". Weston Playhouse. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  16. ↑ Hernandez, Ernio. "Concert Version of Jerry Springer—The Opera to Play Las Vegas". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  17. ↑ Lynn, Esther. "Claire Voyant - March 7, 2008" . Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  18. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. "Houston's Heaven in Your Pocket Will Make New York Debut at NYMF". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  19. ↑ Hughes, David-Edward. "Village Theatre Lets It Go with The Full Monty". Talkin' Broadway. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Showtunes Theatre Co Presents FOLLIES". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  21. ↑ "42nd Street Opens at Merry-Go-Round Playhouse". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Las Vegas Phantom's Rebecca Spencer Joins World Tour". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  23. ↑ "Rebecca Spencer in Grey Gardens". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Rebecca Spencer Joins Cast of Into The Woods". Playbill. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  25. ↑ "About | Rebecca Spencer". www.rebeccaspencer.com. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Encores! Previous Seasons". New York City Center. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  27. ↑ "Past VOX". New York City Opera. Archived from the original on May 8, 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  28. ↑ "Five Questions for Rebecca Spencer and Philip Fortenberry". Broadway Cafe Society. Archived from the original on September 11, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  29. ↑ "Phantom SInger releases new CD". The Summerlin View. February 20, 2007.
  30. ↑ "Rebecca Spencer and Philip Fortenberry Come To Birdland 7/26". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  31. ↑ "Cabaret Series At The Castle on the Hudson Ends 5/16, Rebecca Spencer Set As Final Guest". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  32. ↑ Fink, Jerry (April 16, 2009). "Liberace celebration, tour aim to keep alive part of the soul of Las Vegas". The Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  33. ↑ "Broadway diva Rebecca Spencer to serenade Vashon at Blue Heron Act Center". Vashon Maury Island Beachcomber. March 9, 2010. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  34. ↑ "Rebecca Spencer at The Sorting Room". Broadway World. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  35. ↑ "Rebecca Spencer: Recordings" . Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  36. ↑ "Bistro Awards". Sherry Eaker. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2012.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.