Christopher Sieber
{{short description|American actor}}
{{Infobox person
| image = File:Christopher Sieber.jpg
| caption = Christopher Sieber at the Drama League Benefit Gala Honoring Angela Lansbury, February 8, 2010.
| birth_name = Christopher Luverne Sieber
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|2|18}}
| birth_place = St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
| other_names = Chris Sieber
| spouse = {{marriage|Kevin Burrows|2011|}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|singer}}
| years_active = 1996–present
| alma_mater = American Musical and Dramatic Academy
| known_for =
| notable_works =
}}
Christopher Luverne Sieber (born February 18, 1969) is an American actor. Known primarily for his extensive roles on stage in musicals, he has received nominations for two Tony Awards, two Drama Desk Awards, and two Outer Critics Circle Awards.
He was twice nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical first at the 59th Tony Awards in 2005 for his portrayal of Sir Dennis Galahad in Spamalot, and then at the 63rd Tony Awards in 2009 for his portrayal of Lord Farquaad in Shrek the Musical. He recently starred in Broadway productions of The Prom (2018), Company (2021), and Death Becomes Her (2024).
Early life and education
Christopher Sieber was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Fred and Caron Sieber. He is the middle child of three. Mike, his older brother, was a swimmer, and his younger brother, Marc, was in drama alongside him. He is a 1988 graduate of Forest Lake Area High School in Forest Lake, Minnesota, and was inducted into the Forest Lake Schools Hall of Fame in June 2011. After graduating, Sieber went to New York City to study at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.{{Cite web|date=May 14, 2019|title=Thank You to Alumnus Christopher Sieber for Speaking at AMDA NY's Spring 2019 Graduation Ceremony|url=https://www.amda.edu/news/alumnus-christopher-sieber-to-speak-at-amda-nys-spring-2019-graduation-ceremony-on-may-25|access-date=April 6, 2021|website=AMDA News}}
Career
= Stage =
Sieber made his Off-Broadway debut in a production of the musical A Christmas Carol in 1994.{{Cite web|title=Christopher Sieber Theatre Credits, News, Bio and Photos|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Christopher-Sieber/|url-status=live|accessdate=May 29, 2020|website=BroadwayWorld|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501200002/http://broadwayworld.com:80/people/Christopher-Sieber/ |archive-date=2012-05-01 }} Sieber has appeared in several Broadway musicals, including Into the Woods, Monty Python's Spamalot, Shrek The Musical and Company. For his roles in Spamalot and Shrek The Musical, Sieber was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, first at the 59th Tony Awards in 2005 and then at the 63rd Tony Awards in 2009.
On June 1, 2007, Sieber sang tenor in the world premiere of Eric Idle's Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy) in Toronto.
On January 31, 2014, it was announced that Sieber would be joining the company of Matilda the Musical on Broadway as Miss Agatha Trunchbull starting performances on March 18.{{cite web|last=Gilbert|first=Ryan|date=January 31, 2014|title=Get Naughty! Matt Harrington & Tony Nominee Christopher Sieber Join the Revolting Cast of Matilda|url=http://www.broadway.com/buzz/174374/get-naughty-matt-harrington-tony-nominee-christopher-sieber-join-the-revolting-cast-of-matilda/|url-status=live|accessdate=February 1, 2014|work=Broadway.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219134205/http://www.broadway.com/buzz/174374/get-naughty-matt-harrington-tony-nominee-christopher-sieber-join-the-revolting-cast-of-matilda/ |archive-date=2014-02-19 }} However, due to a hand injury sustained in rehearsals, he did not start performances until April 18.{{cite web|last=McPhee|first=Ryan|title=Maggots Beware! Christopher Sieber (Finally) Steps Into Matilda as Miss Trunchbull|url=http://www.broadway.com/buzz/175570/maggots-beware-christopher-sieber-finally-steps-into-matilda-as-miss-trunchbull/|work=Broadway.com|date=18 April 2014|accessdate=21 April 2014}}
In 2016, Sieber joined the cast of The Prom as Trent Oliver in the out-of-town tryout at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre, and continued in the role at Broadway’s Longacre Theatre from October 2018 to August 11, 2019.{{Cite web |last=Keller |first=Ilana |title=Broadway: Don't tell 'The Prom' star Christopher Sieber to break a leg |url=https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/theater/2018/11/07/prom-christopher-sieber/1893361002/ |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=Asbury Park Press |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=The Prom's Christopher Sieber on Casting the Netflix Movie, Cursing in Hip-Hop Class & More |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/195569/the-proms-christopher-sieber-on-casting-the-netflix-movie-cursing-in-hip-hop-class-more/ |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=Broadway.com |language=en}}
On March 4, 2024, it was announced that Sieber would join the cast of Death Becomes Her as Ernest Menville in its preview run at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre. Performances started on April 30, 2024 before the show transferred to Broadway later that year.{{Cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=March 4, 2024 |title=Christopher Sieber, Michelle Williams, More Join Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard in Death Becomes Her Musical |url=https://playbill.com/article/michelle-williams-christopher-sieber-more-join-megan-hilty-and-jennifer-simard-in-death-becomes-her-musical |access-date=May 15, 2024 |website=Playbill}}
= Television =
In 1998, Sieber made his television debut playing Kevin Burke, father to Mary-Kate Burke (Mary-Kate Olsen) and Ashley Burke (Ashley Olsen) on the ABC sitcom Two of a Kind. The series lasted for one season before its cancellation. From 2003 to 2004, Sieber returned to ABC for It's All Relative, in which he and John Benjamin Hickey played Simon Banks and Philip Stoddard, same-sex parents to Liz Stoddard-Banks (Maggie Lawson); other co-stars in the series included Reid Scott, Harriet Sansom Harris, and Lenny Clarke. In 2007, Sieber portrayed an eccentric zoologist for NBC comedy pilot Wildlife, which was not ordered by the network.{{Cite news|url=http://www.darkhorizons.com/news07/tv-nbc.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516034808/http://www.darkhorizons.com/news07/tv-nbc.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-05-16 |title=NBC's Fall 2007 TV Schedule |first=Garth |last=Franklin |date=2007-05-14 |accessdate=2007-09-11 |website=DarkHorizons.com}} In 2010, Sieber led the ABC comedy pilot It Takes a Village alongside Leah Remini and Cheyenne Jackson.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newnownext.com/sneak-peek-at-abcs-it-takes-a-village-with-cheyenne-jackson-and-christopher-sieber/04/2010/|title=Sneak Peek at ABC's "It Takes a Village" with Cheyenne Jackson and Christopher Sieber|first=Michael|last=Jensen|website=LOGO News|date=April 5, 2010|accessdate=May 29, 2020}} In addition to these roles, Sieber has also had guest-starring roles in series such as Sex and the City, Pushing Daisies, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and several episodes of The Good Wife.
Personal life
While It's All Relative was being produced, Sieber came out as gay and said that he was happily partnered to actor and chef Kevin Burrows.{{Cite news |title=New stage for an out actor |periodical=The Advocate |date=2003-10-14 |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_2003_Oct_14/ai_110809180 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060104030146/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_2003_Oct_14/ai_110809180 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2006-01-04 |first=Anne |last=Stockwell |accessdate=2007-09-11 }} They married on November 24, 2011, in New York City.{{cite web|date=November 25, 2011|title=Two-Time Tony Nominee Christopher Sieber Marries Kevin Burrows at Thanksgiving Day Wedding|url=http://www.broadway.com/buzz/158724/two-time-tony-nominee-christopher-sieber-marries-kevin-burrows-at-thanksgiving-day-wedding/|url-status=live|accessdate=November 26, 2011|website=Broadway.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127124516/http://www.broadway.com:80/buzz/158724/two-time-tony-nominee-christopher-sieber-marries-kevin-burrows-at-thanksgiving-day-wedding/ |archive-date=2011-11-27 }} The couple live on an island on Lake Tamarack in the Stockholm area of Hardyston Township, New Jersey.{{cite news|last=Green|first=Penelope|date=18 July 2004|title=An Island in New Jersey: An Actor's Commute, and All that Jazz|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/18/realestate/18HABI.html?ex=1247803200&en=3b0fa1d609f60f8c&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland|accessdate=2008-03-10}}{{Cite web|date=May 7, 2017|title=Artist activists will come together to support county Democrats|url=https://www.njherald.com/news/20170507/artist-activists-will-come-together-to-support-county-democrats|url-status=live|access-date=January 13, 2018|website=New Jersey Herald|quote=Billeisen, who will emcee the evening, will be joined by Seth Danner and Christopher Sieber, Stockholm resident and two-time Tony nominee for Monty Python's 'Spamalot' and 'Shrek The Musical,' along with other contributing performers.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806183757/https://www.njherald.com/news/20170507/artist-activists-will-come-together-to-support-county-democrats |archive-date=2020-08-06 }}
Sieber is involved with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) and has appeared in several of its Broadway Cares revues, among other events the charity produces. He teaches classes on drama and performance.
Acting credits
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="2"| 2010
| Steven | |
| Morning Glory
| Groundhog Reporter | |
| 2014
| Are You Joking? | Allen Brown | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 1998-99
| Kevin Burke | Main cast; 22 episodes |
| rowspan="2"| 2000
| Kevin | Episode: "Attack of the 5'10" Woman" |
| Ed
| Bob Crickmore | Episode: "Pretty Girls and Waffles" |
| 2003-04
| Simon Banks | Main cast; 22 episodes |
| 2007
| Napoleon LeNez | Episode: "Smell of Success" |
| 2011-16
| Neil Howard Sloan-Jacob | 2 episodes |
| 2013
| Carter Lydon | Episode: "Possibility Two" |
| 2015
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Frank Baker | Episode: "Patrimonial Burden" |
| 2018
| Neil Howard Sloan-Jacob | Episode: "Day 492" |
| 2021
|Mike Dougherty |Episode: "The Common Good" |
= Theatre =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Theater ! class=unsortable| Ref. |
|---|
| 1990
| Billy Crocker | rowspan=2| National Tour | |
| 1993
| Albert Peterson | |
| 1994
| Punch & Judy Man | |
| 1995
| Faust | Angel Rick | |
| rowspan=3|1996
| rowspan=2|The Muny | |
| Guys and Dolls
| Benny Southstreet | |
| The Boys in the Band
| Donald | Lucille Lortel Theatre, Off-Broadway | |
| 1997-1998
| Agis | |
| 1998-1999
| rowspan="2" | Beauty and the Beast | rowspan="2" | Gaston | Palace Theatre, Broadway | |
| 1999-2001
|Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway | |
| 2000
| Avow | Brian | New York City Center, Off-Broadway | |
| rowspan=2|2002
| rowspan=2|Into the Woods | rowspan=2|The Wolf / | |
| Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway
| |
| 2003
| Mr. Trevor Graydon III | Marquis Theatre, Broadway | |
| rowspan=3|2004
| Chicago | Ambassador Theatre, Broadway | |
| Company
| Robert | |
| Cinderella
| Prince Topher | Koch Theater, New York City Opera | |
| 2004-2005
| rowspan=3|Spamalot | rowspan=3|Sir Dennis Galahad | |
| rowspan=2| 2005-2008
| Shubert Theatre, Broadway |
| Palace Theatre, West End
| |
| 2005
| Bruce Granit | New Amsterdam Theatre, Concert | |
| rowspan=2|2008
| Camelot | Lincoln Center, New York Philharmonic | |
| rowspan=2|Shrek The Musical
| rowspan=2|Lord Farquaad | |
| 2008-2010
| Broadway Theatre, Broadway | |
| rowspan=2|2010
| The Kid | Acorn Theatre, Off-Broadway | |
| Hairspray
| |
| rowspan=2|2011
| Georges | Longacre Theatre, Broadway | |
| Chicago
| Ambassador Theatre, Broadway | |
| 2011-2012
| La Cage aux Folles | Albin | National Tour | |
| 2012-2013
| Chicago | Billy Flynn | Ambassador Theatre, Broadway | |
| 2013
| Violet | Preacher / Bus Driver / Radio Singer | New York City Center, Encores! | |
| 2013
| rowspan=2|Pippin | rowspan=2|Charlemagne / Charles the Great | rowspan=2|Music Box Theatre, Broadway | |
| 2014
| |
| 2014-2016
| Shubert Theatre, Broadway | |
| 2014
|The Heart of Robin Hood | Pierre | |
| 2016
| The Prom | Trent Oliver | |
| 2016-2017
| Chicago | Billy Flynn | Ambassador Theatre, Broadway | |
| rowspan=3|2017
| The Duke | New York City Center, Encores! | |
| Jesus Christ Superstar
| The Muny | |
| Annie
| Paper Mill Playhouse | |
| rowspan=3|2018
| Candide | Narrator / Pangloss | Alliance Theatre | |
| Annie
| Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks | The Muny | |
| The Prom
| Trent Oliver | Longacre Theatre, Broadway |
| 2019
| Sebastian | Paper Mill Playhouse | |
| 2020-2022
| rowspan=1|Company | rowspan=1|Harry | rowspan=1|Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Broadway |
| rowspan=2|2023
| Character Actor | Theatre Row Building, Off-Broadway | |
| Gutenberg! The Musical!
| The Producer (One night only) | James Earl Jones Theatre, Broadway | |
| rowspan=2|2024
|Ernest Menville | |
| The Little Mermaid
|Chef Louis |The Muny | |
| 2024-2025
|Death Becomes Her |Ernest Menville |Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway |
Discography
- "What I Wanna Be When I Grow Up" by Scott Alan, singing the track Nothing More (2010){{cite news|author=Keddy|first=Genevieve Rafter|date=4 December 2010|title=Photo Coverage: The Songs of Scot Alan at Barnes & Noble|work=BroadwayWorld|url=http://broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_The_Songs_of_Scott_Alan_at_Barnes_Noble_20101204|accessdate=2011-04-07}}
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Award !Category !Work !Result |
|---|
| 2005
|rowspan=2|Best Featured Actor in a Musical |{{nom}} |
| rowspan=3|2009
| rowspan="3" |Shrek: The Musical |{{nom}} |
| Drama Desk Award
|Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical |{{nom}} |
| Outer Critics Circle Award
|Outstanding Actor in a Musical |{{nom}} |
| 2012
|Drama Desk Award |Outstanding Actor in a Musical |{{nom}} |
| 2025
|Outer Critics Circle Award |Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical | {{nom}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IBDB name}}
- {{IMDb name|0796758}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sieber, Christopher}}
Category:American male musical theatre actors
Category:American male stage actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:Male actors from Saint Paul, Minnesota
Category:LGBTQ people from Minnesota
Category:Forest Lake Area High School alumni
Category:People from Hardyston Township, New Jersey