Victoria Clark
{{Short description|American musical theatre actress (born 1959)}}
{{About|an American entertainer|the American communication consultant with a similar name|Victoria Clarke}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Victoria Clark
| image = VictoriaClark-byPhilipRomano2.jpg
| caption = Clark in 2025
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|10|10}}
| birth_place = Dallas, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education = Yale University (BA)
New York University (MFA)
| occupation = Actress, singer, director
| years_active = 1975–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Thomas Reidy|August 1, 2015}}
| website = [http://www.victoriaclark.me VictoriaClark.me]
}}
Victoria Clark (born October 10, 1959) is an American actress, musical theatre soprano, and director. Clark has performed in numerous Broadway musicals and in other theatre, film and television works. Her voice can also be heard on various cast albums and in several animated films. In 2008, she released her first solo album titled Fifteen Seconds of Grace. A five-time Tony Award nominee, Clark won her first Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 2005 for The Light in the Piazza. She also won the Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, and the Joseph Jefferson Award for the role. She won a second Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 2023 for Kimberly Akimbo.
Life and career
Clark was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, the daughter of Lorraine and Banks Clark.[https://web.archive.org/web/20091030000126/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/134134-PLAYBILL_ON_OPENING_NIGHT_Brighton_Beach_Memoirs--The_Birds_and_the_B%92s] Playbill.com She studied the piano and attended the Hockaday School, an all-girls school in Dallas. She attended the Interlochen Arts Academy before going to Yale University, graduating in 1982.
At Yale, at the age of eighteen, she sang the role of Mabel in Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera The Pirates of Penzance. She also sang the title role in Gilbert and Sullivan's Patience, and directed a production of Ruddigore for the Yale Gilbert & Sullivan Society. After college, Clark studied at New York University's Musical Theatre Master's Program at Tisch{{cite web |last=Gioia |first=Michael |title=Victoria Clark's Full-Circle Moment Directing Light in the Piazza at Pace University |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/victoria-clarks-full-circle-moment-directing-light-in-the-piazza-at-pace-university-com-334461 |website=Playbill |date=October 31, 2014 |access-date=May 18, 2022}} as a stage director and began to direct operas and musicals professionally. Although she continues to direct, she has primarily focused on singing and acting.
Clark's stage work includes understudying{{Cite web |title=Victoria Clark – Broadway Cast & Staff {{!}} IBDB |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/victoria-clark-71299 |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=www.ibdb.com}} in the original Broadway production of Sunday in the Park with George (she never went on) and roles in the Broadway musicals Guys and Dolls (1992–93), A Grand Night for Singing (1993–94), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1995–96, as Smitty), Titanic (1997–99, creating the role of Alice Beane), Cabaret (1999–2000, as Fraulein Kost) and Urinetown (2003, as Penelope Pennywise),{{cite web |title=Victoria Clark |url=https://www.playbill.com/person/victoria-clark-vault-0000052851 |website=Playbill |access-date=May 18, 2022}} as well as numerous roles Off-Broadway, in national tours and in regional theatre. She played Doris MacAfee in the City Center Encores! production of Bye Bye Birdie in 2004.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Kenneth |title=Put on a Happy Face: Bye Bye Birdie Gets Starry Encores! Concert With Ziemba, Roberts and Jenkins May 6–10 |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/put-on-a-happy-face-bye-bye-birdie-gets-starry-encores-concert-with-ziemba-roberts-and-jenkins-may-6-10-com-119526 |website=Playbill |date=May 6, 2004 |access-date=May 18, 2022}}
In 2005, Clark won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, and the Joseph Jefferson Award for her performance in the musical The Light in the Piazza (2005–06). Broadway.com commented on Clark's performance, "What is indisputable is that Victoria Clark has created a character for the ages. Lucas has done a superb job in fleshing out Margaret within the confines of a musical-theater libretto, and Clark responds with consummate precision and grace. Calling hers the musical performance of the year would be accurate. It would also be a drastic understatement."{{cite web |last=Grode |first=Eric |title=The Light in the Piazza |url=http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=510707 |website=Broadway.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050520090507/http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=510707 |archive-date=May 20, 2005 |date=April 18, 2005}} She appeared as former showgirl Sally Durant Plummer in the Encores! staged concert presentation of Follies in February 2007 at City Center. She next created the role of Margaret Brennan in The Marriage of Bette and Boo Off-Broadway in 2008 for the Roundabout Theatre Company.{{cite web |title=Entrances and Exits: Tony Award Winner Victoria Clark |url=http://the8thavenueobserver.com/305/smaller-a |website=The 8th Avenue Observer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091003234551/http://the8thavenueobserver.com/305/smaller-a/ |archive-date=October 3, 2009 |date=September 28, 2008}}
Clark appeared in Prayer for My Enemy, a new play by Craig Lucas Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons from November 14 through December 21, 2008. The play concerned the consequences that the Iraq war has had on an American family, co-starred Michele Pawk and Jonathan Groff, and was directed by Bartlett Sher.{{cite web |title=Current Season |url=http://www.playwrightshorizons.org/current_season.asp |website=Playwrights Horizons |access-date=November 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216144609/http://www.playwrightshorizons.org/current_season.asp |archive-date=December 16, 2008}}
File:Victoria Clark.jpg Benedict at Shubert Alley, New York City in July 2011]]
Clark has also appeared in movies, sung in several animated feature films, and appeared in roles in television episodes. She can be heard on a number of Broadway cast albums and other recordings. In 2008 she released her first solo album, Fifteen Seconds of Grace, produced by PS Classics. Clark teaches voice and studies acting at the Michael Howard Studios and voice with Edward Sayegh. Clark received the 2006 Distinguished Artist Award from the New York Singing Teachers' Association.
Clark played the Mother Superior in the Broadway production of Sister Act, which opened on April 20, 2011.{{cite web |last=Hetrick |first=Adam |title=Victoria Clark, Fred Applegate, Chester Gregory Will Be Part of Broadway's Sister Act |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/victoria-clark-fred-applegate-chester-gregory-will-be-part-of-broadways-sister-act-com-175737 |website=Playbill |access-date=30 December 2021 |date=February 1, 2011}} For this role she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Kenneth |last2=Gans |first2=Andrew |title=2011 Tony Nominations Announced; Book of Mormon Earns 14 Nominations |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/2011-tony-nominations-announced-book-of-mormon-earns-14-nominations-com-178792 |website=Playbill |access-date=December 30, 2021 |date=May 3, 2011}} Clark portrayed Sally in the Kennedy Center/Broadway production of Follies, running at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, from May 3 through June 9, 2012.{{cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |title=Victoria Clark Will Be Sally in L.A. Follies with Elaine Paige, Jan Maxwell, Danny Burstein, Ron Raines |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/victoria-clark-will-be-sally-in-la-follies-with-elaine-paige-jan-maxwell-danny-burstein-ron-raines-com-186320 |website=Playbill |access-date=December 30, 2021 |date=January 11, 2012}}{{cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |title=DIVA TALK: Catching Up With Follies Star and Tony Award Winner Victoria Clark |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/diva-talk-catching-up-with-follies-star-and-tony-award-winner-victoria-clark-com-193774 |website=Playbill |access-date=December 30, 2021 |date=May 18, 2012}}
In 2013, Clark starred in the Manhattan Theatre Club's production of The Snow Geese by Sharr White alongside Mary-Louise Parker and Danny Burstein.{{cite web |title=The Verdict: Critics Review The Snow Geese on Broadway Starring Mary-Louise Parker |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/the-verdict-critics-review-the-snow-geese-on-broadway-starring-mary-louise-parker-com-211013 |website=Playbill |access-date=December 30, 2021 |date=October 25, 2013}} Previously, she starred as Marie/the Fairy Godmother in the Broadway production of Cinderella.{{cite web |last=Geselowitz |first=Gabriela |title=Full Broadway Cast Announced for Cinderella, Starring Laura Osnes |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/165704/full-broadway-cast-announced-for-cinderella-starring-laura-osnes/ |website=Broadway.com |date=November 21, 2012}} For this role, she received her second Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.{{cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |title=Nominations Announced for 67th Annual Tony Awards; Kinky Boots Earns 13 Nominations |url=https://playbill.com/article/nominations-announced-for-67th-annual-tony-awards-kinky-boots-earns-13-nominations-com-205367 |website=Playbill |access-date=December 30, 2021 |date=April 30, 2013}} She returned to the Broadway production of Cinderella for a run lasting from January to September 2014.{{cite web |title=Wish Granted! Victoria Clark Returns to Cinderella as the Fairy Godmother |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/174098/wish-granted-victoria-clark-returns-to-cinderella-as-the-fairy-godmother/ |website=Broadway.com |access-date=February 9, 2014 |date=January 21, 2014}}{{cite web |last=Rosky |first=Nicole |title=It's Possible! Judy Kaye Will Join CINDERELLA Cast as 'Fairy Godmother' |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Its-Possible-Judy-Kaye-Will-Join-CINDERELLA-Cast-as-Fairy-Godmother-20140811 |website=BroadwayWorld |date=August 11, 2014}} In December 2014 Clark appeared as Carrie Mathison's mother on the Season 4 finale of Showtime's series Homeland.{{cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |title=Victoria Clark Lands Role On 'Homeland' |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/victoria-clark-lands-role-on-homeland-com-336034 |website=Playbill |access-date=May 18, 2022 |date=November 24, 2014}} Clark played Mamita in the Broadway revival of Gigi, which opened in April 2015.{{cite web |last=Gioia |first=Michael |title=Broadway-Bound Gigi, Starring Vanessa Hudgens, Begins Kennedy Center Run Tonight |url=https://playbill.com/article/broadway-bound-gigi-starring-vanessa-hudgens-begins-kennedy-center-run-tonight-com-339337 |website=Playbill |access-date=May 18, 2022 |date=January 16, 2015}} For this performance, Clark received another nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.{{cite web|title=An American in Paris & Fun Home Top 2015 Tony Nominations|url=http://www.broadway.com/buzz/180570/an-american-in-paris-fun-home-top-2015-tony-nominations/|website=Broadway.com|access-date=17 May 2015|date=April 28, 2015}}
In 2017, Clark appeared in the title role of Sousatzka in Toronto. It was intended to be a pre-Broadway tryout for controversial producer Garth Drabinsky.{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/what-do-critics-think-of-the-new-musical-sousatzka|title=What Do Critics Think of the New Musical Sousatzka?|first=Andrew|last=Gans|date=March 27, 2017|website=Playbill}} In 2022, she recorded Maury Yeston's December Songs, featuring orchestration by Larry Hochman.Gans, Andrew. [https://playbill.com/article/new-recording-of-maury-yestons-december-songs-with-tony-winner-victoria-clark-released-november-11 "New Recording of Maury Yeston's December Songs, With Tony Winner Victoria Clark, Released November 11"], Playbill, November 11, 2022
After persuasion from longtime friend and composer Jeanine Tesori,{{Cite news |last=Collins-Hughes |first=Laura |date=2023-05-10 |title=How the Star of 'Kimberly Akimbo' Found Beauty in Her Voice Again |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/10/theater/kimberly-akimbo-victoria-clark.html |access-date=2023-05-26 |issn=0362-4331}} Clark first donned the candy necklace and late 90s fashion of the title role of Kimberly Akimbo in its acclaimed and extended 2021 Off-Broadway run at the Linda Gross Theatre, produced by the Atlantic Theater Company, for which she garnered Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics Circle Awards.{{Cite web |title=Victoria Clark Bio |url=https://www.playbill.com/playbillpagegallery/inside-playbill?asset=00000150-ac7f-d16d-a550-ec7fb1e00003#carousel-cell16818347 |access-date=May 25, 2023 |website=Playbill.com}} The musical debuted on Broadway in 2022, winning Clark her second Tony Award.
Personal life
Clark married Thomas Reidy on August 1, 2015, in North Carolina. Her son, T.L., is from her previous marriage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/fashion/weddings/victoria-clark-and-thomas-reidy-an-eharmony-and-musical-match.html|title=Victoria Clark and Thomas Reidy: An eHarmony, and Musical, Match (Published 2015)|first=Kathryn|last=Shattuck|date=August 15, 2015|website=The New York Times}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Film ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 1996
| Chorus (singing voice) | |
| 1997
| Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas | Chorus (singing voice) |
| 1997
| Ensemble and Character Vocals (voice) | |
| 1999
| Dulce Fox | |
| 2008
| Nursery Owner's Wife | |
| 2009
| Madeline Pikler | |
| 2010
| Harvest | Anna Monopoli | |
| 2010
| Miriam | |
| 2011
| Dirty Movie | Teacher | |
| 2012
| Archaeology of a Woman{{cite web|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/12/movies/archaeology-of-a-woman-starring-sally-kirkland.html?_r=0|title=A Weakness for Cops, a Crime to Solve 'Archaeology of a Woman,' Starring Sally Kirkland|first=Jeannette|last=Catsoulis|date=September 11, 2014}} | Kate | |
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Television ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 1975
| My Father's House | Zozo | TV film |
| 1998
| Detective | Episode: "Bait" |
| 2003
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Margaret Melia | Episode: "Choice" |
| 2006
| Margaret Johnson / Herself | Episode: "The Light in the Piazza" |
| 2009
| Mercy | Mrs. Simanski | Episode: "You Lost Me with the Cinderblock" |
| 2001
| Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Concert | TV film |
| 2013
| Late Show with David Letterman | Season 20, episode 125 |
| 2014
| Homeland | Ellen Mathison | Episode: "Long Time Coming" |
| 2016
| Shannon Janderman | Episode: "Verdict" |
| 2018
| The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair | Adult Jenny Quinn | 10 episodes |
| 2019–2020
| Diane Doyle | 8 episodes |
| 2020
| Tracy | Episode: "The Jaguar" |
| 2020
| One Royal Holiday | Queen Gabriella | TV film |
| 2021
| Pose | Vanessa | Episode: "Series Finale (Part I)" |
| 2021
| Mrs. French | 2 episodes |
Stage credits
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Theatre ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 1986
| Cats | Jellylorum | First US National Tour |
| 1987
| First US National Tour |
| 1988
| Splendora | Performer | New York |
| 1989
|Martha Sowerby | Virginia |
| 1992
| Martha u/s Miss Adelaide | |Broadway |
| 1993
| Performer | Broadway |
| 1995
| How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying | Smitty | Broadway |
| 1997
| Titanic | Alice Beane | Broadway |
| 1999
| Cabaret | Fräulein Kost; Fritzie | Broadway |
| 2001
| Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Concert |
| 2003
| Penelope Pennywise | Broadway |
| 2003
| Baby | Arlene McNally | New York |
| 2004
| Doris MacAfee |
| 2004
| rowspan=2|The Light in the Piazza | rowspan=2|Margaret Johnson | Chicago |
| 2005
| Broadway |
| 2007
| Follies | Sally | Encores! Concert |
| 2008
| The Marriage of Bette and Boo | Margaret Brennan |
| 2008
| Prayer for My Enemy | Dolores | Off-Broadway |
| 2009
| Performer | Off-Broadway |
| 2010
| Gabrielle York | Off-Broadway |
| 2011
| Mother Superior | Broadway |
| 2012
| Follies | Sally |
| 2013
| Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella | Marie | Broadway |
| 2013
| The Snow Geese | Clarissa Hohmann | Broadway |
| 2015
| Gigi | Inez Alvarez | Kennedy Center; Broadway |
| 2017
| Sousatzka | Madame Sousatzka | Toronto |
| 2017
| Sara Jane Moore | Encores! |
| 2017
| Meg Boyd | Concert |
| 2019
| Liza Elliott |
| 2021
| rowspan=2|Kimberly Akimbo | rowspan=2|Kimberly Levaco | Off-Broadway |
| 2022
| Broadway |
| 2025
|Director |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Award !Category !Nominated work !Result |
| rowspan="4" |2005
| rowspan="4" |The Light in the Piazza |{{won}} |
| Drama Desk Award
|Outstanding Actress in a Musical |{{won}} |
| Outer Critics Circle Award
|Outstanding Actress in a Musical |{{won}} |
| Drama League Award
|Distinguished Performance |{{nom}} |
| 2010
|Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play |{{nom}} |
| rowspan="4" |2011
|Best Featured Actress in a Musical | rowspan="4" |Sister Act |{{nom}} |
| Drama Desk Award
|Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical |{{nom}} |
| Outer Critics Circle Award
|Outstanding Actress in a Musical |{{nom}} |
| Drama League Award
|Distinguished Performance |{{nom}} |
| rowspan="2" |2013
|Best Featured Actress in a Musical |rowspan="2" |Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella |{{nom}} |
| Outer Critics Circle Award
|Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical |{{nom}} |
| rowspan="2" |2015
|Best Featured Actress in a Musical |rowspan="2" |Gigi |{{nom}} |
| Outer Critics Circle Award
|Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical |{{nom}} |
| rowspan="4" |2022
|Outstanding Actress in a Musical | rowspan="7" |Kimberly Akimbo |{{nom}} |
| Lucille Lortel Awards
|Outstanding Leading Performer in a Musical |{{won}} |
| Outer Critics Circle Award
|Outstanding Actress in a Musical |{{won}} |
| Drama League Award
|Distinguished Performance |{{nom}} |
| rowspan="2" |2023
|{{won}} |
| Dorian Award
|Outstanding Lead Performance in a Broadway Musical |{{won}} |
| 2024
|{{nom}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|164594}}
- {{IBDB name}}
- {{iobdb name|36464}}
- [http://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Victoria-Clark/ Broadway World's profile of Clark]
- [http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=510748 Excerpts from reviews by the major NYC newspapers]
- [http://www.curtainup.com/lightinthepiazza.html Curtainup review of Clark's performance]
- [https://soundcloud.com/american-theatre-wing/episode-55 Victoria Clark] – Downstage Center interview at American Theatre Wing.org
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070423055643/http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/interactive/video/index.html#c TonyAwards.com Interview with Victoria Clark]
- [http://newyork.timeout.com/arts-culture/theater/28465/sympathy-for-the-devils Time Out New York Interview with Victoria Clark]
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards for Victoria Clark
| list =
{{DramaDesk MusicalOutstandingActress 2001-2025}}
{{TonyAward MusicalLeadActress 2001–2025}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Victoria}}
Category:American women singers
Category:American musical theatre actresses
Category:Drama Desk Award winners
Category:Traditional pop music singers
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:Actresses from Dallas
Category:Yale University alumni
Category:Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development alumni
Category:American film actresses
Category:American television actresses