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Kate Wetherhead

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Kate Wetherhead
Born
Burlington, Vermont, United States[1]
Alma materWesleyan University (BA)
Circle in the Square Theatre School
Occupation(s)Actress, singer, writer, director, television producer
Years active2002–present
Notable workSubmissions Only
Legally Blonde The Musical
SpouseJeff Croiter

Kate Wetherhead is an American actress, writer and director known for her work on Submissions Only, Legally Blonde, and the Jack and Louisa book series.

Early life and education

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Kate was born in Burlington, Vermont, to Christine and Arnold Wetherhead. She began acting at age six and writing at seven. Wetherhead found her love for theatre after seeing a local production of West Side Story. She appeared in several shows at the University of Vermont, including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Miracle Worker. She has a bachelor's degree in English from Wesleyan University and trained as an actor at Circle in the Square Theatre School.

Career

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Wetherhead began her career in children's theatre, appearing off-Broadway in Sarah, Plain and Tall, Tatjana in Color, Summer of the Swans, and Cam Jansen, as well as touring with A Christmas Carol. She made her Broadway debut in 2005 as the understudy for Olive Ostrovsky, Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, and Marcy Park in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She left the show to originate the roles of Kate and Chutney in the Broadway production of Legally Blonde. She left Legally Blonde in 2008, performing regionally in such shows as Steel Magnolias and Almost, Maine. In 2009 she starred as Deb in Ordinary Days by Adam Gwon for Roundabout Theatre Company.

In 2010, she met Andrew Keenan-Bolger in a regional production of It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman, and, after collaborating on a behind-the-scenes video for the production, they decided to make a web series together. The two created the show Submissions Only, with Wetherhead writing and directing as well as playing the protagonist, Penny Reilly. In 2012, she returned to Off-Broadway in The Other Josh Cohen, for which she received a Drama Desk Award nomination. Submissions Only ended its third and final season in 2014. From 2013 to 2016, Wetherhead and Keenan-Bolger co-wrote the three-part children's book series Jack & Louisa, published by Penguin Group. The two also have a feature film in development with Sycamore Pictures.

In 2018, Wetherhead made her theatrical directorial debut at Bucks County Playhouse, directing Cinderella for the youth company. She has since directed Shrek The Musical (Jr.) for the playhouse, along with developmental readings and workshops for New York University and Michigan State University. In March 2021 it was announced that Wetherhead, with Paul Rudnick, would co-write a musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada.[2] The musical premiered in Chicago in July 2022.[3] The Devil Wears Prada will open in October 2024 at the Dominion Theatre with a score by Elton John, lyrics by Shaina Taub (Suffs), a book by Kate Wetherhead, and direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde, Hairspray).[4]

Personal life

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Wetherhead is married to lighting designer Jeff Croiter.[5]

Theatre

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Year Show Role Notes Ref.
2001 A Christmas Carol Ensemble TheatreWorksUSA
2002 Sarah, Plain and Tall Anna Lucille Lortel Theatre
The Spitfire Grill Percy Skylight Opera Theatre
2003 Summer of the Swans Sara Lucille Lortel Theatre
Tatjana in Color Tatjana The Culture Project
2004 Cam Jansen and the Curse of the Emerald Elephant Cam Jansen The Lamb's Theatre
2005 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Understudy for Olive Ostrovsky, Marcy Park, and Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre Broadway, 2005–2006 [6]
2006 Sarah, Plain and Tall Anna Off-Broadway
Dear Edwina Edwina Spoonapple Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
2007 Legally Blonde Chutney/Kate Broadway, April 3, 2007 – February 25, 2008 [6]
2008 Almost, Maine Various St. Michael's Playhouse, July 2008
Steel Magnolias Annelle Paper Mill Playhouse [7]
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas Jane Goodspeed Musicals, December 7, 2008 – January 4, 2009
2009 Ordinary Days Deb Roundabout Theatre Company
2010 James and the Giant Peach Spider Goodspeed Musicals
It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman Blackbird/Clark's Kryptonian Mother Dallas Theater Center [8]
2011 Cabaret Sally Bowles Dallas Theater Center, April 22 – May 22, 2011
2012 The Other Josh Cohen A Lot of People Off-Broadway, October 10 – November 11, 2012 [9]
2013 Clever Little Lies Jane George Street Playhouse, November 19 – December 22, 2013
2014 The Other Josh Cohen A Lot of People Paper Mill Playhouse, February 19 – March 15, 2014 [10]
The Heidi Chronicles Heidi Holland Guthrie Theatre
2015 Company Amy Bucks County Playhouse
2015 Clever Little Lies Jane Westside Theatre, October 13, 2015 – March 20, 2016 [11]
2016 God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater Company Encores! Off-Center, July 27–30, 2016 [12]
2017 Ebenezer Scrooge's Big Playhouse Christmas Show Woman 1 New Hope Playhouse
2017 Hurricane Diane Beth Two River Theater
2018 The Other Josh Cohen A Lot of People Westside Theatre [13]
2019 Hurricane Diane Beth New York Theatre Workshop
2020 Your Best One Laura Capital Repertory Theatre
2024 Burlesque None Additional playwright

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2007 Legally Blonde: The Musical Kate/Chutney Filmed stage production
2010–2014 Submissions Only Penny Reilly 22 episodes; also producer, writer, and director
2012 The Big C Mousse Girl Episode: "Bundle of Joy"
2015 Serial: The TV Show Sarah Koenig Short; also writer and director
2016 The Ceiling Fan Woman Short; also writer and director
2017 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Polly Episode: "The Disappointment of the Dionne Quintuplets"
2018 Awkwardly (TV Series) Mary 2 episode; also director

Bibliography

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Release Title Notes
Feb. 2015 Jack and Louisa: Act 1 with Andrew Keenan-Bolger
Feb. 2016 Jack and Louisa: Act 2
Feb. 2017 Jack and Louisa: Act 3

Concerts

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Year Title Notes
2014 Submissions Only Live at 54 Below Sang in "More of You", "Steal Away", "Uh Oh", "I Got a Reading", "Where I'm Supposed to Be", and "Nobody Does Mean Like Me"; also introduced "Chin in My Hands" and "Why Must the Show Go On"

Discography

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Year Title Notes
2006 Finding Nemo – The Musical Nemo
2007 Legally Blonde: The Musical (original Broadway cast recording) Featured vocals
2010 Ordinary Days (original cast recording) Sang multiple solos, including "Don't Want To Be Here"
2015 Submissions Only (Original Soundtrack) Sang "Where I'm Supposed to Be"
2017 God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater Company

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominee Result
2007 Actors' Equity Association Award Outstanding Broadway Chorus Legally Blonde Won
2013 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical The Other Josh Cohen Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Kate Wetherhead". Playbill.
  2. ^ Thomas, Sophie (March 22, 2021). "Kate Wetherhead to co-write 'The Devil Wears Prada' musical". New York Theater Guide. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  3. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (July 19, 2022). "The Devil Wears Prada Stage Musical Begins World Premiere in Chicago July 19". Playbill. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  4. ^ "The Devil Wears Prada to open in the West End - News". September 13, 2023.
  5. ^ "Photos! Celebrate the 40th Birthday of A Chorus Line Under the Stars at the 2014 Public Theater Gala". Broadway.com.
  6. ^ a b Gioia, Michael (September 30, 2013). "Broadway on the Web: Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Wetherhead Take Submissions Only in Theatrical Web Series". Playbill. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  7. ^ "'Steel Magnolias' at Paper Mill to Star Bishop, Fowler, Wetherhead". BroadwayWorld. February 5, 2008. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  8. ^ Leydon, Joe (June 28, 2010). "It's a Bird … It's a Plane … It's Superman!". Variety. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  9. ^ "The Other Josh Cohen Original Off-Broadway Musical Cast 2012". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  10. ^ Rendell, Bob (February 26, 2014). "New Jersey - 'The Other Josh Cohen'". Talkin' Broadway. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  11. ^ "About". Clever Little Lies. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  12. ^ "God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater". New York City Center. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  13. ^ "Kate Wetherhead Gives Us a Glimpse at the 15 Different Characters She Plays in the Lovable Off-Broadway Musical The Other Josh Cohen". BroadwayBox. December 13, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
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