BWW Profile: Jane Krakowski, Tony-Winning, Emmy-Nominated Star of Stage and Screen

Listen up, fives. A ten is nominated at this year's Emmy Awards. Yes, that's right. Tony-winning Broadway superstar Jane Krakowski, previously Emmy-nominated for her work on 30 ROCK, will once again go for Emmy gold on Sunday, September 20th. This time around, she's nominated for her hilarious portrayal of Jacqueline Voorhees on Netflix's UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT.

But although Ms. Jane's been around the TV circuit in more recent years, and has even had a few memorable film turns throughout her career (those of us who are old enough remember that "Daddy says [she's] the best"), as the diehard fans have always known, she's a Broadway baby at heart.

Krakowski first broke into the scene as Dinah the Dining Car in STARLIGHT EXPRESS, after which she enjoyed a short run as Flaemmchen ("that girl in the mirror [who] wants to go to Hollywood") in the original cast of GRAND HOTEL - directed by Tommy Tune, no less - and received her first Tony Award nomination.

This performance was followed by a host of Main Stem appearances throughout the 1990s, including turns in COMPANY, TARTUFFE, and ONCE UPON A MATTRESS. After a stint in the TV world as Elaine Vassal on the FOX sitcom, ALLY MCBEAL, she made a big Broadway return as Carla in the 2003 revival of NINE, for which she won that aforementioned Tony.

And though she's appeared as a presenter at various Tony Award ceremonies in recent years (2004, 2007 and 2013, to be exact), Krakowski has essentially been away from Broadway in earnest for the better part of the last decade. But worry not, my friends: lucky for us, she's returning to the Main Stem this March (yes, this March - in like, six months) as Ilona in Roundabout Theatre Company's She Loves Me, alongside Laura Benanti and the newly announced Zachary Levi. Huzzah!

So, what has she been doing in her 12-year Broadway break? Or should I ask... what hasn't she been doing?

She sure hasn't been short of work, dazzling audiences with her acting chops on stages and screens around the world. After leaving NINE, she traveled to the West End, where she appeared as in the 2005 revival of GUYS AND DOLLS. For this performance, Jane won an Olivier Award. In 2006, she began her seven-year run as Jenna Maroney in NBC's 30 ROCK, which earned her, as mentioned earlier, numerous Emmy nominations and a SAG Award, shared with her cast.

Krakowski briefly returned to the New York stage in the summer of 2008, where she appeared as Lola in Encores' DAMN YANKEES, opposite Broadway's Sean Hayes and Cheyenne Jackson. Subsequently, she performed as the title character in a reading of Ryan Scott Oliver's MRS. SHARP, held at Playwrights Horizons in 2009.

Television-ly speaking, in addition to her current work on UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT, Ms. Jane has also enjoyed recent guest spots on ABC's MODERN FAMILY and TV Land's Sutton Foster-led YOUNGER. Keen-eyed fans may also recognize her as the face of Tropicana Trop50.

But again, us Broadway buffs will be waiting anxiously for March 3, 2016, when Krakowski makes her big return to the Great White Way. Of course, we're also keeping our fingers crossed next Sunday for an Emmy win in the - very! - strong and competitive category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (which, should be noted, for the sake of Broadway, also includes stage vets Allison Janney and Anna Chlumsky).

Tune in to FOX at 8pm EST to see what happens!

In the meantime, relive a highlight in Jane's stage career: see a clip of her Tony acceptance speech back in 2003 (presented to her by Broadway alum Joey Fatone), followed by a clip from that year's Tonys, featuring Jane in action, performing the role that gained her that very award (she appears at :15!). And, to whet your appetite for the Emmys, below that is a short interview, featuring a clip from KIMMY SCHMIDT, wherein Jane talks with the TODAY crew about her journey as Jacqueline, working for Netflix, and her time on the hit show, followed by a short-but-sweet monologue from the show, which Krakowski's Jacqueline delivers to Carol Kane (also a Broadway alum)'s Lillian, before the two embark on a road trip to help the series' titular character. Yeah... you just gotta watch it for yourself.

Will you be cheering on Jane Krakowski during Sunday's Emmy telecast? Stick with BWW TV all week for in-depth Emmy coverage, features, predictions, and results. Let me know your thoughts on Krakowski's nomination and on the Emmys in general, either in the comments below, or on Twitter, using the hashtag #BWWEmmys.

The 67th Primetime Emmy Awards telecast will air live coast-to-coast on Sunday, September 20th (8 PM ET/5 PM PT) on FOX from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Make BroadwayWorld your home for live coverage at BWW TV and on Twitter @BWWTVWorld.

Photo Credit: Netflix

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