Birth Place: Queens, NY, USA
Award winning actress-singer Donna Murphy has been building a career of striking range and diversity in the theater and on the large and small screens. This "seductive actress of major transformative powers" (New York Times) has impressed both critics and audiences with her depth and skill.
Ms. Murphy received the first of two Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical, along with the Drama Desk and Drama League Awards, for her spellbinding creation of Fosca in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Passion, garnering critical acclaim when it was broadcast on PBS's American Playhouse. She was awarded her second Tony and Drama League Awards, as well as Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for her elegant and distinctive performance as Anna Leonowans in the 1996 Tony Award winning revival of The King and I.
In 2004, she was honored with the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Astaire Awards, the Drama League Outstanding Achievement Award for her work in Musical Theater, as well as another Tony nomination, for her hilarious tour de force as Ruth Sherwood in the Broadway Revival of Wonderful Town, a role she originated at City Center's Encores! Series.
In 2007 she returned to Broadway at Manhattan Theater Club's Biltmore Theater as the legendary actress-singer Lotte Lenya, in the world premiere of LoveMusik, directed by Harold Prince. She received her third Drama Desk Award, and second Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical, as well as a Drama League Award and a Tony nomination for this mesmerizing performance. Earlier that season Murphy received raves for her portrayal of Phyllis Stone in City Center's Encores!' production of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's Follies.
Ms. Murphy studied with the legendary Stella Adler, and at the Lee Strasberg Institute, and attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She made her professional debut, after being cast from an open call, in Neil Simon's hit They're Playing Our Song, and went on to create memorable characters in comedies, dramas, and musicals on and off-Broadway, and in theaters across the country. These credits include Edwin Drood in the Broadway production of Rupert Holmes Drood, James Lapine's Twelve Dreams, and Michael John LaChiusa's Hello Again at Lincoln Center Theater (Drama Desk nominations), Song of Singapore (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle nominations), Peter Nichol's Privates of Parade at the Roundabout Theater Co., Strindberg's Miss Julie (McCarter Theater), and the title character of Tony Kushner's production of Ellen MacLaughlin's Helen, for the New York Shakespeare Festival (Drama League Award). She also starred in the World Premiere of Pamela's First Musical, by Wendy Wasserstein, Cy Coleman and David Zippel, at Town Hall, benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids and Theater Development Fund's OPEN DOORS Program. Ms. Murphy's most recent Broadway role was Dolly Levi in the 2017 revival of Hello Dolly.
Ms. Murphy's film credits include: Tangled, The Nanny Diaries, World Trade Center, The Fountain, Spiderman 2, The Door in the Floor, Center Stage, Star Trek: Insurrection, The Astronaut's Wife, and Jade .
Ms. Murphy's first television film, HBO's Someone Had to be Benny, earned her a Cable Ace Award as Best Actress in a Drama Special or Series, as well as a Daytime Emmy. Other TV work includes : TNT's Trust Me, ABC's What About Joan, Showtime's political drama The Last Debate , Mary Todd Lincoln in The Day Lincoln Was Shot (TNT), Francesca Cross on Stephen Bochco's Murder One (ABC), Leonard Bernstein's New York and Abigail Adams in Liberty! for PBS, the 2000 and 2002 Kennedy Center Honors (CBS) and guest appearances on Ugly Betty, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order SVU, Damages, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, CSI, Law & Order, The Practice, Ally McBeal.
A versatile singer, she can be heard on a number of recordings including Lovemusik (Ghostlight), Wall to Wall Sondheim (Symphony Space), Wonderful Town (DRG), Leonard Bernstein's New York (Nonesuch), Hello Again (RCA Victor), The King and I (Varese Sarabande) and the Grammy Award winning Passion (Angel). For her contribution to the Arts, Culture and Public life, she's received special honors from New York Magazine, Symphony Space, Greenwich Village's Caring Community, the Women's Project, The Little Orchestra Society, Irish America Magazine, the Breukelein Institute and Emerson College.
Ms. Murphy donates her time and efforts to a number of organizations, including the Worldwide Orphan's Foundation, the All Stars Project providing Arts education and programs for inner city youth, Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS, and The Actors Fund.
From: Photo Coverage: INTO THE WOODS Opening Night Curtain Call!
From: Photo Coverage: INTO THE WOODS Opening Night Curtain Call!
From: Photo Coverage: INTO THE WOODS Opening Night Curtain Call!
From: Photo Coverage: INTO THE WOODS Opening Night Curtain Call!
From: Photo Flash: First Look at INTO THE WOODS in Central Park; Extended Through 9/1!
From: Photo Flash: First Look at INTO THE WOODS in Central Park; Extended Through 9/1!
From: Photo Flash: First Look at INTO THE WOODS in Central Park; Extended Through 9/1!
From: Photo Flash: First Look at INTO THE WOODS in Central Park; Extended Through 9/1!
From: Photo Flash: First Look at INTO THE WOODS in Central Park; Extended Through 9/1!
From: Photo Coverage: THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE Gypsy Robe Ceremony
From: Photo Coverage: THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE Cast Meets the Press!
From: Photo Coverage: THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE Cast Meets the Press!
From: Photo Flash: Schoenfeld Vision for Arts in Education Benefit
Donna MurphyInto The Woods
Donna MurphyInto The Woods
Donna Murphy, The People in the Picture
Donna Murphy, The People in the Picture
Donna Murphy, The People in the Picture
Donna Murphy, LoveMusik
Donna Murphy, LoveMusik
Donna Murphy, LoveMusik
Donna Murphy, Wonderful Town
Donna Murphy
Donna Murphy, Wonderful Town
Donna Murphy, Wonderful Town
Donna Murphy, The King and I
Donna Murphy, The King and I
Donna Murphy, Passion
Donna Murphy, Passion
Donna Murphy, Hello Again
Donna Murphy , Song of Singapore
Donna Murphy, Song of Singapore
Pittsburgh CLO has unveiled the Creative Teams for the 2024 Summer of Musicals. See the productions and learn how to purchase tickets.
Follies, featuring an all-star cast of Tony Award winners and nominees, will be the tenth presentation in the Transport Group's Anne L. Bernstein Concert Series—for one night only—at Carnegie Hall. Learn how to purchase tickets.
Imelda Staunton has confirmed that a final Downton Abbey film is in the works. Written by Julian Fellowes – who wrote the book for musicals like Mary Poppins and School of Rock – Downton Abbey has starred Harry Hadden-Paton, Elizabeth McGovern, Brendan Coyle, Dan Stevens, Maggie Smith, Dominic West, and more.
Soho Rep’s 2024 Spring Fête will honor Berwin Lee Brown New York / London Playwrights. The evening also celebrates Raja Feather Kelly. Learn more about the event!
Carrie Coon, who has won audiences with her portrayal of Bertha Russell on HBO's The Gilded Age, wants to see the hit drama come to Broadway as a musical! Watch the video.
The Green Room 42 will present Nicole Parker, currently playing Celine Dion in the Off-Broadway hit Titaníque, as Jillane Jenkins in “Suitcase Full of Lies”. Learn more about the performance and see how to purchase tickets.
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is March 7, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
BroadwayWorld is saddened to report the passing of veteran stage actor Linda Balgord. Following the news of her passing, the Broadway community has come together to share memories of Linda Balgord's life & career.
A developmental workshop of Tangled is underway, with Disney Theatrical exploring a stage version of the 2010 animated film.
Swimming in Jerusalem: A Modern Musical Parable will be presented in a concert format for five free public performances at off-Broadway's Theater555. Learn how to purchase tickets.
In this video, watch as we take you to the opening night red carpet for Days of Wine and Roses with special guests Vanessa Williams, Donna Murphy, Victoria Clark, Bernadette Peters, and more!
See photos of VIP guests at opening night of Days of Wine and Roses!
Swimming in Jerusalem: A Modern Musical Parable, exploring relationships among citizens of Israel as presented through the complex experiences of teenage swimmers in a YMCA swim club in Jerusalem, will be presented in a concert format for five free public performances at off-Broadway's Theater555.
PEAK Performances at Montclair State University is producing two opera-in-concert performances of Blind Injustice, composed by Montclair State University College of the Arts faculty member Scott Davenport Richards (A Star Across the Ocean, Charlie Crosses the Nation) with a libretto by David Cote (Three Way, The Scarlet Ibis).
BroadwayWorld was on the red carpet for opening night of Prayer for the French Republic to chat with special guests including Mare Winningham, LaChanze, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Donna Murphy, and more! Watch all of the interview in this video.
Join Richard Skipper and Lee Roy Reams as they celebrate the 60th anniversary of the beloved musical Hello Dolly!
The Manhattan Theatre Club production of Prayer for the French Republic has officially opened on Broadway! The play opened last night, January 9, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. BroadwayWorld is taking you on the red carpet at the production's opening with Donna Murphy, Tyne Daly, LaChanze and more. Check out photos below!
This morning, nominees for the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® honoring outstanding individual, cast and ensemble performances for the past year were announced. Check out the full list of nominations, which include Danielle Brooks, Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Hannah Waddingham, the cast of The Gilded Age, and more.
In 2024, the Stella Adler Studio of Acting celebrates its 75th Anniversary, commemorating a legacy of inspiring generations of actors dedicated to the pursuit of artistic excellence and uplifting humanity.
Past Tony winners Anika Noni Rose and Matthew Broderick announced the 2011 Tony Awards nominees live from the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in New York City.
Donna Murphy has appeared on Broadway in 11 shows.
Donna Murphy has not appeared in the West End.
Donna Murphy has been nominated for several awards throughout her career, including Outstanding Actress in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for "Into The Woods," Distinguished Performance Award at the Drama League Awards for "Into The Woods," and Outstanding Actress in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for "The People in the Picture." She has also received nominations for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for "The People in the Picture," "LoveMusik," "Wonderful Town," "The King and I," and "Passion." Additionally, she was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for "Hello Again" and won the Best Actress in a Musical award at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Song of Singapore."
Donna Murphy has won several awards throughout her career, including Outstanding Actress in a Musical from the Drama Desk Awards for LoveMusik, Outstanding Actress in a Musical from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for LoveMusik, Outstanding Actress - Musical from the Drama Desk Awards for Wonderful Town, Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre from the Drama League Awards, Outstanding Actress in a Musical from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Wonderful Town, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical from the Tony Awards for The King and I, Outstanding Actress - Musical from the Drama Desk Awards for Passion, and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical from the Tony Awards for Passion.
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