Birth Place: Queens, NY, USA
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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
[1995]Jade Karen Heller
[1998]Star Trek: Insurrection Anij
[1998]22-Oct Carole
[1999]The Astronaut's Wife Natalie Streck
[2000]Center Stage Juliette
[2004]Spider-Man 2 Rosalie Octavius
[2004]The Door in the Floor Frame Shop Owner
[2006]The Fountain Betty
[2006]World Trade Center Judy Jon
[2006]Ira & Abby Dr. Betsy Goldman
[2007]The Nanny Diaries Judy Braddock
[2008]Sherman's Way Evelyn Black
[2010]Tangled Mother Gothel
[2011]Higher Ground Kathleen Walker
[2011]Dark Horse Marie
[2012]The Bourne Legacy Dita Mandy
[2016]No Pay, Nudity Pearl
[2020]Anastasia Yara the Enchantress
Hack Heather Olshansky
Law & Order Carla Tyrell, Karen Unger
Mercy Street Jane Green
Murder One Francesca Cross
Power Lorette Walsh
Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure Gothel, Mother Gothel
Resurrection The Elegant Woman, Angela
What About Joan Dr. Ruby Stern
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, 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
You Gotta Believe (YGB), a New York City-based, national organization that focuses exclusively on finding permanent parents and families for older kids in foster care, hosted its 9th annual Voices: Stars for Foster Kids benefit concert at Town Hall in NYC, on Monday, September 18th. Check out photos from the event here!
The Public Theater's special, one-night-only event, A BRIEF INTERMISSION, was held on Wednesday, September 6 at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park. BroadwayWorld was there and you can check out photos here!
Get the latest on the star-studded lineup coming together to honor Betty Buckley at the American Songbook Association event. Find out when and where this exciting tribute will take place. Don't miss the chance to see Sandra Bernhard, Donna Murphy, Jennifer Simard, and more pay homage to a musical legend.
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is August 24, 2023 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
The season will feature Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Morgan Spector, Denée Benton, Michael Cerveris, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Debra Monk, Donna Murphy, Kristine Nielsen, Kelli O’Hara, Patrick Page, Taylor Richardson, Douglas Sills, Nathan Lane, Audra McDonald, Ashlie Atkinson, and Laura Benanti. Watch the teaser video now!
Find out the latest news from Playwrights Horizons as they announce new commissions from acclaimed playwrights Jordan E. Cooper and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Discover what these talented writers have in store for audiences at Playwrights Horizons and get ready to be captivated by their upcoming productions.
One by one, the cast of the gala honoring Betty Buckley has grown more and more starry.
Here Lies Love, the new musical from David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, officially opens tonight at the Broadway Theatre. Read the reviews!
BROADWAY BARKS has revealed the full roster of participants for the 25th annual dog and cat adoption event.
Check out photos from opening night of Hamlet at Free Shakespeare in the Park!
Goldie Dver will play her new show BRIDGES at Don't Tell Mama with special guest Tanya Moberly for three dates in June.
Second Stage Theater's production of Larissa FastHorse's play, The Thanksgiving Play, directed by Tony Award-winner Rachel Chavkin, opened Thursday, April 20, at Second Stage's Hayes Theater (240 West 44th Street). BroadwayWorld was there and you can check out photos of stars arriving on the red carpet here!
'Come Celebrate With Marilyn Maye' April 8 - 10th (and continued the last week in May). Marilyn Maye followed her sold out Carnegie Hall Concert by celebrating her 95th birthday with a sold out run of shows at 54 Below. Featuring musical trio Tedd Firth, Tom Hubbard, and Mark McLean.
From the moment she appeared in the audience singing “One Night Only from Dreamgirls, sliding down a banister like a wacky Mame, you knew you were in for a comedic master class. She is an excellent mimic, a powerhouse singer, and in the end a sensitive and truthful actor. She is living proof of Elaine Stritch’s maxim, “To play comedy you have to be real.” Jennifer Simard is absolutely the real deal.
Julian Lerner has joined the cast of New York City Center production of Oliver! as The Artful Dodger.
New York City Center has announced the Ann Reinking Encores! Choreography Fellowship, launching as part of the upcoming 2023 – 2024 season.
New York City Center Encores! presents Dear World, which features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, running through March 19, 2023. This madcap romp is directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, who helmed Herman's Mack & Mabel (2019 Encores!), with new Encores! Music Director Mary-Mitchell Campbell leading The Encores! Orchestra. Read reviews for the production!
New York City Center Encores! is presenting Dear World, which features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. Check out video highlights here!
Top stories: Andrew Lloyd Webber teases Broadway return for The Phantom of the Opera, Merrily We Roll Along sets Broadway dates, Parade photos, and more!
Get a first look at photos and video of Dear World at New York City Center Encores!
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. She has been nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for her performances in "Into The Woods," "The People in the Picture," "LoveMusik," "Wonderful Town," "The King and I," and "Passion." She has also received a Distinguished Performance Award at the Drama League Awards for "Into The Woods" and a Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre. Additionally, Murphy has been nominated 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." She has received nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "The People in the Picture," "LoveMusik," and "Wonderful Town." Furthermore, Murphy has been nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for "Hello Again." She has also been nominated for Best Actress in a Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Song of Singapore" and has received an Outstanding Actress in a Musical nomination at the Drama Desk Awards for the same production.
Donna Murphy has won several awards for her performances in various Broadway shows. She won the Outstanding Actress in a Musical award (tie) at the Drama Desk Awards for LoveMusik, as well as the Outstanding Actress in a Musical award at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for the same show. Murphy also won the Outstanding Actress - Musical award at the Drama Desk Awards for Wonderful Town and received the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre award at the Drama League Awards. Additionally, she won the Outstanding Actress in a Musical award at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Wonderful Town. Murphy's performance in The King and I earned her the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical award at the Tony Awards. She also won the Outstanding Actress - Musical award at the Drama Desk Awards for Passion and received another Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical award at the Tony Awards for her performance in Passion.
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