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Stephanie Janette Block (born September 19, 1972) is an American actress and singer, known for her work in Broadway musicals. A Tony Award nominee and four-time Drama Desk Award nominee, she has appeared on numerous cast recordings and released a solo album, ''This Place I Know'' in 2009. Her vocal range is mezzo-soprano.〔http://ridgefield.patch.com/announcements/rso-brings-broadway-by-request-to-high-school-saturday〕 Block began her professional musical career in regional theatre and by playing Belle in the Disneyland production of ''Beauty and the Beast'' in 1992. She made her Broadway debut in the 2003 original production of ''The Boy from Oz'', playing Liza Minnelli. Having read the part of Elphaba in the first reading of ''Wicked'' in 2000, she was the first actress to play the role in the US touring production from 2005–06, winning the Helen Hayes Award for Best Actress in a Non-Resident production. She later reprised the role on Broadway from 2007-08. She received Drama Desk nominations for the Broadway productions of ''9 to 5'' (2009) and ''The Mystery of Edwin Drood'' (2012), and the Off-Broadway productions of ''By the Way, Meet Vera Stark'' (2011) and ''Little Miss Sunshine'' (2013). For ''Drood'', she also received a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. ==Career== Block started her professional musical theater career with regional theater, appearing in many productions including ''Funny Girl'', ''Crazy for You'', ''Oliver!'', ''James Joyce's The Dead'' and ''Bells Are Ringing''. Block was additionally the original Belle in the Disneyland production of ''Beauty and the Beast'' and did voice work for numerous commercials, including the singing voice of Barbie. In early 2000 Block read the part of Elphaba in the first reading of the new musical ''Wicked''. After a few months of reading she was replaced by Idina Menzel, a decision that left Block devastated, but accepting of the decision that had been made to cast a more experienced performer in the role. She was Menzel's understudy in the San Francisco world premiere in 2003, but left the show prior to opening on Broadway when she was offered a lead role in a new Broadway musical based on the life of Peter Allen, ''The Boy from Oz''. Block debuted on Broadway in 2003, playing the role of Liza Minnelli opposite Hugh Jackman's Peter Allen in the show. The show received mixed reviews, but proved to be a hit with audiences playing on Broadway for close to a year. The musical received several Tony Award nominations, including a nomination for Best Musical.〔http://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/news/2004-05-10-tony-nods_x.htm〕 In spring 2005, Block originated the role of Elphaba in the first national tour of ''Wicked''. She was awarded both the 2006 Helen Hayes Award and the 2007 Carbonell Award for Best Actress in a Non-Resident Production for this role. Block received great reviews for a show-stopping performance. After performing with the tour for a year Block left the production in March 2006 and was replaced by Julia Murney. In 2007 Block was seen in the title role of the new Broadway musical ''The Pirate Queen''. The music was written by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil. Block was praised by critics, such as Ben Brantley from The New York Times, for giving a "truly felt, realistic, performance". She also received a nomination for a Drama League Award for her performance. Plagued by insufficient ticket sales and harsh reviews, the show opened in April and barely played for two months at the Hilton Theatre, closing in June.〔(Broadway's Pirate Queen Rolls Up Her Sails June 17 ) Retrieved June 9, 2014〕 Later that year Block reprised the role of Elphaba in ''Wicked'' on Broadway beginning October 9, 2007 where she replaced Julia Murney. She left the production after eight months on June 15, 2008 and was succeeded by Kerry Ellis.〔(Ellis Makes Broadway Debut in Wicked June 17; Houdyshell Returns ) Retrieved June 9, 2014〕 Block starred alongside Allison Janney, Megan Hilty, and Marc Kudisch in the new musical adaptation of the 1980 film ''9 to 5''. The production was directed by Joe Mantello, with music written by Dolly Parton. The show opened on Broadway in April 2009 at the Marquis Theatre and closed in September 2009. Block starred as Judy Bernly, the frazzled divorcée, the role played by Jane Fonda in the film. For this role Block was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical.〔(Drama Desk Nominees Announced; 9 to 5 Garners Record-Breaking 15 Noms ) Retrieved April 29, 2013〕 In 2009, Block released her debut album through PS Classics entitled ''This Place I Know''. Although the album failed to chart, it was a hit with critics with some hailing it as the best album that has come out of the Broadway community in some time.〔() BWW's Mid-Summer CD Review Roundup Special!, August 8, 2009〕 More recently she has done concert work in London's several West End. In February 2010 she performed live at the New Players Theatre, London.〔Hetrick, Adam.("9 to 5's Block to Offer London Concerts in 2010" ) playbill.com, December 24, 2009〕 Block was seen as Grizabella in the Municipal Opera Production production of ''Cats'', which ran from July 19–25, 2010.〔(2010 Muny Season To Feature Gary Beach, Stephanie J. Block, et al. )〕 Block also starred as Sonia Walsk alongside Jason Alexander in the Reprise Theatre Company's production of ''They're Playing Our Song'', which played at the UCLA Freud Playhouse for two weeks from September 28–October 10, 2010.〔("Stephanie J. Block Will Join Jason Alexander for Reprise Song; New Tune Added" ), playbill.com〕 Block made her off-Broadway debut as Gloria Mitchell in the play ''By the Way, Meet Vera Stark'' by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage alongside Karen Olivo, and David Garrison. ''By the Way, Meet Vera Stark'' played at Second Stage Theatre through June 12, 2011.〔(Stephanie J. Block, Karen Olivo and Daniel Breaker Cast in Second Stage's Meet Vera Stark )〕〔(By the Way, Meet Vera Stark Gets Extra Two Weeks in NYC )〕 ''Entertainment Weekly'' wrote that Block's performance in the show was, "terrifically over-the-top".〔(Stage Review By the Way, Meet Vera Stark )〕 She received a nomination for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play.〔(Drama Desk Nominations Announced; Death Takes a Holiday and Follies Lead the Pack )〕 Block starred as Reno Sweeney in the Broadway revival of ''Anything Goes'' first playing the role for three weeks in November 2011 while Sutton Foster was away filming a pilot episode.〔(Sutton Foster Takes ANYTHING GOES Hiatus in Nov. for TV Pilot; Stephanie J. Block Steps in )〕〔("Stephanie J. Block Will Fill in for Sutton Foster in Broadway's Anything Goes Starting Nov. 4" ), playbill.com〕 Block performed with co-star Colin Donnell on the 2011 CBS Thanksgiving Day Parade.〔(Stephanie J. Block & ANYTHING GOES to Perform at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade )〕 Block returned to the role on March 15, 2012 as Foster left the production permanently on March 11.〔(She's 'De-Lovely' and She's Coming Back! Stephanie J. Block to Return to ANYTHING GOES March 15th )〕 She remained with the show until its closure on July 8, 2012.〔Hetrick, Adam and Jones, Kenneth. ("Tony-Winning Revival of ''Anything Goes'', With Stephanie J. Block and Joel Grey, Sails Into the Sunset July 8" ) playbill.com, July 8, 2012〕 Block performed the lead role in Roundabout Theatre Company's production of ''The Mystery of Edwin Drood'', which ran from November 13, 2012 to March 10, 2013. For this role, she was nominated for another Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical and received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.〔(Nominations Announced for 58th Annual Drama Desk Awards; Giant and Hands on a Hardbody Lead the Pack ) Retrieved April 29, 2013〕〔("Nominations Announced for 67th Annual Tony Awards; Kinky Boots Earns 13 Nominations" ); retrieved April 30, 2013.〕 From November 14 to December 15, 2013, Block appeared in the Off-Broadway production of ''Little Miss Sunshine'' at Second Stage Theatre as Sheryl Hoover.〔(Hannah Rose Nordberg, Will Swenson and Stephanie J. Block Hit the Road in Little Miss Sunshine, Opening Off-Broadway Nov. 14 ) Retrieved December 19, 2013〕 For this role, she received a nomination for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical.〔(2014 Drama Desk Award Nominations - GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE Leads with 12; Followed by BRIDGES, FUN HOME, ALADDIN, ROCKY & More ) broadwayworld, retrieved April 25, 2014〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Stephanie J. Block」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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