American musical theatre actor (born 1976)
KO
|
---|
KO in 2009
|
Born
| (
1976-08-07
)
August 7, 1976
(age 47)
New York City, U.S.
|
---|
Education
| University of Cincinnati
(
BFA
)
|
---|
Occupation(s)
| Actor, theatre educator, singer
|
---|
Years active
| 1997?present
|
---|
Spouses
|
(
m.
2006;
div.
2012)
James Uphoff
(
m.
2014)
|
---|
KO
,
[1]
formerly known as
Karen Olivo
, (born August 7, 1976) is an American stage and television actor, theater educator, and singer.
In 2008, KO originated the role of Vanessa in
In the Heights
on Broadway. The following year, they won the 2009
Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical
for their performance as Anita in a revival of
West Side Story
. KO is the first and only actor to win a
Tony Award
for a performance in
West Side Story
. From 2016 to 2017, KO portrayed the role of
Angelica Schuyler
in the
Chicago
production of
Hamilton
.
[2]
[3]
In 2019, KO originated the leading role of Satine in the Broadway adaptation of
Moulin Rouge!
and was nominated for a
Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical
.
Early life
[
edit
]
KO was born on August 7, 1976, in the
South Bronx
, New York City.
[4]
KO's father is of
Puerto Rican
and
Native American
descent, and their mother is of
Dominican
and
Chinese
descent. They were raised in
Bartow, Florida
and attended the
Lois Cowles Harrison Center for the Visual and Performing Arts
in nearby
Lakeland, Florida
, and later the
University of Cincinnati ? College-Conservatory of Music
. They left school before their final year to join the original Broadway production of
Rent
.
[4]
[5]
Career
[
edit
]
1997?2006: Early career and Broadway debut
[
edit
]
KO began their professional career in 1997 when they joined the original Broadway production of
Rent
. They joined as a replacement swing, also understudying the roles of Mimi and Maureen. The following year they joined the first national tour of
Rent,
dubbed the "Angel Tour", as a replacement swing once again. In late 1998, KO began playing Mimi on the tour, and they continued in the role until leaving the show in January 1999. They moved back to New York City in 1999
[4]
but did not receive any roles outside of a small part in
As the World Turns
before joining the regional try-out of the musical
Brooklyn
in 2003.
[6]
[7]
Before
Brooklyn
transferred to Broadway the following Fall, KO took part of a regional staging of
Children of Eden
and filmed guest roles for
All My Children
and
Law & Order
.
[8]
The musical
Brooklyn
open on Broadway in October 2004 and closed in June 2005.
[9]
Following its closure, KO joined the cast of the Brazilian-themed off-Broadway musical
Miracle Brothers
, which closed in October 2005.
[10]
The following year they had small roles in NBC's
Conviction
and the independent film
Adrift in Manhattan
, which premiered at the
Sundance Film Festival
in 2007.
2007?2012: Prominence on Broadway
[
edit
]
In the Heights
[
edit
]
In 2008,
In the Heights
opened on Broadway. KO starred as Vanessa, opposite
Lin-Manuel Miranda
.
West Side Story
[
edit
]
In 2009, KO won a
Tony Award
for their performance as Anita in the
Broadway
revival of
West Side Story
.
[11]
They were also nominated for both a
Drama Desk
and an
Outer Critic's Circle
Award for their critically acclaimed performance as Anita. They earned their second
Astaire Award
nomination for Best Female Dancer for their performance in
West Side Story
, after previously winning the same award in 2008 for their performance in
In the Heights
. They were contracted with
West Side Story
at the Palace through 2010.
[12]
During the May 8, 2010, matinee performance of
West Side Story
, KO broke their foot.
[13]
Anita standby Natalie Cortez performed the role until the show's closure.
[14]
KO then took part in the world premiere of
By the Way, Meet Vera Stark
at off-Broadway's
Second Stage Theater
. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright
Lynn Nottage
, the play "draws upon the screwball films of the 1930s to take a funny and irreverent look at racial stereotypes in Hollywood."
[15]
Film and television
[
edit
]
KO had a recurring role in
The Good Wife
on CBS. They played wealthy law student Giada Cabrini, a potential love interest of firm partner Will Gardner (
Josh Charles
). KO was a series regular in the second season of NBC's
Harry's Law
, playing "hot shot lawyer" Cassie Reynolds hired by Kathy Bates' character.
[16]
KO also appeared as Isabelle Perez, a woman who was unknowingly sterilized in the
Law & Order
episode "Birthright". They also appear in the
spin-off
series
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
as Jennifer Benitez in an episode titled "Loophole". They later appeared in
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
as Yelina Munoz in an episode titled "October Sunrise".
KO has had several roles in movies, including
Make Yourself at Home
,
The New Twenty
,
Shanghai Hotel
, and
The Orphan Killer
.
2013?present: Break from acting and return to theater
[
edit
]
On March 18, 2013, KO announced on their website that they were taking a break from acting, saying "with this knowledge I start a new chapter. I leave behind the actor and I start learning how to be me."
[17]
[18]
[19]
During this period, they moved to
Madison, Wisconsin
, where they taught classes for the
UW?Madison
theater department and became involved in the local theater scene, which included opening a private studio to coach young performers.
[20]
They returned to professional acting the following year with New York City Center's
Encores!
production of the
Jonathan Larson
musical
tick, tick... BOOM!
alongside fellow
Hamilton
alumni
Lin-Manuel Miranda
and
Leslie Odom Jr.
in June 2014 off-Broadway.
[21]
[18]
On July 13, 2016, it was announced that KO would star as Angelica Schuyler in the Chicago production of
Hamilton
.
[22]
They were part of the cast from October 19, 2016, until August 6, 2017. They stated they intended to pursue teaching after leaving the production, stating that "I'm leaving the spotlight to make sure others find theirs". In February 2018, KO played Florence Vassy in the
Kennedy Center
's revival of the musical
Chess
.
Moulin Rouge!
[
edit
]
On July 25, 2019, KO starred in the premiere of the Broadway production of the jukebox musical
Moulin Rouge!
in New York City. They continued to perform their role in the show at the
Al Hirschfeld Theatre
for an open-ended run.
[23]
On October 15, 2020, KO was nominated for a
Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical
.
[24]
On April 14, 2021, KO announced they would not return to the show once it reopens as a protest of the industry's silence on the allegations against producer
Scott Rudin
. In an Instagram video, KO stated, "Social justice is more important than being the sparkling diamond."
[25]
In December 2021, KO joined
We Won't Sleep
, a bio-musical based on the life of
Jeannette Rankin
. Industry readings of the production took place on December 17 and 18, 2021 in New York City.
[26]
The world premiere was set to open in May 2022 at
Signature Theatre
in
Arlington, Virginia
, but was cancelled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
.
[27]
Podcasts
On July 18, 2021, KO appeared on a podcast entitled
Noah's Corner
, previously
Rye's Little Corner
, on episode 19, titled "Dreams Come True Bitches".
[28]
On the episode, Karen was interviewed by co-hosts Noah Grace and Nellie. They spoke about their time in
In the Heights
and
Moulin Rouge!
as well as their album,
Leave
.
[29]
Northwestern University
In 2022, KO relocated to Evanston, IL to work as an associate professor at
Northwestern University
, where they serve as the head of music theatre.
Personal life
[
edit
]
KO is married to Jim Uphoff, with whom they have two step-children. KO and Uphoff, a marketing manager and former New York theater sound technician, married in September 2014.
[20]
[4]
Until 2012, KO was married to Broadway actor
Matt Caplan
.
In 2013, while taking a break from acting, KO moved to
Madison, Wisconsin
, where they and Uphoff share a home they call their "home base".
[4]
Both KO and their husband have family in Madison.
[30]
KO has previously lived in
Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan
, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles.
[4]
[20]
[18]
In 2021, Olivo announced via Instagram that they are
non-binary
and use
they/them
pronouns.
[31]
[32]
Theatre credits
[
edit
]
Awards and nominations
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Kulke, Stephanie.
"Building up artists of the future"
. Northwestern
. Retrieved
March 4,
2024
.
- ^
Viagas, Robert (July 13, 2016).
"Leads Announced for Chicago
Hamilton
"
.
Playbill
.
- ^
Olivo, Karen [@Karenolivo] (June 22, 2017).
"I will miss you, Chicago. #SatisfiedAsofAugust6th"
(
Tweet
) – via
Twitter
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
Kaufman, Joanne (July 9, 2019).
"A Star of 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical' Surveys Her Past"
.
The New York Times
.
ISSN
0362-4331
. Retrieved
April 7,
2020
.
- ^
"Karen Olivo"
.
www.ibdb.com
. Retrieved
April 7,
2020
.
- ^
"Inside Playbill Gallery"
.
Playbill
. Retrieved
April 7,
2020
.
- ^
Gans, Andrew (May 7, 2003).
"Broadway-Bound Musical,
Brooklyn
, Opens May 7 in Denver"
.
Playbill
. Retrieved
April 7,
2020
.
- ^
"Children of Eden at Ford's Theatre 2004"
.
www.abouttheartists.com
. Retrieved
April 7,
2020
.
- ^
"Brooklyn Broadway @ Plymouth Theatre"
.
Playbill
. Retrieved
April 7,
2020
.
- ^
Finkle, David (September 18, 2005).
"
Miracle Brothers
"
.
TheaterMania
. Retrieved
April 7,
2020
.
- ^
Rosario, Mariela.
"VIDEO: Karen Olivo & David Alvarez Take Top Honors at TONY Awards"
.
Latina.com
. Archived from
the original
on June 11, 2009
. Retrieved
June 8,
2009
.
- ^
Lewis, Jessica (January 5, 2010).
"WEST SIDE STORY's Olivio & Scaglione Renew Contracts thru Summer 2010"
.
BroadwayWorld
.
- ^
"Broken Foot Sidelines Tony Winner Karen Olivo from
West Side Story
"
.
Broadway.com
. May 13, 2010.
- ^
Gans, Andrew (September 15, 2010).
"Broadway Revival of
West Side Story
to Close in January; Olivo Will Not Return"
.
Playbill
. Retrieved
November 25,
2021
.
- ^
"Stephanie J. Block, Karen Olivo and More Headline Off-Broadway's
By The Way, Meet Vera Stark
"
.
Broadway.com
. January 18, 2011.
- ^
Juzwiak, Rich (July 9, 2011).
"Karen Olivo Joins Harry's Law"
.
TV Guide
. Retrieved
November 25,
2021
.
- ^
Diamond, Robert (March 18, 2013).
"Karen Olivo Reveals Acting Departure, New Life Path"
.
BroadwayWorld
.
- ^
a
b
c
McElroy, Steven (June 30, 2014).
"The Broadway Star Who Got Away"
.
The New York Times
.
ISSN
0362-4331
. Retrieved
April 7,
2020
.
- ^
Gans, Andrew (March 19, 2013).
"Tony Winner Karen Olivo Is 'Starting Over,' Explains Actress in Lengthy Blog"
.
Playbill
.
- ^
a
b
c
Worland, Gayle (November 14, 2014).
"A change for Karen Olivo: Madison's one and only resident Tony winner sings her story"
.
Wisconsin State Journal
. Retrieved
August 11,
2016
.
- ^
Diamond, Robert (March 9, 2014).
"Breaking News: Lin-Manuel Miranda & Karen Olivo to Star in tick, tick...BOOM! for Encores! FAUST and PUMP BOYS Announced"
.
BroadwayWorld
.
- ^
Jones, Chris (July 13, 2016).
"Chicago's 'Hamilton' and other cast members announced"
.
Chicago Tribune
.
Archived
from the original on August 20, 2016.
- ^
Brantley, Ben (July 25, 2019).
"Review: 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical' Offers a Party, and a Playlist, for the Ages"
.
The New York Times
.
- ^
Libbey, Peter (October 15, 2020).
"Full List of the 2020 Tony Award Nominees"
.
The New York Times
. Retrieved
October 17,
2020
.
- ^
Evans, Greg (April 14, 2021).
"
'Moulin Rouge!' Star Karen Olivo Won't Return To Broadway Production In Protest Of Industry Silence Over Scott Rudin"
.
Deadline
. Retrieved
April 14,
2021
.
- ^
Meter, Dan (December 14, 2021).
"Karen Olivo Will Lead Reading of We Won't Sleep, About America's 1st Congresswoman"
.
Playbill
. Retrieved
April 17,
2022
.
- ^
"cancelled - we won't sleep"
.
Signature Theatre
. Retrieved
April 17,
2022
.
- ^
"Rye's Little Corner: Karen Olivo: "Dreams Come True Bitches!" on Apple Podcasts"
.
Apple Podcasts
. Retrieved
December 18,
2022
.
- ^
"Rye's Little Corner: Karen Olivo: "Dreams Come True Bitches!" on Apple Podcasts"
.
Apple Podcasts
. Retrieved
September 12,
2022
.
- ^
Worland, Gayle (October 28, 2018).
"Broadway star Karen Olivo comes home to do 'Fun Home'
"
.
AP NEWS
. Retrieved
April 7,
2020
.
- ^
"Sunlight, sunlight, sunlight"
.
- ^
"@Karenolivo"
.
Twitter
. Retrieved
November 6,
2021
.
- ^
"2020 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominations List"
.
www.grammy.com
. Retrieved
January 15,
2023
.
External links
[
edit
]
|
---|
1950?1975
| |
---|
1976?2000
| |
---|
2001?present
| |
---|
|
---|
International
| |
---|
National
| |
---|
Artists
| |
---|