Rebecca Luker

Rebecca Luker (born April 17 1961) is an American musical theatre actress and soprano who has appeared in several prominent Broadway productions.

Biography

Luker was born in Helena, Alabama, near Birmingham. She attended the University of Montevallo, earning a B.A. in music, taking a year off to perform with the Michigan Opera Theatre in 1984. [Gates, Anita. [http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=940CE7DB1231F93BA35750C0A96E958260 Playing It Sweet, If She Needs To, Or Sexy-Funny.] The New York Times, March 8, 1998. Retrieved October 14, 2006.]

Luker's Broadway debut was in "The Phantom of the Opera" as an understudy to Sarah Brightman and eventual replacement in the leading role of Christine (1988-91). Subsequent Broadway roles included Lily in "The Secret Garden" (1991-93), Magnolia in "Show Boat" (1994-97; the first actress to be nominated for a Tony Award for this role) [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0525648/bio Luker's IBDB biography] ] , Maria in "The Sound of Music" (1998-99), Marian in "The Music Man" (2000-01), and Claudia in "Nine" (2003). Currently she is playing the role of Mrs. Banks in "Mary Poppins" (2006-08).

Luker has been nominated for three Tony Awards. Two for Leading Actress in a Musical - once for "Show Boat" (a unique Tony nomination year, only Luker and Glenn Close were nominated) and once for "The Music Man". Her role in "Mary Poppins" garnered her a 2007 Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a musical. In addition, she has been nominated for two Drama Desk Awards for "The Secret Garden" and "The Music Man". "The New York Times" has compared her to actresses such as Barbara Cook and Julie Andrews. [Holden, Stephen. [http://theater2.nytimes.com/2005/12/14/arts/music/14luke.html?ex=1160971200&en=f631381c6b0511bf&ei=5070 "The Ghosts of Broadway, Past and Future",] "The New York Times", December 14, 2005. Retrieved October 14, 2006.]

Luker appeared in the Off-Broadway plays "The Vagina Monologues", "Indian Summer", and "Can't Let Go".

Her TV appearances include Matlock, , and the Hallmark movie Cupid & Cate.

Among many recordings, Luker is featured on the Aria albums by Paul Schwartz.

Luker married Danny Burstein in 2000 and has two stepsons. [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1388685/bio Burstein's biography at the IBDB database] ] She is divorced from Greg Jbara.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.rebeccaluker.com Official Website]
*ibdb name | id=50328 | name=Rebecca Luker
*imdb name| id=0525648 | name=Rebecca Luker
* [http://www.americantheatrewing.org/downstagecenter/detail/rebecca_luker Rebecca Luker] Downstage Center XM radio interview by the American Theatre Wing, January 2007
* [http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/99359.html Playbill article DIVA TALK: Chatting with Rebecca Luker] , April 2006
*Rebecca Luker interview: [http://www.americantheatrewing.org/seminars/detail/performance_09_03 Performance] Working in the Theatre CUNY-TV video at American Theatre Wing, September 2003
* [http://theater2.nytimes.com/2006/05/11/arts/music/11luke.html 2006 review from NY Times]