- Nicole Parker
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For the actress and model born in 1970, see Nicole Ari Parker.
Nicole Parker 
Nicole Parker, September 2006Born Nicole Frances Parker
February 21, 1978
Irvine, California, United StatesOccupation Actress, comedienne, writer Years active 2003–present Nicole Frances Parker (born February 21, 1978) is an Emmy Award-winning actress and singer best known for her work on Fox's sketch comedy show MADtv. In July 2009, she concluded her run as Elphaba in the Broadway production of Wicked. She can currently be seen in the new Broadway musical, The People in the Picture.[1]
Contents
Early life
In her hometown of Irvine, California, she performed at South Coast Repertory and Laguna Playhouse. She also studied Theatre and Voice at Indiana University and performed in an improv troupe called Full Frontal Comedy. After college, Parker performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Second City in Chicago, Bloemendaal, Unhinged Academy and Groningen. In addition, she and some college friends formed a theater company in New York called Waterwell Productions. Parker moved to Amsterdam for two years, where she performed in the comedy show Boom Chicago alongside MADtv alumni Ike Barinholtz and Jordan Peele.
MADtv
Parker joined the cast of MADtv in 2003 as a featured performer for the ninth season. She was promoted to cast member status the following season. Parker's most noteworthy characters include Inside Looking Out host Pat-Beth LaMontrose and the carefree yet naive Disney Girl.
She has a long celebrity impressionist list, often imitating pop-music stars in parody music videos. Parker left the show on the first week of November 2008, but appeared in pretaped sketches until MADtv's series finale in 2009.
Characters (as seen on MADtv)
- Annetta Bussley (The Lillian Verner Game Show)
- Ashlee Simpson
- Beth (Sean the Floor Leader)
- Britney Spears
- Candy Matsumoto (Hello Hollywood/Iraq, Hello!)
- Charlene (Baby Joey)
- Disney Girl
- Pat-Beth LaMontrose (Inside Looking Out)
- Tori McLachlan, a singer/songwriter who performs depressing songs
- Toni Horse (Fashion Surprise)
- Elisssa (Girlicious)
- Amy Little (Nice White Lady)
- Sharon (Teller Conference)
- Kim Kardashian ("Keeping up with the kardashians")
- Nelly Furtado (Syphilis Girl- parody of "Promiscuous Girl" )
Parodies
Parker also impersonated many celebrities. Some of her more popular impersonations included Britney Spears, Ellen DeGeneres, Paula Abdul, Kathy Griffin, Lauren Conrad in various parodies of Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County and The Hills. She also is known for her James Blunt parody of his song 'You're Beautiful'.
Broadway musical career
In 2004 Parker was Nominated for Jeff Award nomination for Best Actress in a Principal Role: Musical, for her performance in The People vs. Friar Laurence, The Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet.
From July 2006 to January 2007, Parker performed in Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me comedy musical.
In 2009 Parker played the role of Elphaba in the Broadway production of the musical Wicked, for a six month run, opposite Alli Mauzey as Glinda from January 16 through July 19.[2]
Parker is currently starring in the new musical The People in the Picture, which began performances at Studio 54 on April 1, 2011 and officially opened on April 28, 2011.[3]
The Groundlings
Parker frequently guest performs in the improvisational comedy show Cookin' With Gas at The Groundlings Theatre in Hollywood, CA.
Theatre roles
Year(s) Title Role Notes 2003 Fuenteovejuna Laurencia Musical (Regional) 2003 Stuck Director Improv Play (Regional) 2004 The Magic Flute Pamina Musical (Regional) 2004 Romeo and Juliet Musical: The People vs. Friar Laurence, The Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet Juliet Musical (Regional) 2006–2007 Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me Various Characters Comedy Musical (Broadway) 2008 Proposition 8: The Musical California Gays and The People That Love Them Comedy Musical 2007–2008 Suitcase Full of Lies Jillane Jenkins Comedy Musical (Regional)[4] 2009 Wicked Elphaba Musical (Broadway) 2010 Suitcase Full of Lies Jillane Jenkins Comedy Musical (Regional) 2010 "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" Rosemary Musical (Limited Engagement)[5] 2011 The People in the Picture Red Musical (Broadway)[6] Television roles
Year(s) Title Role Notes Episode Count 2003–2009 MADtv Various Characters Sketch Comedy 113 Episodes 2005 Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List Herself Comedy/Reality 1 Episode Film roles
Year Title Role Notes Box Office Performance 2007 Four Years as Stacy Short Film Comedy Movie 2008 Meet the Spartans as Britney Spears, Paula Abdul, Paris Hilton and Ellen DeGeneres Parody Movie $84,021,565 Disaster Movie as Enchanted Princess, Jessica Simpson, Amy Winehouse Parody Movie $31,683,375 2009 Weathered as Weather Wellington Short Film Drama Movie Funny People as Dawn Comedy-Drama Movie $50,200,497 Award wins and nominations
Year Result Award Category Nominated Work 2004 Nominated Jeff Award[7] Best Actress in a Principal Role Musical, The People vs. Friar Laurence, The Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet 2006 Won Emmy Award[8] Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics MADtv, for the song "A Wonderfully Normal Day" – for episode #1111 2007 Nominated Emmy Award[8] Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics MADtv, for the song "Merry Ex-Mas" – for episode #1209 2009 Won GLAAD Media Awards[9] Special Recognition Prop 8: The Musical 2009 Won Damah Film Festival[10] Best Actress (Audience Award) Short film, Weathered References
- ^ Alexander Gemignani, Nicole Parker & More Join The People in the Picture on Broadway
- ^ "Madtv" Star Parker Will Be Broadway's New Elphaba; Tveit Returns, Too
- ^ People in the Picture Come Into Focus With Christopher Innvar, Alexander Gemignani, Chip Zien, Nicole Parker
- ^ Nicole Parker Returns To Birdland In SUITCASE FULL OF LIES 5/24
- ^ Photo Flash: Reprise Theater Company's HOW TO SUCCEED
- ^ Alexander Gemignani, Nicole Parker & More Join The People in the Picture on Broadway
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ a b Awards for MADtv
- ^ GLAAD Media Awards
- ^ Damah Film Festival Announces Winners
External links
Categories:- 1978 births
- Actors from California
- American comedians
- American impressionists (entertainers)
- American musical theatre actors
- American stage actors
- American television actors
- Living people
- People from Irvine, California
- Women comedians
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