Kelli O'Hara

Early life

Kelli O'Hara was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and grew up in Elk City, Oklahoma in an Irish American family. She graduated from Deer Creek High School and also attended Oklahoma City University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in music in vocal performance/opera. O'Hara studied voice with Florence Birdwell, who also taught Kristin Chenoweth four years earlier. O'Hara and Chenoweth are both alumnae of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority.

Career

Early career

One of O'Hara's earliest professional roles was in a U.S. national tour of the musical Jekyll & Hyde. She next appeared in the 2002 Broadway production of Sweet Smell of Success as Susan Hunsecker. In 2003 she played Albertine in the Off-Broadway Playwrights Horizons production of the musical My Life with Albertine, and, in 2004, Lucy Westenra in the Broadway production of Dracula, the Musical.

She starred as Clara Johnson in the 2005 Broadway production of The Light in the Piazza at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theatre. She had appeared in a workshop of the musical at the Theatre Lab at Sundance, and in tryouts in Seattle and Chicago, as the character of Franca Naccarelli. She received a 2005 Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical at the 59th Tony Awards. O'Hara has been nominated for, or won, a Tony Award for every subsequent role she has played on Broadway. In her next Broadway musical, she played Babe Williams in the 2006 revival of The Pajama Game, for which she was nominated for Best Leading Actress in a Musical at the 60th Tony Awards. For this performance, New York Times reviewer Ben Brantley wrote that O'Hara "rockets past the promising ingénue status she attained with Light in the Piazza".

In 2007, O'Hara played the role of Dot/Marie in the Los Angeles Reprise! concert staging of Sunday in the Park with George and Eliza Doolittle in the New York Philharmonic's semi-staged production of My Fair Lady at Avery Fisher Hall. She was the voice of producer Beth Totenbag on PBS' 2008 animated series Click and Clack's As the Wrench Turns. From 2008 to 2010, O'Hara starred as Nellie Forbush in the Broadway revival of South Pacific at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater, for which she was nominated for her third Tony Award at the 62nd Tony Awards. She took maternity leave in March 2009 and returned to the musical in October 2009.

O'Hara played the role of Ella Peterson in the 2010 New York City Center Encores! concert presentation of Bells Are Ringing. She played the role of Ellen in the film Sex and the City 2 (2010), and in 2011 she appeared in "Mercy", the first episode of the second season of the CBS show Blue Bloods. Also in 2011, she played the role of Amalia Balash in a benefit concert of She Loves Me, presented by the Roundabout Theater Company, in honor of the company's 20th anniversary. Scott Ellis directed, and the musical director was Paul Gemignani. She had performed one of the best known songs from the show, "Will He Like Me?", the previous evening at Kennedy Center in honor of Barbara Cook.

She starred on Broadway as Billie Bendix in Nice Work If You Can Get It from April 2012 to March 2013 and received her fourth Tony Award nomination at the 66th Tony Awards. In 2012, at the New Year's Eve concert, "Celebrating Marvin Hamlisch", at Lincoln Center, she sang "At the Ballet", from A Chorus Line, along with Audra McDonald and Megan Hilty. In 2013, she played the lead character of Julie Jordan in the staged concert of Carousel presented by the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall. From January to May 2014, she starred as Francesca Johnson in the Broadway musical The Bridges of Madison County, for which she received her fifth Tony Award nomination at the 68th Tony Awards. Elyse Sommer, a CurtainUp.com reviewer, noted O'Hara's "superb vocal chops" and her "exquisite" duets with co-star Steven Pasquale. She played Mrs. Darling in the 2014 NBC telecast Peter Pan Live!. She sang two concerts, titled "Kelli and Matthew: Home for the Holidays", in December 2014 at Carnegie Hall with Matthew Morrison and the New York Pops. On December 31, 2014, O'Hara made her operatic debut at The Metropolitan Opera as Valencienne Zeta in Franz Lehár's The Merry Widow, alongside Renee Fleming in the title role of Hanna Glawari.

2015–present

O'Hara returned to Lincoln Center Theatre to star as Anna Leonowens in the Broadway revival of The King and I opposite Ken Watanabe as King Mongkut. The production began previews at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre in March 2015 and opened in April 2015. This role won O'Hara her first Tony Award at the 69th Tony Awards. O'Hara's final performance as Anna was in April 2016. She gave her debut solo concert at Carnegie Hall in October 2016 and guest-starred as the recurring character Dody Oliver on the fourth season of Masters of Sex. She played Fiona MacLaren in the Encores! production of Brigadoon at New York City Center in November 2017. Jeremy Gerard of Deadline Hollywood called O'Hara's performance "luminous", writing: "O’Hara is impossibly beautiful, vocally and in conveying Fiona’s romantic determination and heartbreak." In 2017, she starred as Kate Bonner in the first season of the web drama series The Accidental Wolf, earning a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series at the 70th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards. O'Hara appeared in the second season of 13 Reasons Why as Jackie, an anti-bullying advocate. The same year at the Metropolitan Opera, she sang the role of Despina in Così fan tutte. She reprised her role in The King and I at the West End's London Palladium for a limited run from June to September 2018.

She returned to Broadway in February 2019 in a revival of Kiss Me, Kate at Studio 54, as Lilli Vanessi/Katharine Minola. The production was directed by Scott Ellis and choreographed by Warren Carlyle. The revival was produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company, which had produced a benefit concert of the show with O'Hara, Ellis, and Carlyle in 2016. O'Hara received her seventh Tony Award nomination for the revival at the 73rd Tony Awards.

In December 2019, she and Richard Thomas joined the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square for their annual Christmas concert, the 20th annual Christmas concert performed in the 21,000-seat Conference Center. In that concert, she performed “Mary’s Little Boy Child,” the lesser-known “The Birthday of a King,” by W. H. Neidlinger, and the lullaby “A Cradle in Bethlehem” — one of her father’s favorite Christmas songs.

In a 2022 interview with Theatermania, she discussed working on three projects at once: HBO's costume drama The Gilded Age, from Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes; a new season of The Accidental Wolf, in a role that earned her a 2018 Emmy nomination, as a woman who becomes embroiled in a scandal after receiving a phone call from a stranger being murdered; and a role as Laura Brown in the operatic adaptation of Michael Cunningham's novel The Hours. She said "I love the fact that you have these things at the same time, because I don't ever want to be put in one box. I couldn't be happier or more challenged to have these three things happening at once."

In May 2023, O'Hara originated the role of Kirsten Arnesen in the musical adaptation of Days of Wine and Roses Off-Broadway at the Linda Gross Theater. In September 2023, it was announced that Days of Wine and Roses would transfer to Broadway's Studio 54 with O'Hara attached. Upon the show's January 2024 opening, a review in New York magazine noted: "O’Hara sings all but four of the play’s songs, and her voice is the kind of instrument that sends people scrabbling for metaphors. It’s a prism, an alpine stream, a Golden Snitch — clear, shimmering and darting, endlessly agile and controlled. She sings like Ginger Rogers dances." The show, originally a limited run set to run until April 28th, closed early on March 31st and garnered O'Hara her eighth Tony nomination at the 77th Tony Awards.

Personal life

O'Hara is married to Greg Naughton of The Sweet Remains, son of actor James Naughton and nephew of actor David Naughton. Their first child, Owen James, was born in 2009. Their daughter, Charlotte, was born in 2013.

Filmography

Film

Television

Web

Stage roles

Discography

• 2008 Wonder in the World
• 2011 Always

;Cast recordings

• 2002 Sweet Smell of Success
• 2003 My Life with Albertine
• 2005 The Light in the Piazza
• 2006 Harry on Broadway, Act I—two-disc set: 1. Original Broadway cast recording The Pajama Game; 2. Songs from Thou Shalt Not, Harry Connick, Jr. featuring Kelli O'Hara
• 2008 South Pacific
• 2012 Nice Work If You Can Get It
• 2014 The Bridges of Madison County
• 2015 The King and I
• 2019 Kiss Me, Kate
• 2020 Christmas Day in the Morning
• 2023 Days of Wine and Roses
• 2024 The Hours

;Soundtracks

• 2014 Peter Pan Live!

Awards and nominations

References

References

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2. (7 June 2015). "Kelli O'Hara wins best actress Tony on her sixth attempt". ABC News.
3. "Oklahoma Music Trail: Kelli O'Hara".
4. [[Mark Shenton. Shenton, Mark]]. [https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/the-king-and-i-star-kelli-ohara-doing-work-that-feels-like-it-has-a-message-is-very-satisfying "''The King and I'' star Kelli O'Hara: 'Doing work that feels like it has a message is very satisfying'"], ''[[The Stage]]'', June 6, 2018
5. (2008-10-01). "Broadway's Irish Colleen: Kelli O'Hara".
6. She went on to play the role of Young Hattie Walker in the 2001 [[Broadway theatre. Broadway]] revival of ''[[Follies]]'', and then played the role of Young Phyllis Rogers Stone.[http://www.sondheimguide.com/follies.html#2001BR "''Follies'' 2001 Broadway Revival"], sondheimguide.com, accessed May 22, 2014
7. Jones, Kenneth and [[Robert Simonson. Simonson, Robert]]. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/70297-Sweet-Smell-of-Success-Ends-Broadway-Run-June-15 "''Sweet Smell of Success'' Ends Broadway Run June 15"] {{webarchive. link. (2014-05-22 , Playbill.com, June 15, 2002)
8. Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/78394-My-Life-With-Albertine-the-Musical-That-Would-Make-Proust-Sing-Opens-March-13 "''My Life With Albertine'', the Musical That Would Make Proust Sing, Opens March 13"] {{webarchive. link. (2014-05-22 , Playbill.com, March 13, 2003)
9. Stevens, Beth. [http://www.broadway.com/buzz/11125/kelli-ohara Kelli O'Hara"], broadway.com, September 28, 2004
10. Simonson, Robert.[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/92378-Guettel-Lucas-Musical-The-Light-in-the-Piazza-Opens-on-Broadway-April-18 "Guettel-Lucas Musical ''The Light in the Piazza'' Opens on Broadway April 18"] {{webarchive. link. (2014-05-22 , Playbill.com, April 18, 2005)
11. Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/94741-DIVA-TALK-A-Chat-with-Piazzas-Kelli-OHara-Plus-News-of-Menzel-Haran-and-Lansbury "Diva Talk: A Chat with ''Piazza's'' Kelli O'Hara Plus News of Menzel, Haran and Lansbury"] {{webarchive. link. (2014-05-23 , Playbill.com, August 26, 2005)
12. Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/93334-Doubt-Is-Best-Play-Spamalot-Best-Musical-Butz-Irwin-Clark-Jones-Nichols-Win-2005-Tonys "''Doubt'' Is Best Play, ''Spamalot'' Best Musical; Butz, Irwin, Clark, Jones, Nichols Win 2005 Tonys"] {{webarchive. link. (2013-11-04 , Playbill.com, June 5, 2005)
13. [http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/40635/Kelli-OHara "Kelli O'Hara Broadway"] {{Webarchive. link. (April 22, 2015 , Playbillvault.com, accessed May 7, 2015)
14. Brantley, Ben. [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/24/theater/reviews/24paja.html?pagewanted=all "Theater Review. ''The Pajama Game''"], ''The New York Times'', February 24, 2006
15. Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/hello-george-sunday-in-the-park-with-felciano-and-ohara-begins-reprise-run-jan-30-com-138066# "Hello, George! ''Sunday in the Park'' – with Felciano and O'Hara – Begins Reprise! Run Jan. 30"], Playbill.com, January 30, 2007, retrieved November 17, 2017
16. Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/philharmonics-my-fair-lady-dances-into-avery-fisher-hall-march-7-com-139052# "Philharmonic's ''My Fair Lady'' Dances Into Avery Fisher Hall March 7"], Playbill, March 7, 2007, retrieved November 17, 2017
17. Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/article/kelli-ohara-returns-to-south-pacific-for-musicals-final-weeks-aug-10-com-170747# "Kelli O'Hara Returns to South Pacific for Musical's Final Weeks Aug. 10"], ''Playbill'', August 10, 2010, retrieved November 17, 2017
18. Ku, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/just-the-facts-list-of-2008-tony-award-winners-and-nominees-com-150935# "Just the Facts: List of 2008 Tony Award Winners and Nominees"], Playbill.com, June 16, 2008, retrieved November 17, 2017
19. Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125868.html "Expectant O'Hara to Depart ''South Pacific'' March 8"] {{webarchive. link. (2009-02-03 , playbill.com, February 2, 2009)
20. Glikas, Bruce. [http://www.broadway.com/buzz/welcome-back-kelli-broadway-sweetheart-ohara-returns-south-pacific "Welcome Back, Kelli! Broadway Sweetheart O'Hara Returns to ''South Pacific''"], broadway.com, October 15, 2009
21. Kenrick, John. [http://www.musicals101.com/bells2010.htm "''Bells Are Ringing'' Review, November 2010"], musicals101.com, accessed May 23, 2014
22. [https://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/shows/blue-bloods/releases/view?id=29914 "''Blue Bloods'': 'Mercy'"], cbspressexpress.com, retrieved December 31, 2016
23. Blake, Leslie. [http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/reviews/05-2010/sex-and-the-city-2_27591.html "Review. ''Sex and the City 2''"], theatermania.com, May 26, 2010, retrieved December 31, 2016
24. Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/she-loves-me-a-90s-hit-for-roundabout-gets-benefit-concert-dec.-5-kelli-oha-185161 "''She Loves Me'', a '90s Hit for Roundabout, Gets Benefit Concert Dec. 5; Kelli O'Hara and Josh Radnor Star"], ''Playbill'', December 5, 2011
25. Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/updated-patti-lupone-audra-mcdonald-rebecca-luker-kelli-ohara-sutton-foster-paid-tribute-to-barbara-cook-at-kennedy-center-honors-com-185208# "Updated: Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Rebecca Luker, Kelli O'Hara, Sutton Foster Paid Tribute to Barbara Cook at Kennedy Center Honors"], Playbill.com, December 5, 2011
26. [http://www.playbill.com/person/kelli-ohara-vault-0000040635 "Kelli O'Hara Broadway Credits and Awards"], ''Playbill'', retrieved December 31, 2016
27. Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/celebrating-marvin-hamlisch-concert-with-audra-mcdonald-kelli-ohara-raul-es-199440 "Celebrating Marvin Hamlisch Concert, with Audra McDonald, Kelli O'Hara, Raúl Esparza, Josh Groban, Will Be Televised"], Playbill.com, November 5, 2012
28. Suskin, Steven. [http://www.playbill.com/article/a-memorable-carousel-starring-kelli-ohara-and-nathan-gunn-com-203012 "A Memorable ''Carousel'', Starring Kelli O'Hara and Nathan Gunn"], ''Playbill'', March 1, 2013, retrieved December 31, 2016
29. Bowgen, Philippe. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/191314-In-Moving-Final-Performance-Speech-Kelli-OHara-Assures-Bridges-Is-By-No-Means-Going-Into-The-Ground "In Moving Final-Performance Speech, Kelli O'Hara Assures ''Bridges'' Is 'By No Means Going Into the Ground'"] {{webarchive. link. (2014-05-21 , Playbill.com, May 19, 2014)
30. Sommer, Elyse. [http://www.curtainup.com/bridgesbway14.html "A CurtainUp Review. ''The Bridges of Madison County''"], curtainup.com, accessed May 23, 2014
31. Snetiker, Marc. [http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/09/09/kelli-ohara-peter-pan-live Broadway star Kelli O'Hara joins ''Peter Pan Live'' as Mrs. Darling], ew.com, September 9, 2014
32. Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/article/kelli-ohara-and-matthew-morrison-come-home-for-the-holidays-at-carnegie-hall-starting-tonight-com-337746# "Kelli O'Hara and Matthew Morrison Come ''Home for the Holidays'' at Carnegie Hall Starting Tonight"], ''Playbill'', December 19, 2014
33. Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/kelli-ohara-renee-fleming-and-nathan-gunn-star-in-the-merry-widow-susan-stroman-directs-com-338202# "Kelli O'Hara, Renée Fleming and Nathan Gunn Star in ''The Merry Widow''; Susan Stroman Directs"], ''Playbill'', December 31, 2014, retrieved December 31, 2016
34. Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/exclusive-marin-mazzie-will-succeed-kelli-ohara-in-broadways-king-and-i-386554# "Exclusive: Marin Mazzie Will Succeed Kelli O'Hara in Broadway's ''King and I''"], Playbill.com, February 16, 2016
35. Dziemianowcz, Joe. [http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/theater-arts/kelli-o-hara-shares-carnegie-hall-solo-debut-family-friends-article-1.2852160 "Broadway star Kelli O'Hara shares Carnegie Hall solo debut with Barbara Cook, Kristin Chenoweth and, briefly, Hillary Clinton"], ''[[New York Daily News]]'', October 31, 2016
36. Sharma, Nemisha. [http://www.designntrend.com/articles/82375/20160805/masters-of-sex-season-4-spoilers-showtime-show-adds-kelli-ohara-as-bill-masters-ex-lover.htm "''Masters Of Sex'' Season 4 Spoilers: Showtime Show Adds Kelli O'Hara As Bill Masters' Ex-Lover"] {{webarchive. link. (2016-12-31, ''Design & Trend'', August 5, 2016)
37. Green, Jesse. [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/16/theater/brigadoon-christopher-wheeldon-city-center-review.html "Review: A Brief ‘Brigadoon’ That’s Almost Like Falling in Love"], ''The New York Times'', November 16, 2017
38. Gerard, Jeremy. [https://web.archive.org/web/20171120163344/http://deadline.com/2017/11/review-brigadoon-with-kelli-ohara-and-aasif-mandvi-1202210985/ "Lerner & Loewe's Golden ''Brigadoon'' With Kelli O’Hara and Aasif Mandvi"], ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'', November 17, 2017; and Dziemianowicz, Joe. [http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/theater-arts/encores-brigadoon-glows-o-hara-wilson-fairchild-review-article-1.3637455 "Encores! ''Brigadoon'' glows with Kelli O'Hara, Patrick Wilson, Robert Fairchild: theater review"], ''New York Daily News'', November 16, 2017
39. Gordon, David. [Arian Moayed's ''The Accidental Wolf'', Starring Kelli O'Hara, Premieres Online"], TheaterMania, November 20, 2107, accessed July 15, 2018
40. Kaufman, Gil. [https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/8465169/emmys-2018-complete-nominees-list "Emmys 2018: See the Complete List of Nominees"], ''Billboard'', July 12, 2018
41. King, Eric. [https://ew.com/tv/2017/08/08/13-reasons-why-season-2-cast "''13 Reasons Why'': Kelli O'Hara, Samantha Logan, more cast in season 2"], ''Entertainment Weekly'', August 8, 2017, accessed November 7, 2017
42. Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/article/broadway-revival-of-the-king-and-i-with-kelli-ohara-and-ken-watanabe-confirms-london-run# "Broadway Revival of ''The King and I'', With Kelli O’Hara and Ken Watanabe, Confirms London Run"], ''Playbill'', November 17, 2017
43. Clement, Olivia. [http://www.playbill.com/article/kelli-ohara-to-return-to-broadway-in-kiss-me-kate "Kelli O’Hara to Return to Broadway in ''Kiss Me, Kate''"], ''Playbill'', November 6, 2017
44. Clement, Olivia. [http://www.playbill.com/article/kiss-me-kate-begins-on-broadway-february-14# " ''Kiss Me, Kate'' Begins on Broadway February 14"], ''Playbill'', February 14, 2019
45. Johnson, Lottie. "5 highlights from the Tabernacle Choir’s Christmas concert".
46. Gordon, David. [https://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/interview-kelli-ohara-the-gilded-age_93300.html# "Interview: With the Gilded Age and The Accidental Wolf, It's a Golden Age for Kelli O'Hara"], ''TheaterMania'', January 31, 2022
47. Holdren, Sara. "Soaring Voices and Plastic Plants in Days of Wine and Roses." New York Magazine's Vulture.com January 28, 2024. https://www.vulture.com/2024/01/theater-review-days-wine-roses-on-broadway.html
48. Tran, Diep. "Days of Wine and Roses to Close on Broadway".
49. Hetrick, Adam.[https://archive.today/20120909090532/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/130681 "Tony Nominee O'Hara and Naughton Welcome a Son"], Playbill.com, June 29, 2009
50. Gioia, Michael. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/182184-Kelli-OHara-and-Greg-Naughton-Welcome-Baby-Girl "Kelli O'Hara and Greg Naughton Welcome Baby Girl"] {{webarchive. link. (2014-04-13 , Playbill.com, September 16, 2013)
51. Hernandez, Ernio. [http://www.playbill.com/article/sleeper-danieley-and-ohara-star-in-world-premiere-fairy-tale-beauty-at-la-jolla-sept-16-oct-19-com-115239# "Sleeper: Danieley and O'Hara Star in World Premiere Fairy Tale 'Beauty' at La Jolla, Sept. 16-Oct. 19"], ''Playbill'', September 13, 2003
52. Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/167313-Far-From-Heaven-With-Kelli-OHara-Tests-Its-Wings-in-Williamstown-Starting-July-19 "'Far From Heaven', With Kelli O'Hara, Tests Its Wings in Williamstown Starting July 19"] {{webarchive. link. (2012-07-21, Playbill.com, July 19, 2012)
53. Tommasini, Anthony. [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/30/arts/music/review-kelli-oharas-operatic-turn-in-dido-and-aeneas.html?_r=0 "Review: Kelli O'Hara’s Operatic Turn in ''Dido and Aeneas''"], ''The New York Times'', April 29, 2016, accessed July 19, 2017
54. (January 20, 2023). "'Days Of Wine And Roses' Musical Adaptation Sets Off-Broadway World Premiere With Kelli O'Hara & Brian d'Arcy James".
55. (2018-11-16). "Read the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2018 shortlist in full".
56. Thompson, Jessie. (2018-11-19). "Find out the winners of this year's Evening Standard Theatre Awards".
57. (2019-04-07). "Olivier Awards 2019: Full Winners List".