Kate Rockwell

Kate Rockwell (born Katherine Rockwell Wilfong; August 4, 1984) is an American theatre actress, dancer, and singer. She is known for her work on Broadway and for originating the roles of Skylar in Bring It On: The Musical in 2011 and of Karen Smith in the 2018 musical Mean Girls, for the latter of which she received Drama Desk Award and Helen Hayes Award nominations.

Early life and education Rockwell was born in Connecticut and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is the eldest child born to Charles Wilfong and Linda Warner (née Rockwell). She has two younger siblings, Elizabeth (who goes by "Libet") and William (who goes by "Bear").

She graduated from Sycamore High School in 2002. During her first year, Rockwell was cast as Grandma Tzeitel in her high school's staging of Fiddler on the Roof, her first on-stage theatre experience. Rockwell then attended Baldwin Wallace University and earned a BM in musical theatre in 2006.

Career Soon after graduating from college, Rockwell was cast in her first professional production as Philia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival in Boise, Idaho, under the direction of her former Baldwin Wallace professor Victoria Bussert. The production later transferred to the Great Lakes Theater with Rockwell continuing her role as Philia. She was nicknamed "Serious Sandy" and ultimately eliminated, placing fifth to winner Laura Osnes. She later joined the U.S. national touring production of Legally Blonde for three months as a replacement for the role of Margot (after Rhiannon Hansen broke her leg during a performance). Rockwell then continued to play a Member of the Tribe in the U.S. national touring production of the musical.

In January 2011 at the Alliance Theatre, Rockwell starred as Skylar in the world premiere of Bring It On: The Musical, a musical loosely based on the 2000 film of the same name. She remained part of the production through its national tour in 2011 and limited engagement on Broadway from August to December 2012. In January 2013, she returned to Broadway as Sherrie in Rock of Ages, replacing fellow Grease: You're the One That I Want! competitor Ashley Spencer. During the days surrounding her debut as Sherrie, Rockwell filmed a series of video blogs for Broadway.com titled "Oh, Sherrie! Backstage at Rock of Ages with Kate Rockwell." She left the production on April 20, 2014, and was replaced by Carrie St. Louis.

After completing her run in Rock of Ages, Rockwell "left the business" for about two years, stating in interviews, "I needed perspective. I needed some change. I needed to see what it was like to do something else." She grew to miss performing and the theater community and began auditioning occasionally. She returned to The Muny the following summer, starring as Belle in the company's production of Beauty and the Beast.

In the fall of 2016, Rockwell appeared in the Arena Stage's regional production of Carousel as Carrie Pipperidge. She was later nominated for a Helen Hayes Award in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical category for this role. The musical, which is based on the film of the same name, began previews on March 12, 2018, and officially opened on Broadway on April 8, 2018, at the August Wilson Theatre in New York City. For this role Rockwell received a nomination for the Helen Hayes Award in the Outstanding Performer in a Visiting Production category (for her performance in the D.C. production) and a nomination for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical.

Rockwell released her solo album, "Back to My Roots," in 2018 with Broadway Records.

Personal life In 2008, Rockwell met actor Spencer Howard when he (as dance captain) was preparing Rockwell for her entry into the Legally Blonde national tour as a replacement for an injured performer. Rockwell and Howard then married on September 8, 2014, in Marblehead, Massachusetts. The couple now resides in New York City with their two dogs, Mabel and Bessie.

Theatre credits

Filmography Film Year Title Role 2008 Sex and the City Twenty-Something Girl No. 2 2014 Russian Broadway Shut Down Lesbian 2021 Tick, Tick... Boom! Lauren

Television

Discography Solo recordings Back to my Roots (2018)

Cast recordings Bring It On: The Musical – Original Broadway Cast Recording (2012) Like You Like It – Original Studio Cast RADcording (2016) Mean Girls – Original Broadway Cast Recording (2018) tick, tick... BOOM! - Soundtrack from the Netflix Film (2021)

Collaborative projects Broadway's Carols for a Cure, Volume 14 (2012) Broadway's Carols for a Cure, Volume 20 (2018)

As featured artist "Rockin' Around the Pole" by The Hot Elves (2018)

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2017Helen Hayes Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical Carousel 2018 Outstanding Performer – Visiting Production Mean Girls