Robert Westenberg

Robert Westenberg (born October 26, 1953) is an American stage actor and singer, acting teacher, and professor. He received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in the original Broadway cast of Into the Woods.

He appeared on Broadway in Sunday in the Park with George (as the title role), Les Misérables (as Inspector Javert), Into the Woods (as The Big Bad Wolf and Cinderella’s Prince), The Secret Garden (as Dr. Neville Craven), as well as several other musicals. In 2024, he returned to the stage performing as a part of the United States national tour of A Beautiful Noise.

He was the musical theatre coordinator and associate professor in the theatre and dance department at Missouri State University and now serves as a lecturer of Musical Theatre at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Early life and education Born in Miami Beach, Florida, but raised in Fresno, California, with his six siblings. Westenberg graduated Bullard High School in 1971, where he was active in sports, specifically football. He then attended California State University, Fresno.

Westenberg received a master's degree from Denver’s National Theatre Conservatory.

He played the dual role of a Soldier/Alex and understudied Mandy Patinkin in Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George which opened in May 1984. He later took over Patinkin's leading roles of Georges Seurat/George where he played opposite Bernadette Peters in September of that year and played the role until April 1985.

He received a Tony Award nomination and won a Drama Desk Award for his performance as Cinderella's Prince and the Wolf in Sondheim's Into the Woods (1987). It was during this show where he met his wife, Kim Crosby, who played Cinderella.

In 1990, he starred as Inspector Javert in Les Misérables opposite Craig Schulman as Jean Valjean.

In 1991, he starred as Dr. Neville Craven in the original Broadway production of The Secret Garden playing opposite Patinkin again along with Daisy Eagan, Alison Fraser and Rebecca Luker. In 2020, Westenberg directed the same production at Missouri State University, where he served as the head of the Musical Theatre department until joining the Musical Theatre faculty at the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023.

In 1995, he was featured as Harry in the Broadway revival of Company. Two years later he portrayed Lyman Hall in the revival of 1776.

Other

In 1981, Westenberg played Norman Mushari in Kurt Vonnegut’s God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater at Arena Stage.

In 1994 and 2001, Westenberg starred as Scrooge’s nephew Fred in the musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol in Madison Square Garden.

In 1996, Westenberg was in the US National tour of Funny Girl as Nick Arnstein opposite Debbie Gibson as Fanny Brice. It ended prematurely in November 1996 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

In 2002, Westenberg was in the US and Japan tour of The Full Monty.

Westenberg has been in several MUNY (St. Louis) productions. He played Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady in 2001 opposite his wife, Kim Crosby, as Eliza Doolittle.

He played the roles of both Mr. Darling and Captain Hook in the July 2007 St. Louis MUNY production of Peter Pan. He reprised these roles in a 2009 production in Branson, Missouri, with Cathy Rigby as Peter Pan. In 2012, he directed a production of Les Misérables at Springfield Little Theatre.

Westenberg is currently starring as the older Neil Diamond in the 2024 national tour of A Beautiful Noise.

Television and film Westenberg's film credits include Mr. and Mrs. Bridge and The Ice Storm. He has made guest appearances on Third Watch, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and the short-lived series Aliens in the Family. He played Prince Raymond on the soap opera, One Life to Live from 1989-90. Minnie's Boys Herbert “Zeppo” Marx Carousel Billy Bigelow 1976 Sweet Charity Vittorio Vidal 1977 God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater Norman Mushari

Arena Stage Henry IV, Part 1 Vintner / Vernon / Ensemble Delacorte Theatre in Central Park The Death of Von Richthofen As Witnessed From Earth R. Raymond-Barker u/s Manfred Von Richthofen 1982

Hamlet Laertes 1982-1983

National tour Original Broadway Revival cast

A Soldier / Alex u/s Georges Seurat / George 1984 Original Broadway cast Georges Seurat / George 1984-1985 Broadway replacement Into the Woods The Wolf / Cinderella's Prince 1987-1989 Original Broadway cast She Loves Me Georg Nowack

Berkshire Theatre Festival Les Misérables Inspector Javert Broadway replacement The Secret Garden Dr. Neville Craven 1991-1992 Original Broadway cast Gay Divorce Guy 1993 Concert Abe Lincoln in Illinois Ninian Edwards 1993-1994 Original Broadway Revival cast Three Birds Alighting on a Field Auctioneer / David / Constantin / Ahmet

Off-Broadway The King and I The King of Siam The Muny A Christmas Carol Fred Anderson The Theater at Madison Square Garden I Sent a Letter to My Love Stan

Off-Broadway Company Harry Original Broadway Revival cast Funny Girl Nick Arnstein 1996 US National tour Violet Preacher / Bus Driver 1 / Radio Singer / Bus Driver 4

Off-Broadway 1776 Dr. Lyman Hall Original Broadway Revival cast Macbeth Macduff

Travels with My Aunt Henry Pulling / Wordsworth / Col. Hakim, Hatty A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens / Ghost of Christmas Past American Conservatory Theater 1776 John Adams 1999

The Sound of Music Captain Georg von Trapp

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Marcus Lycus Art Marc

Old Globe Theatre My Fair Lady Professor Henry Higgins The Muny A Christmas Carol Fred Anderson The Theater at Madison Square Garden The Full Monty Harold Nichols 2002-2004 International tour The Sound of Music Captain Georg von Trapp 2005

Oliver! Mr. Brownlow 2006 Peter Pan Captain Hook / Mr. Darling 2007 My Fair Lady Professor Henry Higgins 2008 Peter Pan Captain Hook / Mr. Darling 2009 Branson, Missouri Les Misérables

2012 Springfield Little Theatre A Little Night Music

Pippin Amélie 2018 The Secret Garden 2020 Brigadoon 2021 Titanic 2024 University of Colorado Boulder A Beautiful Noise Neil Diamond (Now) 2024-2026 US National Tour

Filmography

Film

Television

Personal life He married actress and singer Kim Crosby on June 19, 1991, and the couple now have three children, Emily, Katie, and Joel.

Westenberg and Crosby currently reside in Longmont, Colorado, where Westenberg serves as a lecturer in Musical Theatre in the College of Music at the University of Colorado Boulder. He was previously the chair of the theatre program at Drury University and coordinator of the musical theatre program at Missouri State University.

Awards and nominations