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Donna Vivino

Donna Vivino
EducationBarnard College (BA)
OccupationsActress, singer
Websitehttp://www.donnavivino.com/

Donna Vivino (born 1978)[1] is an American theatre, television, and film actress and singer. She is known for playing Elphaba in the Broadway production of Wicked and as the original Young Cosette in Les Misérables on Broadway. In January 2023, she guest-starred in Law & Order as the character Rachel Ford. She appeared in the 2023 short film "Family Affair" and the feature film Ezra with Bobby Cannavale.

Early years

Vivino was raised in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Her acting career began in 1985 when she was cast in the role of Tess Abbott on the short-lived CBS television series Hometown. In 1987, she made an appearance on Dave Letterman's Late Night to sing New York, New York [2], and later that same year she sang the U.S. national anthem at the Minneapolis Metrodome before Game 2 of the World Series.[3]

She attended Fair Lawn High School, and graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City.[4][5]

She is the daughter of musician Jerry Vivino, and the niece of musician Jimmy Vivino and film and stage performer Floyd Vivino.[6][7]

Career

Beautiful Dreamer

Vivino's song-cycle "Beautiful Dreamer" travels through musical eras along with her personal history. This show features 13 songs that have resonated with Vivino since childhood and embody her various interpretations of a “dream”. Accompanied by a world-class jazz quartet led by her father, Jerry Vivino and pianist/arranger Mitch Forman, Vivino gave interpretations of songs by Rodgers and Hart, George and Ira Gershwin, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Randy Newman, and other legendary writers. A recording of the show is available on iTunes, Amazon, and Sh-K-Boom Records.

Stars of David

Vivino performed in Stars Of David, which opened November 12, 2013, at the Daryl Roth Theatre. The show ran until December 15, and Donna was seen in roles such as Mandy, Ruth Ginsburg, and Fran Drescher.

Wicked

Vivino played a 20-month stint as Elphaba on the first U.S. tour of the smash-hit musical Wicked. She joined the tour on October 30, 2007, serving as the standby for Victoria Matlock and Carmen Cusack. Her first performance took place on December 26, 2007, and her first in the lead role on November 5, 2008. She starred alongside Katie Rose Clarke and later Chandra Lee Schwartz as Glinda. Her final performance took place on July 4, 2010. On August 23, 2011, Vivino took over the position of Elphaba standby on Broadway, replacing Jennifer DiNoia. She first covered during the absence of lead Teal Wicks on the matinee of September 14. Jackie Burns replaced Wicks once her contract ended. Incidentally, Burns was Vivino's replacement on the national tour. Vivino was reunited with Clarke and Schwartz (who reprised their lead roles) while performing as standby. Vivino went on for Burns the last two weeks of Burns' contract while she was suffering from the flu. She then went on as the Elphaba standby for Willemijn Verkaik and then for Lindsay Mendez. She left the show on November 3, 2013.

Cats

In early 2020, she played the role of Grizabella in a North American tour of Cats before her run was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Theatre credits

Broadway

Off-Broadway

National tours

  • Cats, National, as Grizabella (2020)
  • Wicked, 1st national, as Elphaba (November 5, 2008 – July 4, 2010)
  • Wicked, 1st national, as Elphaba standby (October 3, 2007 – November 4, 2008)
  • Hairspray, 1st national, as Shelley (2003–04)

Workshops and readings

  • Bedwetter, as Beth Ann
  • Legally Blonde, as Enid Hoops
  • Dancing Under Water, as Girl Next Door
  • Terezin, as Lorelei
  • Tarzan, as Storyteller
  • Owl Creek, as Shiloh

Television and film

References

  1. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDWlSu7XCyI
  2. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbgXwCRfyoI
  3. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDWlSu7XCyI
  4. ^ Belkin, Lisa. "Savvy 7-year-old acts like a real pro", Lawrence Journal-World, January 5, 1986. Accessed February 8, 2011. "FAIR LAWN, N.J. - The actress 49 inches tall, 7 years old and missing three teeth - stood in the center of her den and patiently explained the difference between television commercials and real life."
  5. ^ Staff writer (n.d.). "Biography". donnavivino.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
  6. ^ https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv/articles/uncle-floyd-legendary-nj-comedian-121517366.html
  7. ^ https://www.avclub.com/rip-uncle-floyd-vivino-obituary
  8. ^ "Submissions Only". Archived from the original on 2014-11-28. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
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