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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Robert Westenberg
| name = Robert Westenberg
| image =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|10|26}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|10|26}}
| birth_place = [[Miami Beach, Florida]]
| birth_place = [[Miami Beach, Florida]]
Line 8: Line 9:
| education = [[Bullard High School (Fresno, California)|Bullard High School]]<br />[[California State University, Fresno]]
| education = [[Bullard High School (Fresno, California)|Bullard High School]]<br />[[California State University, Fresno]]
| alma_mater = [[National Theatre Conservatory]]
| alma_mater = [[National Theatre Conservatory]]
| occupation = Actor, singer, educator
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Actor
* singer
* educator}}
| years_active = 1975–present
| years_active = 1975–present
| known_for = ''[[Sunday in the Park with George]]'', ''[[Into the Woods]]'', ''[[The Secret Garden (musical)|The Secret Garden]]''
| known_for = ''[[Into the Woods]]''<br />''[[Sunday in the Park with George]]''<br />''[[The Secret Garden (musical)|The Secret Garden]]''
| spouse = [[Kim Crosby (singer)|Kim Crosby]] (m. 1991)
| spouse = [[Kim Crosby (singer)|Kim Crosby]] (m. 1991)
| children = 3
| children = 3
}}
}}


'''Robert Westenberg''' (born October 26, 1953) is an American stage actor and singer, acting teacher, and professor. He appeared on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in ''[[Sunday in the Park with George]]'' (as [[Georges Seurat|the title role]]), ''[[Les Miserables (musical)|Les Misérables]]'' (as [[Inspector Javert]]), ''[[Into the Woods]]'' (as [[Big Bad Wolf|The Wolf]] & [[Prince Charming|Cinderella’s Prince]]), and ''[[The Secret Garden (musical)|The Secret Garden]]'' (as Dr. Neville Craven), as well as several other musicals. Westenberg received a [[Tony Award]] nomination for his performance in ''Into the Woods''.
'''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 theatre|Broadway]] cast of ''[[Into the Woods]]''.


He appeared on Broadway in ''[[Sunday in the Park with George]]'' (as [[Georges Seurat|the title role]]), ''[[Les Miserables (musical)|Les Misérables]]'' (as [[Inspector Javert]]), ''[[Into the Woods]]'' (as [[Big Bad Wolf|The Big Bad Wolf]] and [[Prince Charming|Cinderella’s Prince]]), ''[[The Secret Garden (musical)|The Secret Garden]]'' (as Dr. Neville Craven), as well as several other musicals. In 2024, he returned to performing in the United States national tour of [[A Beautiful Noise (musical)|''A Beautiful Noise'']].
⚫
He was the musical theatre coordinator and associate professor in the theatre and dance department at [[Missouri State University]] and is now retired.

⚫
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==
==Early life and education==
Born in [[Miami Beach, Florida]], but raised in [[Fresno, California]] with his six siblings. Westenberg graduated [[Bullard High School (Fresno, California)|Bullard High School]] in 1971, where he was active in sports, specifically football. He then attended [[California State University, Fresno]].<ref name=master/><ref>Rawson, Christopher. [http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/20010928medea0928fnp3.asp "Stage Preview: 'Medea' brings top-class, hard-working actor to the bad-guy role of Jason"] post-gazette.com, September 28, 2001</ref>
Born in [[Miami Beach, Florida]], but raised in [[Fresno, California]], with his six siblings. Westenberg graduated [[Bullard High School (Fresno, California)|Bullard High School]] in 1971, where he was active in sports, specifically football. He then attended [[California State University, Fresno]].<ref name=master/><ref>Rawson, Christopher. [http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/20010928medea0928fnp3.asp "Stage Preview: 'Medea' brings top-class, hard-working actor to the bad-guy role of Jason"] post-gazette.com, September 28, 2001</ref>


Westenberg received a master's degree from Denver’s [[National Theatre Conservatory]].<ref name=msu/>
Westenberg received a master's degree from Denver’s [[National Theatre Conservatory]].<ref name=msu/>
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He made his [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] debut in the 1983 revival of ''[[Zorba (musical)|Zorba]]'' as Nikos, for which he won the [[Theatre World Award]].<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/production/zorba-broadway-theatre-vault-0000012262# " ''Zorba'', Broadway 1983"] Playbill (vault), accessed July 27, 2016</ref>
He made his [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] debut in the 1983 revival of ''[[Zorba (musical)|Zorba]]'' as Nikos, for which he won the [[Theatre World Award]].<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/production/zorba-broadway-theatre-vault-0000012262# " ''Zorba'', Broadway 1983"] Playbill (vault), accessed July 27, 2016</ref>


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.<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/personlistpage/person-list?production=00000150-aea2-d936-a7fd-eef6797b0000&type=op# " ''Sunday in the Park with George'' Broadway 1984"] Playbill (vault), accessed July 27, 2016</ref>
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.<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/personlistpage/person-list?production=00000150-aea2-d936-a7fd-eef6797b0000&type=op# " ''Sunday in the Park with George'' Broadway 1984"] Playbill (vault), accessed July 27, 2016</ref>


He received a [[Tony Award]] nomination and won a [[Drama Desk Award]] for his performance as [[Prince Charming|Cinderella's Prince]] and the [[Big Bad Wolf|Wolf]] in Sondheim's ''[[Into the Woods]]'' (1987).<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/production/into-the-woods-martin-beck-theatre-vault-0000008219# " ''Into the Woods'' Broadway 1987"] Playbill (vault), accessed July 27, 2016</ref> It was during this show where he met his wife, [[Kim Crosby (singer)|Kim Crosby]], who played [[Cinderella]].<ref name=where>Culwell, Logan. [http://www.playbill.com/article/did-they-finish-the-hat-where-are-the-stars-of-sunday-in-the-park-with-george-now-com-348196# "Did They Finish the Hat? Where Are the Stars of 'Sunday in the Park with George' Now?"] Playbill, May 12, 2015</ref>
He received a [[Tony Award]] nomination and won a [[Drama Desk Award]] for his performance as [[Prince Charming|Cinderella's Prince]] and the [[Big Bad Wolf|Wolf]] in Sondheim's ''[[Into the Woods]]'' (1987).<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/production/into-the-woods-martin-beck-theatre-vault-0000008219# " ''Into the Woods'' Broadway 1987"] Playbill (vault), accessed July 27, 2016</ref> It was during this show where he met his wife, [[Kim Crosby (singer)|Kim Crosby]], who played [[Cinderella]].<ref name=where>Culwell, Logan. [http://www.playbill.com/article/did-they-finish-the-hat-where-are-the-stars-of-sunday-in-the-park-with-george-now-com-348196# "Did They Finish the Hat? Where Are the Stars of 'Sunday in the Park with George' Now?"] Playbill, May 12, 2015</ref>


In 1990, he starred as [[Javert|Inspector Javert]] in ''[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]]'' opposite Craig Schulman as [[Jean Valjean]].<ref>[http://www.broadwaylesmis.com/actors.asp?ID=120 Westenberg Les Mis Database]</ref>
In 1990, he starred as [[Javert|Inspector Javert]] in ''[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]]'' opposite Craig Schulman as [[Jean Valjean]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.broadwaylesmis.com/actors.asp?ID=120|title=Les Misérables Broadway: Robert Westenberg|website=www.broadwaylesmis.com}}</ref>


In 1991, he starred as Dr. Neville Craven in the original Broadway production of ''[[The Secret Garden (musical)|The Secret Garden]]'' playing opposite Patinkin again along with [[Daisy Eagan]], [[Alison Fraser]] and [[Rebecca Luker]].<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/production/the-secret-garden-st-james-theatre-vault-0000004178# " ''The Secret Garden'' Broadway 1991"] Playbill (vault), accessed July 27, 2016</ref> In 2020, Westenberg directed the same production at [[Missouri State University]], where he is head of the Musical Theatre department.<ref>{{cite web|last=Culwell-Block|first=Logan|date=September 16, 2020|title=Robert Westenberg Returns to the 'Prophetic' Secret Garden Amid Coronavirus Pandemic|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/robert-westenberg-returns-to-the-prophetic-secret-garden-amid-coronavirus-pandemic|access-date=2021-01-12|website=Playbill}}</ref>
In 1991, he starred as Dr. Neville Craven in the original Broadway production of ''[[The Secret Garden (musical)|The Secret Garden]]'' playing opposite Patinkin again along with [[Daisy Eagan]], [[Alison Fraser]] and [[Rebecca Luker]].<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/production/the-secret-garden-st-james-theatre-vault-0000004178# " ''The Secret Garden'' Broadway 1991"] Playbill (vault), accessed July 27, 2016</ref> 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. <ref name="auto"> [https://www.colorado.edu/music/robert-westenberg] CU Boulder College of Music Faculty </ref> <ref>{{cite web|last=Culwell-Block|first=Logan|date=September 16, 2020|title=Robert Westenberg Returns to the 'Prophetic' Secret Garden Amid Coronavirus Pandemic|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/robert-westenberg-returns-to-the-prophetic-secret-garden-amid-coronavirus-pandemic|access-date=2021-01-12|website=Playbill}}</ref>

In 1995, he was featured as Harry in the Broadway [[revival (theatre)|revival]] of [[Company (musical)|''Company'']]. Two years later he portrayed [[Lyman Hall]] in the revival of [[1776 (musical)|''1776'']].


===Other===
===Other===
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He played the roles of both Mr. Darling and Captain Hook in the July 2007 St. Louis MUNY production of ''[[Peter Pan (1954 musical)|Peter Pan]]''.<ref name="peter">Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/hes-flying-francis-jue-is-peter-pan-at-the-muny-beginning-july-16-com-142222# "He's Flying: Francis Jue Is 'Peter Pan' at the Muny Beginning July 16"] ''Playbill'', July 16, 2007</ref> He reprised these roles in a 2009 production in [[Branson, Missouri]], with [[Cathy Rigby]] as Peter Pan.<ref>Cantrell, Rachel. [http://broadcast.branson.com/2009/05/15/cathy-rigby-as-peter-pan-flies-onto-the-mansion-theatre-stage/ "Cathy Rigby as Peter Pan"] branson.com, May 15, 2009</ref> In 2012, he directed a production of ''[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]]'' at [[Springfield Little Theatre]].
He played the roles of both Mr. Darling and Captain Hook in the July 2007 St. Louis MUNY production of ''[[Peter Pan (1954 musical)|Peter Pan]]''.<ref name="peter">Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/hes-flying-francis-jue-is-peter-pan-at-the-muny-beginning-july-16-com-142222# "He's Flying: Francis Jue Is 'Peter Pan' at the Muny Beginning July 16"] ''Playbill'', July 16, 2007</ref> He reprised these roles in a 2009 production in [[Branson, Missouri]], with [[Cathy Rigby]] as Peter Pan.<ref>Cantrell, Rachel. [http://broadcast.branson.com/2009/05/15/cathy-rigby-as-peter-pan-flies-onto-the-mansion-theatre-stage/ "Cathy Rigby as Peter Pan"] branson.com, May 15, 2009</ref> In 2012, he directed a production of ''[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]]'' at [[Springfield Little Theatre]].

Westenberg is currently starring as the older [[Neil Diamond]] in the 2024 national tour of [[A Beautiful Noise (musical)|''A Beautiful Noise'']].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/cast-complete-for-national-tour-of-a-beautiful-noise-starring-nick-fradiani&ved=2ahUKEwiUjeuOiPGHAxW5nokEHWeWGw4QxfQBKAB6BAgTEAE&usg=AOvVaw3JgYzuosv7LwGcFqvs01jT|title=Cast Complete for National Tour of A Beautiful Noise, Starring Nick Fradiani}}</ref>


===Television and film===
===Television and film===
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|Conrad Birdie
|Conrad Birdie
|rowspan=2|1975
|rowspan=2|1975
|rowspan=4|[[Good Company Players]]<ref>[https://gcplayers.com/robert-westenberg-gcp-alumnus/ Westenberg GCP]</ref>
|rowspan=4|[[Good Company Players]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gcplayers.com/robert-westenberg-gcp-alumnus/|title=Westenberg GCP}}</ref>
|-
|-
|''[[Minnie's Boys]]''
|''[[Minnie's Boys]]''
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|''[[Hamlet]]''
|''[[Hamlet]]''
|[[Laertes (Hamlet)|Laertes]]
|[[Laertes (Hamlet)|Laertes]]
|1982-83<ref>[http://www.iobdb.com/Production/2071 Westenberg Hamlet]</ref>
|1982-1983<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iobdb.com/Production/2071|title=Hamlet|website=www.iobdb.com}}</ref>
|-
|-
|rowspan=2|''[[Zorba (musical)|Zorba]]''
|rowspan=2|''[[Zorba (musical)|Zorba]]''
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|National tour
|National tour
|-
|-
|Broadway
|Original Broadway Revival cast
|-
|-
|rowspan=2|''[[Sunday in the Park with George]]''
|rowspan=2|''[[Sunday in the Park with George]]''
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u/s [[Georges Seurat]] / George
u/s [[Georges Seurat]] / George
|1984
|1984
|rowspan=3|Broadway
|Original Broadway cast
|-
|-
|[[Georges Seurat]] / George
|[[Georges Seurat]] / George
| 1984-85
| 1984-1985
|Broadway replacement
|-
|-
|''[[Into the Woods]]''
|''[[Into the Woods]]''
|[[Big Bad Wolf|The Wolf]] / [[Prince Charming|Cinderella's Prince]]
|[[Big Bad Wolf|The Wolf]] / [[Prince Charming|Cinderella's Prince]]
|1987-89
|1987-1989
|Original Broadway cast
|-
|-
|''[[She Loves Me]]''
|''[[She Loves Me]]''
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|''[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]]''
|''[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]]''
|[[Javert|Inspector Javert]]
|[[Javert|Inspector Javert]]
|rowspan=2|Broadway
|Broadway replacement
|-
|-
|''[[The Secret Garden (musical)|The Secret Garden]]''
|''[[The Secret Garden (musical)|The Secret Garden]]''
|Dr. Neville Craven
|Dr. Neville Craven
|1991
|1991
|Original Broadway cast
|-
|-
|''[[Gay Divorce]]''
|''[[Gay Divorce]]''
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|''[[Abe Lincoln in Illinois (play)|Abe Lincoln in Illinois]]''
|''[[Abe Lincoln in Illinois (play)|Abe Lincoln in Illinois]]''
|Ninian Edwards
|Ninian Edwards
|1993-94
|1993-1994
|Broadway
|Original Broadway Revival cast
|-
|-
|''[[Three Birds Alighting on a Field]]''
|''[[Three Birds Alighting on a Field]]''
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|''[[Company (musical)|Company]]''
|''[[Company (musical)|Company]]''
|Harry
|Harry
|Broadway
|Original Broadway Revival cast
|-
|-
|''[[Funny Girl (musical)|Funny Girl]]''
|''[[Funny Girl (musical)|Funny Girl]]''
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|''[[1776 (musical)|1776]]''
|''[[1776 (musical)|1776]]''
|[[Lyman Hall|Dr. Lyman Hall]]
|[[Lyman Hall|Dr. Lyman Hall]]
|Broadway
|Original Broadway Revival cast
|-
|-
|''[[Macbeth]]''
|''[[Macbeth]]''
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|-
|-
|''[[A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum]]''
|''[[A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum]]''
|Lycus
| Marcus Lycus
|-
|-
|''[[Art (play)|Art]]''
|''[[Art (play)|Art]]''
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|''[[The Full Monty (musical)|The Full Monty]]''
|''[[The Full Monty (musical)|The Full Monty]]''
|Harold Nichols
|Harold Nichols
|2002-04
|2002-2004
|International tour
|North America / Japan National tour
|-
|-
|''[[The Sound of Music]]''
|''[[The Sound of Music]]''
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|-
|-
|''[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]]''
|''[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]]''
|rowspan=4|Director
!rowspan=7|Director
|2012
|2012
|[[Landers Theatre|Springfield Little Theatre]]
|[[Landers Theatre|Springfield Little Theatre]]
|-
|-
|''[[A Little Night Music]]''
⚫
|rowspan=2|''[[The Secret Garden (musical)|The Secret Garden]]''
|rowspan=2|2017
⚫
|2020
|rowspan=3|[[Missouri State University]]
|rowspan=5|[[Missouri State University]]
|-
|-
|[[Pippin (musical)|''Pippin'']]
|2021<ref>[https://calendar.missouristate.edu/event/113997/215778 Secret Garden 2021]</ref>
|-
|[[Amélie (musical)|''Amélie'']]
|2018
|-
⚫
|''[[The Secret Garden (musical)|The Secret Garden]]''
⚫
|2020
|-
|-
|''[[Brigadoon]]''
|''[[Brigadoon]]''
|2021
|2021
|-
|[[Titanic (musical)|''Titanic'']]
|2024
|[[University of Colorado Boulder]]
|-
|[[A Beautiful Noise (musical)|''A Beautiful Noise'']]
|[[Neil Diamond]] (Now)
|2024-2025
|US National Tour
|}
|}


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== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
He married actress and singer [[Kim Crosby (singer)|Kim Crosby]] on June 19, 1991, and the couple now have three children.
He married actress and singer [[Kim Crosby (singer)|Kim Crosby]] on June 19, 1991, and the couple now have three children, Emily, Katie, and Joel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/diva-talk-chatting-with-follies-kim-crosby-plus-victor-victoria-piazzas-clark-that-is-com-126415|title=DIVA TALK: Chatting with Follies' Kim Crosby Plus Victor Victoria (Piazza's Clark, that is) &#124; Playbill}}</ref>


⚫
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]].<ref name=msu>[http://blogs.missouristate.edu/coalexpressions/?p=7075 "Award-winning actor to lead MSU’s musical theatre program"] missouristate.edu, February 1, 2016</ref><ref>[http://www.broadwayworld.com/kansas-city/article/INTO-THE-WOODS-Tony-Nominee-Robert-Westenberg-Joins-MSU-Faculty-20160202 " 'INTO THE WOODS' Tony Nominee Robert Westenberg Joins MSU Faculty"] broadwayworld.com, February 2, 2016</ref><ref>Gordon, David. [http://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/5-facts-we-learned-into-the-woods-reunion_73309.html "5 Facts We Learned About 'Into the Woods' During the Original-Cast Reunion"] theatermania.com, June 22, 2015</ref><ref name=master>[http://www.masterworksbroadway.com/artist/robert-westenberg/ "Robert Westenberg Bio"] masterworksbroadway.com, accessed July 2016</ref> <ref name="auto"/>
Westenberg lives with his wife, daughters Emily and Katherine, and son Joe in [[Springfield, Missouri]], where he is musical theatre coordinator and associate professor in the theatre and dance department at Missouri State University. He was previously

⚫
chair of the theatre program at [[Drury University]].<ref name=msu>[http://blogs.missouristate.edu/coalexpressions/?p=7075 "Award-winning actor to lead MSU’s musical theatre program"] missouristate.edu, February 1, 2016</ref><ref>[http://www.broadwayworld.com/kansas-city/article/INTO-THE-WOODS-Tony-Nominee-Robert-Westenberg-Joins-MSU-Faculty-20160202 " 'INTO THE WOODS' Tony Nominee Robert Westenberg Joins MSU Faculty"] broadwayworld.com, February 2, 2016</ref><ref>Gordon, David. [http://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/5-facts-we-learned-into-the-woods-reunion_73309.html "5 Facts We Learned About 'Into the Woods' During the Original-Cast Reunion"] theatermania.com, June 22, 2015</ref><ref name=master>[http://www.masterworksbroadway.com/artist/robert-westenberg/ "Robert Westenberg Bio"] masterworksbroadway.com, accessed July 2016</ref>
==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Work
!Award
!Category
!Result
|-
|1984
|''[[Zorba (musical)|Zorba]]''
|colspan=2|[[Theatre World Award]]
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=2|1988
|rowspan=2|''[[Into the Woods]]''
|[[Tony Award]]
|Best Featured Actor In A Musical
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Drama Desk Award]]
|Outstanding Featured Actor In A Musical
|{{won}}
|}


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 14:34, 1 October 2024

Robert Westenberg
Born (1953-10-26) October 26, 1953 (age 71)
Miami Beach, Florida
Other namesBob Westenberg
EducationBullard High School
California State University, Fresno
Alma materNational Theatre Conservatory
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
  • educator
Years active1975–present
Known forInto the Woods
Sunday in the Park with George
The Secret Garden
SpouseKim Crosby (m. 1991)
Children3

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 performing in 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

[edit]

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.[1][2]

Westenberg received a master's degree from Denver’s National Theatre Conservatory.[3]

Career

[edit]

Broadway

[edit]

He made his Broadway debut in the 1983 revival of Zorba as Nikos, for which he won the Theatre World Award.[4]

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.[5]

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).[6] It was during this show where he met his wife, Kim Crosby, who played Cinderella.[7]

In 1990, he starred as Inspector Javert in Les Misérables opposite Craig Schulman as Jean Valjean.[8]

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.[9] 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. [10] [11]

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

[edit]

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.[12][13][14][15][16]

In 2002, Westenberg was in the US and Japan tour of The Full Monty.[17]

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.[18]

He played the roles of both Mr. Darling and Captain Hook in the July 2007 St. Louis MUNY production of Peter Pan.[19] He reprised these roles in a 2009 production in Branson, Missouri, with Cathy Rigby as Peter Pan.[20] 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.[21]

Television and film

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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.[1]

He reprised his roles of a Soldier/Alex and the Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince in the American Playhouse episodes of Sunday in the Park with George and Into the Woods.

Stage credits

[edit]
Show Role(s) Year(s) Production
Bye Bye Birdie Conrad Birdie 1975 Good Company Players[22]
Minnie's Boys Herbert “Zeppo” Marx
Carousel Billy Bigelow 1976
Sweet Charity Vittorio Vidal 1977
God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater Norman Mushari 1981 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 Off-Broadway
Hamlet Laertes 1982-1983[23]
Zorba Nikos 1983 National tour
Original Broadway Revival cast
Sunday in the Park with George 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 1990 Berkshire Theatre Festival
Les Misérables Inspector Javert Broadway replacement
The Secret Garden Dr. Neville Craven 1991 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 1994 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 1995 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 1997 Off-Broadway
1776 Dr. Lyman Hall Original Broadway Revival cast
Macbeth Macduff 1998 Denver Center Theatre Company
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 Muny
The Sound of Music Captain Georg von Trapp 2000
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Marcus Lycus
Art Marc 2001 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 The Muny
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 Director 2012 Springfield Little Theatre
A Little Night Music 2017 Missouri State University
Pippin
Amélie 2018
The Secret Garden 2020
Brigadoon 2021
Titanic 2024 University of Colorado Boulder
A Beautiful Noise Neil Diamond (Now) 2024-2025 US National Tour

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1984 Bearskin, or The Man Who Didn't Wash for Seven Years Bearskin Short film
1990 Mr. & Mrs. Bridge Ruth's Boyfriend
1995 The Stars Fell on Henrietta Mr. Rumsfelk
1996 Before and After Journalist #1
1997 The Ice Storm Rob Halford

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1986 American Playhouse A Soldier / Alex Episode: "Sunday in the Park With George"
1989-1990 One Life to Live Prince Raymond Hohenstein Recurring role
1991 American Playhouse The Wolf / Cinderella's Prince Episode: "Into the Woods"
1996 Swift Justice Leo Episode: "Where Were You in '72?"
C.P.W. Episode: "Out On Bail"
Aliens in the Family High Elder Prissy Episode: "Respect Your Elders"
2001 Third Watch Dr. Gambetti Episode: "Unfinished Business"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Col. Marsden Episode: "Manhunt"

Personal life

[edit]

He married actress and singer Kim Crosby on June 19, 1991, and the couple now have three children, Emily, Katie, and Joel.[24]

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.[3][25][26][1] [10]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Work Award Category Result
1984 Zorba Theatre World Award Won
1988 Into the Woods Tony Award Best Featured Actor In A Musical Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor In A Musical Won

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Robert Westenberg Bio" masterworksbroadway.com, accessed July 2016
  2. ^ Rawson, Christopher. "Stage Preview: 'Medea' brings top-class, hard-working actor to the bad-guy role of Jason" post-gazette.com, September 28, 2001
  3. ^ a b "Award-winning actor to lead MSU’s musical theatre program" missouristate.edu, February 1, 2016
  4. ^ " Zorba, Broadway 1983" Playbill (vault), accessed July 27, 2016
  5. ^ " Sunday in the Park with George Broadway 1984" Playbill (vault), accessed July 27, 2016
  6. ^ " Into the Woods Broadway 1987" Playbill (vault), accessed July 27, 2016
  7. ^ Culwell, Logan. "Did They Finish the Hat? Where Are the Stars of 'Sunday in the Park with George' Now?" Playbill, May 12, 2015
  8. ^ "Les Misérables Broadway: Robert Westenberg". www.broadwaylesmis.com.
  9. ^ " The Secret Garden Broadway 1991" Playbill (vault), accessed July 27, 2016
  10. ^ a b [1] CU Boulder College of Music Faculty
  11. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (September 16, 2020). "Robert Westenberg Returns to the 'Prophetic' Secret Garden Amid Coronavirus Pandemic". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  12. ^ "'Funny Girl' tour, 1996". deb.org. Retrieved January 28, 2010.
  13. ^ "Just Don't Call Her Debbie: For Deborah Gibson, anything is still possible". Rolling Stone. February 10, 1997. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008.
  14. ^ Jones, Chris (February 17–23, 1997). "Off Season: Tourers Hitting Road Blocks". Variety. p. 73.
  15. ^ Weiskind, Ron (October 3, 1996). "'Funny Girl' Opts For Laughs Over Depth". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. F8.
  16. ^ Lefkowitz, David (November 26, 1996). "Debbie Gibson Funny Girl Tour Cancels 1996 Engagements". Playbill. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  17. ^ Ehren, Christine. " 'Full Monty' 's Westenberg, Woods Bare All for Boston, DC, San Fran, Japan", Playbill, March 22, 2002
  18. ^ "2002 Interview with Robert Westenberg" talkinbroadway.com
  19. ^ Gans, Andrew. "He's Flying: Francis Jue Is 'Peter Pan' at the Muny Beginning July 16" Playbill, July 16, 2007
  20. ^ Cantrell, Rachel. "Cathy Rigby as Peter Pan" branson.com, May 15, 2009
  21. ^ "Cast Complete for National Tour of A Beautiful Noise, Starring Nick Fradiani".
  22. ^ "Westenberg GCP".
  23. ^ "Hamlet". www.iobdb.com.
  24. ^ "DIVA TALK: Chatting with Follies' Kim Crosby Plus Victor Victoria (Piazza's Clark, that is) | Playbill".
  25. ^ " 'INTO THE WOODS' Tony Nominee Robert Westenberg Joins MSU Faculty" broadwayworld.com, February 2, 2016
  26. ^ Gordon, David. "5 Facts We Learned About 'Into the Woods' During the Original-Cast Reunion" theatermania.com, June 22, 2015
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