Jessica Vosk

Jessica Vosk (born September 30, 1983) is an American singer and actress, known for her work in musical theater.

Jessica Vosk
Vosk in February 2018
Born (1983-09-30) September 30, 1983
NationalityAmerican
Alma materMontclair State University (BA)
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Known forWicked, Fiddler on the Roof, Finding Neverland, The Bridges of Madison County
Websitejessicavosk.com

Vosk is best known for her performance as the lead role of Elphaba in Wicked, which she played on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre from July 2018 to May 2019 (a period that included the show's 15th Anniversary). She also starred as Elphaba in the show's second national tour from September 2016 to September 2017.[1][2][3][4][5]

Early life and education

Vosk was raised in Clinton, New Jersey,[6] starting in community theater at a young age. Her father played in a band and first taught her how to sing. After graduating from North Hunterdon High School,[7] she pursued a degree in musical theater at The Hartt School in West Hartford, Connecticut, but transferred to Montclair State University, graduating with a degree in Communications and Public and Investor Relations. She worked in investor relations for three years on Wall Street before deciding to pursue her Broadway ambitions. [8]

Career

Theatre

Vosk's big break came in 2009 when she was cast as a vocalist for the live concert Kristina written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA and performed at Carnegie Hall and at London's Royal Albert Hall.[9]

Vosk made her Broadway debut in 2014 in Jason Robert Brown's Bridges of Madison County. She was cast as a swing, and she made her principal debut as Marian. She also was an understudy for the role of Chiara.[10] [11]

From The Bridges of Madison County she went to Finding Neverland, in which she was in the original Broadway production playing the role of Miss Bassett and an understudy for Mrs du Maurier.[12]

She then played Fruma Sarah in the 2015–2016 Broadway Revival of Fiddler on the Roof. She also was an understudy for Golde/Yente.[13][14]

Also in 2014, she performed as Anita in the San Francisco Symphony's live recording of the West Side Story score which was nominated for a Grammy.[15]

Vosk left Fiddler on The Roof in 2016 to join the cast of the Second National Tour of Wicked succeeding Emily Koch in the lead role of Elphaba.[16][17] She made her debut in South Bend, Indiana on September 7, 2016, opposite Amanda Jane Cooper as Glinda.[18] Her last show on the tour was September 24, 2017, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

On June 18, 2018, it was announced that Vosk would reprise the role of Elphaba in the Broadway production of Wicked, succeeding Jackie Burns. Her first performance took place on July 16, 2018, at the Gershwin Theatre.[19] Vosk ended her run as Elphaba on May 12, 2019, and was succeeded by Hannah Corneau. Vosk was the winner of the 2019 Broadway.com Audience Choice Award for Best Replacement (Female) for her portrayal of Elphaba.[20]

Also in 2019 Vosk originated the role of Aunt Val in the world premiere of the musical adaptation of Becoming Nancy. The production played at the Coca-Cola Stage at the Alliance Theatre, which is part of the Atlanta Theatre Company from September 6 to October 6, 2019.[21] Vosk was the winner of the BroadwayWorld Atlanta Best Actress in a Musical Award.[22]

On February 17, 2020, Vosk appeared as one of The Narrators in the 50th Anniversary concert of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Lincoln Center.

Vosk made her solo Carnegie Hall debut on November 8, 2021.[23]

Recording work

Vosk released her first album titled Wild and Free on August 10, 2018. The album is a mix of musical theatre and pop and includes songs by Sara Bareilles, Jason Robert Brown, Prince, Sia, Pasek and Paul, and more.[24] The album debuted on the Billboard Charts at No. 29 for Independent Artists and No. 12 for Heatseekers (up and coming musicians).[25]

Vosk released an EP of Christmas songs titled A Very CoCo Christmas on December 9, 2020.[26]

Other work

She is the co-host of the podcast "Killing it on Broadway" with Jennifer Simard.

Personal life

Vosk has been a resident of West New York, New Jersey,[6] and has a dog named Fred.

Theatre credits
Year(s) Production Role Location Category
2014 West Side Story Anita Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall San Francisco Symphony Concert
2014 The Bridges of Madison County Swing Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre Broadway
2015 Finding Neverland Miss Bassett / Ensemble Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
2015–16 Fiddler on the Roof Fruma Sarah / Golde (understudy) Broadway Theatre
2016–17 Wicked Elphaba Various National Tour
2018–19 Gershwin Theatre Broadway
2019 Becoming Nancy[27] Aunt Val / Kate Bush Alliance Theatre World Premiere
2020 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat The Narrator David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center 50th Anniversary Concert

Solo concerts and cabarets
  • 2015: I Came From Jersey For This! (Feinstein's/54 Below)
  • 2016: You Asked For It (Joe's Pub)
  • 2018: Being Green (Feinstein's / 54 Below)
  • 2019-Present: Wild and Free: In Concert (Various)
  • 2021: My Golden Age (Carnegie Hall)
  • 2022: Get Happy: A Judy Garland Centennial Celebration

Discography

LPs
  • 2018: Wild and Free (Broadway Records)

EPs
  • 2020: A Very CoCo Christmas (Vosky Records)


Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Show Result
2018 Broadway.com Cabaret Awards Best Show, Celebrity Being Green Won
2019 Broadway.com Audience Awards Best Replacement Wicked Won
2019 Broadway.com Regional Awards (Atlanta) Best Actress in a Musical (Professional) Becoming Nancy Won
2020 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards Best Filmed Show, Created in Quarantine Radio Free Birdland Won

References
  1. League, The Broadway. "Jessica Vosk – Broadway Cast & Staff – IBDB".
  2. Gray, Channing (September 15, 2016). "Jessica Vosk brings her Broadway chops to PPAC's 'Wicked'". Providence Journal – via providencejournal.com.
  3. McKnight, Steven (December 17, 2016). "Wicked. Pop-u-lar and deservedly so. At the Kennedy Center". DC Theater Scene – via dctheatrescene.com.
  4. Royce, Graydon (April 14, 2017). "There's no stopping 'Wicked' as it opens a monthlong run in Minneapolis". Minneapolis Star Tribune – via startibune.com.
  5. Gans, Andrew (June 18, 2018). "Jessica Vosk to Join Broadway's Wicked". Playbill. Archived from the original on June 18, 2018.
  6. Pennington, Juliet. "The VIP Lounge with Jessica Vosk", Boston Globe, June 23, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2017. "The Clinton, N.J., native, now calls West New York, N.J., home. Vosk, 33, who plays Elphaba (the role made popular by Idina Menzel), said she is enjoying spending time in Boston, where her younger brother, musician Daniel Vosk, went to school."
  7. Staff. "Youth News", New Jersey Hills Media Group, February 27, 2002. Retrieved October 10, 2017. "The North Hunterdon High School Theatre Organization will present Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, Friday, March 8, and at 2 p.m. and 7:30 pm. Saturday, March 9.... Senior Jessica Vosk plays the role of Maria, with senior Scott Spjut playing the part of Captain Von Trapp."
  8. Gioia, Michael (November 2, 2016). "From Wall Street to Wicked, How Jessica Vosk Risked It All for the Dream". Playbill.
  9. Suskin, Steven (September 24, 2009). "Review: 'Kristina'". Variety.
  10. Brantley, Ben (February 20, 2014). "Hearts Ache in the Heartland: 'Bridges of Madison County' Brings Iowa to Broadway". The New York Times.
  11. Gilbert, Ryan (December 9, 2013). "Broadway Casting Complete for The Bridges of Madison County, Starring Kelli O'Hara & Steven Pasquale". Broadway.com. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  12. Gioia, Michael (February 5, 2015). "Teal Wicks, Josh Lamon, Jessica Vosk and More Complete Cast of Finding Neverland, Starring Matthew Morrison". Playbill.
  13. Marks, Peter (December 20, 2015). "A Resonant New 'Fiddler' Alights on Broadway". The Washington Post.
  14. Sherwood, Charles (December 20, 2015). "Review: A 'Fiddler on the Roof' Revival With an Echo of Modernity". The New York Times.
  15. "Jessica Vosk Theatre Credits" – via broadway.com.
  16. Levitt, Hayley (August 23, 2016). "Wicked Tour Casts Jessica Vosk and Kristen Martin as Onstage Siblings". TheaterMania.com.
  17. Gilbert, Ryan (August 23, 2016). "Wonderful! Broadway Fave Jessica Vosk Will Star as Elphaba in the National Tour of Wicked". broadway.com.
  18. Gray, Amanda (September 9, 2016). "Wicked delights, and the sets awe, South Bend audience". South Bend Tribune. Archived from the original on April 17, 2017 – via downtownsouthbend.com.
  19. Lefkowitz, Andy (June 18, 2018). "Jessica Vosk Will Fly into Wicked on Broadway: 'Excited Doesn't Even Begin to Describe It!'". Broadway.com. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  20. Wontorek, Paul (May 16, 2019). "Fan-Picked 2019 Broadway.com Audience Choice Award Nominations Announced". Broadway.com.
  21. Gans, Andrew (June 26, 2019). "Zachary Sayle, Jessica Vosk, More to Star in World Premiere of Becoming Nancy Musical". Playbill. Archived from the original on June 27, 2019.
  22. Henry, Alan (January 9, 2020). "Winners Announced For 2019 BroadwayWorld Atlanta Awards; BECOMING NANCY, Jessica Vosk & More!". BroadwayWorld.com.
  23. McPhee, Ryan (June 8, 2021). "Carnegie Hall Sets Concerts With Jessica Vosk, Laura Benanti, Norm Lewis, More Broadway Favorites in In-Person Return". Playbill.com.
  24. Moynihan, Caitlin (August 10, 2018). "Wicked Star Jessica Vosk on Being Wild and Free and a 'Little Cray-Cray'". Broadway.com.
  25. Musbach, Julie (August 21, 2018). "Jessica Vosk's Album WILD AND FREE Makes Mark on Billboard Charts". BroadwayWorld.com.
  26. Rabinowitz, Chloe (December 8, 2020). "Jessica Vosk Set to Release New EP, A VERY COCO CHRISTMAS". BroadwayWorld.com.
  27. Lefkowitz, Andy (June 26, 2019). "Jessica Vosk & More to Lead World Premiere Musical Becoming Nancy at Alliance Theatre". Broadway.com. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
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