Rebecca Luker

Rebecca Luker (born April 17, 1961 in Helena) is a Broadway actress and soprano singer.

Born in Helena, Luker sang in the choir at 1st Baptist Church Alabaster and played in the marching band at Thompson High School. She was runner up to Alabama's Junior Miss in 1979. She began performing in operas and musicals in college and earned a bachelor of arts in music at the University of Montevallo, taking a year off from school to perform professionally with the Michigan Opera Company in 1984. She also performed with Birmingham's Town and Gown Theatre, where Rebecca Paines encouraged her to pursue Broadway.

After moving to New York, Luker gradually worked her way onto the stage. Her Broadway debut was in The Phantom of the Opera as an understudy to Sarah Brightman in the role of Christine. She replaced Brightman in the role in April 1989 and continued performing through February 1991. Subsequent roles included Lily in The Secret Garden (1991-1993), Magnolia in Show Boat (1994-1997), Maria in The Sound of Music (1998-1999), Marian in The Music Man (2000-2001), and Claudia in Nine (2003). Most recently she is playing Mrs Banks in Mary Poppins. (2006-2007)

She also performed in New York City Opera productions of Brigadoon and Malcolm X. Off-Broadway she has starred in "Indian Blood" (2006), "Can't Let Go" (2003), and the "Vagina Monologues" (2002). Outside New York she has starred in "Time and Again" at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego (1995) and in Barry Manilow's "Harmony" at the La Jolla Playhouse (1997).

Luker has been nominated for two Tony Awards for Leading Actress in a Musical - once for Show Boat and once for The Music Man. Her role in Mary Poppins has garnered her a 2007 Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a musical. In addition, she has been nominated for two Drama Desk Awards for The Secret Garden and The Music Man.

Among many recordings, Luker is well known for her Rebecca Luker Sings Cole Porter, and is featured on Paul Schwartz's trilogy of Aria albums. She also made an appearance in a 2004 episode of "Law and Order: SVU" and in the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie Cupid and Cate.

In 2000 Luker was inducted into the Alabama Stage and Screen Hall of Fame at a ceremony at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa.

Luker married actor Danny Burstein in 2000 and has two stepsons, Alex and Zach. She is divorced from another actor, Gregory Jbara.

References

• "Rebecca Luker." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 10 Jul 2007, 15:40 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 18 Oct 2007 [1].
• Gates, Anita (March 8, 1998) "Playing It Sweet, If She Needs To, Or Sexy-Funny". The New York Times.
• Cobb, Mark Hughes (March 16, 2001) "Stage star is small-town girl at heart." Tuscaloosa News.
• Harvey, Alex (October 16, 2007) "Five 'Phantom' moments." Birmingham News

External links

• Rebecca Luker website
• Rebecca Luker at IMDB.com