Donna Vivino

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Donna Vivino
Born
Donna Marie Vivino

(1978-02-22) February 22, 1978 (age 43)
Fair Lawn, New Jersey
OccupationActress, singer
Websitehttp://www.donnavivino.com/

Donna Marie Vivino (born February 22, 1978) is an American musical theatre actress and singer who was most recently seen as Grizabella in Cats on the 2020 national tour, which was choreographed by Andy Blankenbueler. She is well known for playing Elphaba in the Broadway production of Wicked and as the original Young Cosette in Les Misérables on Broadway.

She is the niece of Floyd Vivino (aka "Uncle Floyd") and the daughter of Terri Vivino-Apgar and Jerry Vivino, a member of the Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band.[1] Vivino was raised in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, where she attended Fair Lawn High School, and graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City.[2][3] She is the sister of brothers Danny Vivino, Michael Vivino and sisters Antonia and Natalia. She has one child Hendrix.


Career[]

Beautiful Dreamer[]

Donna Vivino's "Beautiful Dreamer" travels through personal history and musical eras. This recording features 13 songs that have resonated with Donna since childhood and embody her various interpretations of a “dream” – making her solo debut a thematically cohesive song-cycle, one that unfailingly captivates with its bountiful charms. Donna is accompanied by a world-class jazz quartet led by her father Jerry Vivino – longtime member of Conan O'Brien's house band – and pianist/arranger Mitch Forman. She interprets songs by Rodgers and Hart, George and Ira Gershwin, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Randy Newman, and other legendary writers. Below is the track list:

1. When Day Is Done 2.Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered 3. Over The Rainbow 4. When She Loved Me 5. Castle On A Cloud 6. Rainy Days and Mondays 7. How Insensitive 8. Never Never Land 9. My Romance 10. I Wish You Love 11. Once You Lose Your Heart 12. They Can't Take That Away From Me 13. Beautiful Dreamer

All songs performed by Donna Vivino, arrangements by Mitchel Forman. Featuring Jerry Vivino (father) on flute, alto flute, tenor saxophone and clarinet; Mitchel Forman on piano and keyboards; Kevin Axt on upright bass and acoustic bass guitar; and Ray Brinker on drums and percussion. The album 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 1st U.S. tour of the smash-hit musical Wicked. She joined the tour on October 30, 2007, serving as the standby for Carmen Cusack. Her first ever 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, Donna 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 re-united with Clarke (who reprises her lead role) 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.

Theatre credits[]

Broadway[]

--National Tour-- 'Cats' as Grizabella (January 2020 - March 2020) -- closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Donna also originated the role of Enid Hoopes in all of the pre-Broadway workshops of Legally Blonde but was unable to do the show because of scheduling conflicts with Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me.

Off-Broadway[]

National tours[]

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

Workshops and readings[]

  • 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[]

  • Good Friday, Emily Cole, 2015
  • Subject, Drink Girl, 2015 (short)
  • Submissions Only, Serena Maxwell, 2012/14, 11 episodes [4]
  • A Gifted Man, Rhonda, 1 episode, 2012
  • My Sassy Girl, Woman of No Consequence #2, 2008
  • Everyday People, Samel's Caseworker, 2004
  • The Twelve Days of Christmas, Princess Silverbell (voice), TV movie, 1993
  • Married to It, Lucy Rothenberg, 1991
  • American Playwrights Theater: The One Acts, Mary Sweeney, 1 episode, 1989
  • All My Children, Young Erica Kane, 1 episode, 1988
  • ABC Afterschool Specials, Kendall Bard, 1 episode, 1987
  • Hometown, Tess Abbott, 1 episode, 1985

References[]

  1. ^ Database (undated). "Donna Vivino". Internet Movie Database. Accessed January 18, 2010.
  2. ^ 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."
  3. ^ Staff writer (n.d.). "Biography". donnavivino.com. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
  4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-11-28. Retrieved 2019-07-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links[]

Retrieved from ""