Birth Place: St. Joseph, MI, USA
Ziemba was born in St. Joseph, Michigan, the daughter of Barbara Marie (Heidt) and Oscar Hugo Ziemba, an investment broker. Her grandmother, Winifred Heidt, was an opera singer. Ziemba attended the University of Akron (Ohio), where she studied dance. In 1977 she danced with the Ohio Ballet.
Her Broadway debut was in A Chorus Line as Diana Morales. Later, she played the lead of Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street. While appearing in 42nd Street, she was featured in the October 1984 issue of Playboy in the article "Babes of Broadway", in which she posed partially nude. Ziemba's other Broadway roles include Polly Baker in Crazy for You in 1992 (replacement), Roxie Hart in Chicago (1998), and Belle Hagner in Teddy & Alice (1987).
Ziemba appeared Off-Broadway in the Kander and Ebb revue And The World Goes 'Round (1991) and won the Drama Desk Award. She received a Drama Desk Award nomination (Best Actress in a Musical) for I Do! I Do! (1996). The next year, she was nominated for the 1997 Drama Desk Award (Outstanding Actress in a Musical) and a 1997 Tony Award (Actress in a Musical) for her role in Steel Pier (1997).
In 2000, Ziemba won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance in Susan Stroman's Contact. She played the role of "the timid, abused mafioso's wife." The CurtainUp reviewer wrote of the savvy casting "...especially Karen Ziemba, who is finally in a show that makes full use of her dual talents as an actress and dancer...Ziemba (in Did You Move?), brings an amazing female Walter Mitty vulnerability to a frustrated wife having dinner with a husband..."
She appeared in Much Ado About Nothing as Beatrice at the Hartford Stage (Connecticut) and then the Shakespeare Theatre Company (Washington, DC) in November 2002 through January 5, 2003. In 2004 she received another Tony Award nomination (Best Featured Actress in a Musical) for Never Gonna Dance. In 2007, she portrayed the heartwarming lyricist Georgia Hendricks in Curtains, earning her fourth Tony Award nomination.
She performed with the New York City Opera in 110 in the Shade as Lizzie in 1992. The AP News reviewer wrote: "Ziemba's voice is clear and sweet, exactly what's needed for a song like Is It Really Me?." She performed the role of Cleo in the City Opera's production of The Most Happy Fella in 1991. The New York Times reviewer wrote: "...her voice had swagger, grainy brashness and brassy energy, undistracted by higher ambitions."
She has appeared in several New York City Center Encores! staged musicals, including The Pajama Game in 2002 (Babe Williams), Bye Bye Birdie in 2004 and On Your Toes in 2013 (Lil Dolan).
She starred in the staged reading of Vincent Crapelli's Otherwise, with Beth Leavel and Laura Bonarrigo-Koffman.
Ziemba appeared as Dolly Gallagher Levi in Hello, Dolly! at the Drury Lane Theatre, Oak Brook, Illinois, in 2013.
She returned to Broadway in March 2014, in the new musical adaptation of Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway as the character "Eden Brent", directed by Susan Stroman.
In 2015 and 2017 Karen returned to Off-Broadway to play the role of "Mom/Eileen" in Kid Victory.
On television, she has appeared on Law & Order and on film in The Producers and the ill-fated, never released remake of The Devil and Daniel Webster.
In 2020, Ziemba appeared as Barbara Joblove in the musical podcast, Propaganda!
From: Photos: Go Inside the SHELDON HARNICK MEMORIAL CELEBRATION
From: Photos: Go Inside the SHELDON HARNICK MEMORIAL CELEBRATION
From: Photo Coverage: Project Shaw Presents MAN AND SUPERMAN
From: Photo Coverage: Project Shaw Presents MAN AND SUPERMAN
From: Photo Coverage: Project Shaw Presents MAN AND SUPERMAN
From: FREEZE FRAME: Meet the Company of Ahrens and Flaherty's MARIE, DANCING STILL
From: Photo Coverage: Take a Look Back on 2017's Top Curtain Call Moments!
From: Photo Coverage: Hal Prince Gets a Royal Welcome Back at PRINCE OF BROADWAY Rehearsals!
From: Photo Coverage: Hal Prince Gets a Royal Welcome Back at PRINCE OF BROADWAY Rehearsals!
From: Photo Coverage: Remembering the Life and Career of Legendary Playwright, Edward Albee
From: Photo Flash: First Look at Karen Ziemba, Kyle Harris, et al. in Old Globe's A ROOM WITH A VIEW
From: Photo Coverage: Barbara Cook Honored with York Theatre Company's 2011 Oscar Hammerstein Award
From: Photo Coverage: Chenoweth, O'Hara et al. in 'One Enchanted Evening' Benefit
From: Photo Coverage: Chenoweth, O'Hara et al. in 'One Enchanted Evening' Benefit
Karen Ziemba, Kid Victory
Karen Ziemba, Curtains
Karen Ziemba , Curtains
Karen Ziemba, Curtains
Karen Ziemba, Never Gonna Dance
Karen Ziemba, Never Gonna Dance
Karen Ziemba, Contact
Karen Ziemba , Contact
Karen Ziemba, Contact
Karen Ziemba, Steel Pier
Karen Ziemba, Steel Pier
Karen Ziemba, Steel Pier
Karen Ziemba, I Do! I Do!
Karen Ziemba, The World Goes Round
Based on Craig Lucas' 1988 play and 1992 film adaptation of the same name, PRELUDE TO A KISS - THE MUSICAL is an admirable first attempt of a new musical that is, clearly, still a work-in-progress. In its current state, this genuinely charming but disjointed musical could use a sharp refocus and some more magical and narrative clarity.
Follies, featuring an all-star cast of Tony Award winners and nominees, will be the tenth presentation in the Transport Group's Anne L. Bernstein Concert Series—for one night only—at Carnegie Hall. Learn how to purchase tickets.
The 12th annual “Night of a Thousand Judys” – the Pride concert to benefit The Ali Forney Center written and hosted by Justin Elizabeth Sayre – will be performed at Joe’s Pub. Learn more about the event and see how to purchase tickets.
Virginia Arts Festival has cast one of Broadway’s leading lights in the role of a new, key position at the Festival: The Goode Family Artistic Advisor for Musical Theater and American Songbook.
BIRDLAND THEATER will present beloved singer/songwriters Christine Lavin and Julie Gold in the show “April Fools” on Tuesday, April 2 at 5:30 PM.
Experience the world premiere of PRELUDE TO A KISS, THE MUSICAL at South Coast Repertory. This modern fable, with lyrics by Sean Hartley and Daniel Messé, explores love's peaks and valleys.
Check out photos from inside opening night of the new musical A Sign of the Times, running off-Broadway at New World Stages.
The 46th Annual Kennedy Center Honors are coming up and we are celebrating the special occasion with some of our favorite videos of past Broadway performances. Check out the full list!
La Femme Theatre Productions just celebrated opening night of Tennessee Williams's timeless masterpiece, The Night of the Iguana. Check out photos from the big night!
Museum of the City of New York has presented with the 2023 Louis Auchincloss Prize to award-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman. See photos from inside the event including a special video message from Stro's The Producers collaborator, Mel Brooks.
Christine Lavin industriously releases her decades-long SEASONS PROJECT
Dear Santa: Thanks for the gifts called music in NYC, letting us 'wrap' our ears around a touch of Oklahoma-bred sense and sensibility, lots of holiday cheer, and musical theatre projects that have a connection to a famous hotel ....all part of a week in the winter wonderland of Manhattan's live presentations.
After four years at Broadway World Cabaret, quite a collection of photos has been amassed. These are the gasp-worthy pics.
Broadway World Cabaret gets photographic content from some of the best shutterbugs in the business. Here's a look at some of the captures they've shared with us.
Museum of the City of New York to present the 2023 Louis Auchincloss Prize to award-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman.
An array of Broadway luminaries, including Danny Burstein, Robert Cuccioli, Jason Danieley, Harvey Fierstein, Rob Fisher, Jessica Hecht, Judy Kuhn, Nancy Opel, and more gathered on Thursday, Nov. 9th at the Music Box Theater to pay tribute to the iconic lyricist Sheldon Harnick. Check out photos here!
An array of Broadway luminaries, including Danny Burstein, Robert Cuccioli, Jason Danieley, Harvey Fierstein, Rob Fisher, Jessica Hecht, Judy Kuhn, Nancy Opel, David Rockwell, Alan Schmuckler, Elena Shaddow, Alexandra Silber, Emily Skinner, Deborah Grace Winer, Sherman Yellen, and Karen Ziemba gathered at the Music Box Theater this week to pay tribute to the iconic lyricist Sheldon Harnick. See video highlights from the star-studded memorial!
La Femme Theatre Productions will illuminate the Off-Broadway stage this season with an evocative 21 st century production of Tennessee Williams's timeless masterpiece, The Night of the Iguana.
Harvey Fierstein, Danny Burstein, Judy Kuhn, and other Broadway luminaries will take part in a special tribute to the legendary Sheldon Harnick.
La Femme Theatre Productions has revealed the full cast of Tennessee Williams's 'The Night of the Iguana' directed by Emily Mann.
Karen Ziemba has appeared on Broadway in 14 shows.
Karen Ziemba has not appeared in the West End.
Karen Ziemba has been nominated for several awards throughout her career, including Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical at The Lortels for "Kid Victory," Drama Desk Awards for "Curtains," "Never Gonna Dance," and "Contact," Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Curtains," "Never Gonna Dance," and "Contact," as well as Tony Awards for "Curtains," "Never Gonna Dance," "Contact," and "Steel Pier." She also received nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for "Steel Pier," and for Outstanding Actress in "I Do! I Do!" and Outstanding Featured Actress in "The World Goes Round."
Karen Ziemba has won several awards for her performances in various Broadway productions. She won the Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical award from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Curtains" and "Never Gonna Dance." Additionally, she received the Outstanding Featured Actress - Musical award from the Drama Desk Awards for "Contact" and the Outer Critics Circle Awards for the same production. Ziemba also won the Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical Tony Award for "Contact" and the Outstanding Featured Actress - Musical award from the Drama Desk Awards for "The World Goes Round."
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