Stephanie J. Block

Stephanie Janette Block, born on September 19, 1972, is a celebrated American actress and singer renowned for her contributions to Broadway. She has earned three Tony Award nominations throughout her career: for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in The Mystery of Edwin Drood in 2013, Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Falsettos in 2017, and she ultimately secured the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in The Cher Show in 2019. In addition to her Tony accolades, Block has been nominated for six Drama Desk Awards, winning once, and has lent her voice to various cast recordings. In 2009, she showcased her musical talent with the solo album This Place I Know.

Block's journey in musical theater began in regional productions, and she made an early mark as Belle in the Disneyland version of Beauty and the Beast in 1992. Her Broadway debut came in 2003 with The Boy from Oz, where she portrayed the iconic Liza Minnelli. She was pivotal in the development of the role of Elphaba, having been the first actress to perform it in the U.S. touring production of Wicked from 2005 to 2006, earning the Helen Hayes Award for Best Actress in a Non-Resident Production, and later reprising the role on Broadway from 2007 to 2008. Block has also received Drama Desk nominations for her performances in notable productions such as By the Way, Meet Vera Stark (2011) and 9 to 5 (2009).