Bonnie Milligan is a musical theater performer and television actor, known for her "belting" style of singing and wide vocal range.[1][2] She was awarded the 2023 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Debra in Kimberly Akimbo.[3]
Bonnie Milligan | |
|---|---|
 Milligan in 2024 | |
| Alma mater | Ohio State University (BA) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2012-present |
Early life
editMilligan is originally from Illinois and Ohio.[4] The daughter of a Protestant minister, she has stated that her parents divorced when she was sixteen and that her mother, with whom she lived, often had financial trouble.[1][5] Her father passed away at the age of 69 in 2020 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.[6][7] Milligan has one brother, Tim.[7]
After her parents' divorce, Milligan moved to the small farm town of Archbold, Ohio, where she graduated from high school. She subsequently went to Ohio State from which she graduated with a theatre degree in 2006.[4][8] Following that, she moved to New York to try to break into musical theater there. In New York, Milligan worked as a waiter while going to auditions before breaking through in her performing career.[9]
Career
editTheater
editIn 2012, Milligan appeared as Holden in the Flea Theater's production of Restoration Comedy by playwright Amy Freed.[10][11] Beginning in 2014, she played Pat in the first national tour of Kinky Boots, a role she continued in until 2017.[12][13]
In 2018, Milligan made her Broadway debut in Head Over Heels, originating the role of Pamela, for which she won a Theatre World Award in 2019.[14] From November 2021 to January 2022, Milligan appeared as Debra in Kimberly Akimbo at the Atlantic Theater Company.[15] In February and March 2022, Milligan starred as Lorraine in the Delaware Theatre Company World Premiere theatre production of Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen and Ann McNamee's Other World.[16] In the fall of 2022, Kimberly Akimbo opened on Broadway at the Booth Theatre with Milligan continuing in her role.[17] She won a Tony award for this role.
Other work
editMilligan's most prominent TV role was as Katherine Witherbottom in the television show Search Party from 2016 to 2022.
As of May 2022, a YouTube video of Milligan performing a medley duet with Laura Osnes of mostly Disney princess songs as part of Milligan's "Belting Bonnie's Bon Voyage" show in 2014 at Feinstein's/54 Below had been viewed more than 2.5 million times.[18][5]
Milligan has been a vocal advocate for body positivity.[19]
Theatre credits
editSelected credits, adapted from About the Artists.[20]
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Kinky Boots | Pat | First National Tour | National tour |
| 2015 | Head Over Heels | Pamela | Oregon Shakespeare Festival | Repertory theater |
| The Count of Monte Cristo | Ensemble | |||
| 2015 | Gigantic | Daphne | Vineyard Theater | Off-Broadway |
| 2018 | Head Over Heels | Pamela | Curran Theatre | Regional |
| 2018–19 | Hudson Theatre | Broadway | ||
| 2019 | Camelot | Sagramore | Vivian Beaumont Theatre | Concert |
| 2021 | Kimberly Akimbo | Debra | Atlantic Theater Company | Off-Broadway premiere |
| 2022 | Other World | Lorraine | Delaware Theatre Company | Regional |
| 2022–24 | Kimberly Akimbo | Debra | Booth Theater | Broadway |
| 2024 | Titanic | Alice | New York City Center | Encores! |
| 2024 | The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee | Rona | The Kennedy Center | Regional |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Head Over Heels | Nominated |
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Theatre World Award | Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance | Won | ||
| 2022 | Lucille Lortel Award | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical | Kimberly Akimbo | Won |
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Nominated | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| 2023 | Tony Award | Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Won |
References
edit- ^ a b Meyer, Dan (January 17, 2020). "Seth Rudetsky is Obsessed! With Head Over Heels' Bonnie Milligan". Playbill. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ Pope, Ricky (August 19, 2021). "Review: BONNIE MILLIGAN Raises the Roof at 54 Below". Broadway.com. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ "Winners". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ a b Marks, Peter (June 6, 2023). "These Broadway actors are finally getting the spotlight they deserve". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ a b "Bonnie Milligan: Belting Bonnie's Bon Voyage, With Matt Doyle & Laura Osnes". Feinstein's/54 Below. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ "The Easiest Way To Avoid Sore Throats, According To A Broadway Star Who'd Know". Bustle. February 2, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ a b "After the Death of Her Father, Bonnie Milligan Thought Broadway's Kimberly Akimbo Was Out of Reach". Peoplemag. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ "Alum Bonnie Milligan Wins Tony | Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts". theatreandfilm.osu.edu. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ "Head Over Heels Beltress Bonnie Milligan Visits Her Old Gig, Sings Celine Dion & More on Side by Side". Broadway.com. November 23, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ Rooney, David (December 12, 2012). "Jinks Aplenty, More Low Than High, and Gleefully So". The New York Times. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
- ^ "Restoration Comedy – The Flea". theflea.org. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ Theater, Lincoln Center. "Bonnie Milligan". Lincoln Center Theater. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ Rudetsky, Seth (August 9, 2018). "How Head Over Heels Star Bonnie Milligan Landed Her Debut as a Broadway Leading Lady". Playbill. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (March 10, 2022). "Checking In With… Head Over Heels and Kimberly Akimbo Star Bonnie Milligan". Playbill. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
- ^ "Kimberly Akimbo". Atlantic Theater Company. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ Walsh, Helen (March 8, 2022). "Delaware Theatre Company presents Hunter Bell's Other World". Broad Street Review. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
- ^ Paulson, Michael (February 25, 2022). "Musical Comedy 'Kimberly Akimbo' to Open on Broadway Next Fall". The New York Times. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ "Bonnie Milligan & Laura Osnes - "Disney Princess Medley"". YouTube. August 20, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ Evans, Suzy (August 3, 2018). "Bonnie Milligan On Her Character's Confidence – And How She's Embraced Her Own". TodayTix. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ "Bonnie Milligan theatre profile". www.abouttheartists.com. Retrieved February 10, 2024.