Kate Rockwell

Beginning in 2017, Rockwell starred as Karen Smith in the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical Mean Girls, written by Tina Fey with music and lyrics by Jeff Richmond and Nell Benjamin, respectively. The show had its world premiere as an out-of-town tryout at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C., from October 31, 2017, to December 3, 2017, in which Rockwell originated the role of Karen Smith. The musical, which is based on the film of the same name, began previews on March 12, 2018, and officially opened on Broadway on April 8, 2018, at the August Wilson Theatre in New York City. For this role Rockwell received a nomination for the Helen Hayes Award in the Outstanding Performer in a Visiting Production category (for her performance in the D.C. production) and a nomination for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. Rockwell left the production on March 8, 2020, and was replaced by Laura Leigh Turner.

After completing her run in Rock of Ages, Rockwell "left the business" for about two years, stating in interviews, "I needed perspective. I needed some change. I needed to see what it was like to do something else." During this time, she worked in the wine industry in a shop in the Lower East Side for about 18 months. Rockwell further solidified her passion for wine and went on to earn an advanced certification from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust in 2016. She gradually grew to miss performing and the theater community and began auditioning occasionally.

In January 2011 at the Alliance Theatre, Rockwell starred as Skylar in the world premiere of Bring It On: The Musical, a musical loosely based on the 2000 film of the same name. She remained part of the production through its national tour in 2011 and limited engagement on Broadway from August to December 2012. In January 2013, she returned to Broadway as Sherrie in Rock of Ages, replacing fellow Grease: You're the One That I Want! competitor Ashley Spencer. During the days surrounding her debut as Sherrie, Rockwell filmed a series of video blogs for Broadway.com titled "Oh, Sherrie! Backstage at Rock of Ages with Kate Rockwell." She left the production on April 20, 2014, and was replaced by Carrie St. Louis.

Rockwell made her Broadway debut as Margot in Legally Blonde on May 15, 2008, replacing Haven Burton. She later joined the U.S. national touring production of Legally Blonde for three months as a replacement for the role of Margot (after Rhiannon Hansen broke her leg during a performance). In March 2010 Rockwell joined the cast of the 2009 Broadway production of Hair and remained with the production until its closing on June 27, 2010. Rockwell then continued to play a Member of the Tribe in the U.S. national touring production of the musical.

In 2007, Rockwell was one of the final 12 contestants on NBC's Grease: You're the One That I Want!, a televised reality competition designed to cast the lead roles of Sandy Dumbrowski and Danny Zuko for the Broadway revival of Grease directed by Kathleen Marshall. She was nicknamed "Serious Sandy" and ultimately eliminated, placing fifth to winner Laura Osnes.

She graduated from Sycamore High School in 2002. During her freshman year, Rockwell was cast as Grandma Tzeitel in her high school's staging of Fiddler on the Roof, her first on-stage theatre experience. She has said in interviews that this production made her realize her desire to pursue musical theatre as a career. In 2002, during her time at Sycamore High School, she helped found the New Stage Collective, a local Cincinnati theater company (later closed in 2009 due to lack of funding). Rockwell then attended Baldwin Wallace University and earned a BM in musical theatre in 2006.

Kate Rockwell was born on August 4, 1984 in the United States as Katherine Rockwell Wilfong.