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Santino Fontana

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Santino Fontana
Born
Santino Anthony Fontana

Stockton, California, U.S.[1]
Alma materUniversity of Minnesota
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
Years active2007–present
Spouse
Jessica Hershberg
​
(m. 2015)​
Children1[2]

Santino Anthony Fontana is an American actor and singer.

Fontana has received the Tony Award, two Drama Desk Awards, an Outer Critics Circle Award, Lortel Award, Obie Award, and Clarence Derwent Award in a mix of straight plays and musicals. A two-time Tony Award nominee and three-time Drama Desk Award nominee, Fontana won the 2019 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, and Outer Critics Circle Award for his lead performance as Michael Dorsey in the stage adaptation of Tootsie. Fontana originated the role of Prince Topher in the 2013 revival of Cinderella on Broadway, voiced Prince Hans in Disney's 2013 animated film Frozen, and played Greg Serrano on the television show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend while simultaneously playing David Saperstein in Shades of Blue, with Jennifer Lopez & Ray Liotta.

Early life

Fontana was born in Stockton, California to Sharon Marie Fontana (née Simarro; born 1951) and Ernest John Fontana (born 1948).[1] His mother is an elementary school teacher and his father is an agronomist. He has one sister. He is of one quarter Spanish, one quarter Portuguese, and one half Italian descent. Fontana graduated from Richland High School in Richland, Washington in 2000.[3] Fontana studied the arts at the Academy of Children's Theatre in his youth, located in Richland, Washington. As a teenager he studied Theatre Arts at Interlochen Arts Camp at Interlochen Center for the Arts. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program, class of 2004.[4]

Career

In 2005, as a member of the Essentials, Fontana co-wrote the musical comedy Perfect Harmony,[5] and originated the role of Philip Fellowes V.[6] In 2006, he starred as Hamlet in The Guthrie Theatre's performance of the Shakespearean classic,[7] before moving to New York City to star as Matt in the Off-Broadway revival of The Fantasticks.[8] His Broadway debut was Sunday in the Park with George in 2007. Fontana originated the role of Tony in the Broadway production of Billy Elliot from October 1, 2008 to July 4, 2009. He was awarded the 2010 Drama Desk Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his work in Brighton Beach Memoirs. He starred as Prince Topher in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella on Broadway, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.

In 2013, he provided the voice of Prince Hans in the Walt Disney Animation Studios film Frozen.

In 2015, Fontana became the first guest artist to perform three times in the space of one year with the Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square where he met the cast of Sesame Street.[9] Fontana also joined the cast of the CW romantic musical comedy-drama Crazy Ex-Girlfriend that same year. On November 11, 2016, it was announced that Fontana was leaving the TV series after his one-year contract with the CW.[10]

He starred as Michael Dorsey / Dorothy Michaels in the stage musical adaptation of the film Tootsie, which premiered in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre from September 11 to October 14, 2018. The musical opened on Broadway on April 23, 2019 and closed on January 5, 2020.[11] Direction was by Scott Ellis with music and lyrics by David Yazbek and book by Robert Horn.[12][13] Fontana won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for the production.

Personal life

Fontana began dating actress Jessica Hershberg in mid-2011. The couple met backstage at the Birdland jazz club, where both were performing.[14] They became engaged in September 2014 and married in September 2015.[15][14]

On September 24, 2019, his wife gave birth to their first child, Grace Fontana.[2]

Stage credits

Broadway

Year Title Role Theater Notes
2008 Sunday in the Park with George Alex/Bather/Soldier, George understudy Roundabout Theatre Company Broadway debut
2008 Billy Elliot the Musical Tony Elliot Imperial Theatre Originated role on Broadway
2009 Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound Stanley Jerome Nederlander Theatre Revival
2010 A View from the Bridge Rodolfo Cort Theatre Left the show in previews due to a performance-related injury and was replaced by his understudy, Morgan Spector
2011 The Importance of Being Earnest Algernon Moncrieff American Airlines Theatre Revival
2013 Cinderella Prince Topher The Broadway Theatre Nominated for Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical
2014 Act One Moss Hart Vivian Beaumont Theatre
2018 Hello, Dolly! Cornelius Hackl Shubert Theatre Temporary replacement
2019 Tootsie Michael Dorsey / Dorothy Michaels Marquis Theatre Originating role on Broadway
Winner of Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical

Other theatre

Year Title Role Theater Notes
A Christmas Carol Young Jacob Marley, Squeeze Guthrie Theater
2003 Six Degrees of Separation Doug Guthrie Theater
La Traviata Washington East Opera
Death of a Salesman Bernard Guthrie Theater and Gaiety Theatre (Dublin Theater Festival)
As You Like It Guthrie Theater
Once in a Lifetime Chautauqua Theater Company
9/11 Project Chautauqua Theater Company
On the Verge Chautauqua Theater Company
Loves Labour's Lost Chautauqua Theater Company
2005 Perfect Harmony Philip Fellowes V Studio Tisch[16] Also Co-Writer
2006 Hamlet Hamlet Guthrie Theater
2006 The Fantasticks[17] Matt Off-Broadway Original Off-Broadway revival cast *cast recording[18]
2007 Noël Coward's Hay Fever[19] Simon Bliss Old Globe Theatre, San Diego
2011 Sons of the Prophet[20] Joseph Off-Broadway, Laura Pels Theatre
2015 ZORBA![21] Niko Encores! New York City Center
2016 1776 John Adams Encores! New York City Center
2016 Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater[22] Elliot Rosewater Encores! New York City Center
2018 Tootsie Michael Dorsey / Dorothy Michaels Cadillac Palace Theatre Pre-Broadway regional tryout

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2011 Newsworthy[23] Mr. Kerry Short film
2012 Nancy, Please[24] Charlie
2013 Marion Knapp Doesn't Smile[25] Dominic Peters Short film
2013 Frozen[26] Hans (voice)
2014 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit Running Banker
2014 Fade to White Damon
2015 Frozen Fever[27] Hans (voice) Short film
2015 Sisters[28] Mr. Geernt
2018 Off the Menu[29] Joel Flanagan
2018 Papercop[30] Neil Short film
2018 The Vanishing Princess[31] The First Soldier
2019 Impossible Monsters[32] Dr. Rich Freeman
2019 Frozen II[33] Hans (voice) Archive footage
2020 The Devil All The Time AM Radio DJ (voice)

Television/web series

Year Title Role Notes
2010 The Good Wife Danny Willoughby Episode: "Heart"[34]
2011 Nurse Jackie David Episode: "Play Me"[35]
2011–2014 Submissions Only Aaron Miller Series regular (16 episodes)
2012 A Gifted Man Gene Tipton Episode: "In Case of Heart Failure"[36]
2012 Royal Pains Jason Episode: "Dawn of the Med"
2012 Made in Jersey ADA Van Pelt Episode: "Ancient History"[37]
2014 A Summer Celebration of Song Himself/guest artist 2014 Mormon Tabernacle Choir Pioneer Day Concert[38]
2014–2018 Mozart in the Jungle Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 4 episodes[39]
2015 Keep Christmas With You Himself/guest artist 2014 Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert[40]
2015–2016 Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Greg Serrano Series regular (22 episodes)
2016–2017 Shades of Blue David Saperstein 9 episodes
2016 BrainDead Kevin Episode: "The Path to War Part One: The Gathering Political Storm"
2019 Fosse/Verdon James Henaghan Episode: "Me and My Baby"[41]
2020 Vampirina Petru (voice) Episode: "Phantom of the Auditorium/Meemoreek!"[42]

Discography

Year Title Music
2015 Keep Christmas with You Mormon Tabernacle Choir & The Muppets from Sesame Street

Audiobooks

Year Title Notes
2013 Wheelmen
2014 You
2015 The Children's Crusade
2015 The Marriage of Opposites
2015 The Bazaar of Bad Dreams
2015 The Laws of Medicine
2016 Glory Over Everything: Beyond the Kitchen House
2016 The Perfect Pass
2016 Hidden Bodies
2017 The Deal of A Lifetime
2018 Flight or Fright
2019 Things My Son Needs to Know About the World
2019 The Institute [43]
2020 The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
2020 The What If Guy
2020 Cliff Falls
2020 The Red Badge of Courage

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2010 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Brighton Beach Memoirs Won
2011 Clarence Derwent Awards Most Promising Male Performer The Importance of Being Earnest Won
2012 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Play Sons of the Prophet Nominated
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actor in a Play Nominated
Obie Award Performance Won
Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Lead Actor Won
2013 Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical Cinderella Nominated
Broadway.com Audience Awards Favorite Lead Actor in a Musical Nominated
Broadway.com Audience Awards Favorite Onstage Pair (with co-star Laura Osnes) Won
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Nominated
2014 Behind the Voice Actors Award: Feature Film Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film Frozen Won
Behind the Voice Actors Award: People's Choice Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film Won
2016 Poppy Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Nominated
2018 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards Best Actor in a Touring Production Tootsie Won
Williamsburg Independent Film Festival Best Actor Papercop Won
2019 Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical Tootsie Won
Broadway.com Audience Awards Favorite Leading Actor in a Musical Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Won
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Won
2020 Audie Award Best Thriller/Suspense Audiobook The Institute Won

References

  1. ^ a b "NYC New Member Events | Actors' Equity Association Membership". Actorsequity.org. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  2. ^ a b Desk, BWW News. "Tony Winner Santino Fontana And Wife Jessica Fontana Welcome First Child". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-09-25. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ "Richland School District About". rsd.edu.
  4. ^ Fontana Lands Lead Role
  5. ^ "The Essentials for Perfect Harmony". SamuelFrench.com.
  6. ^ "Santino Fontana biography at Lincoln Center Theater". LCT.org.
  7. ^ Green, Douglas E. (2006-09-12). "Hamlet (review)". Shakespeare Bulletin. 24 (3): 84–88. doi:10.1353/shb.2006.0048. ISSN 1931-1427. S2CID 201764419.
  8. ^ "The Fantasticks Revival Opens Off-Broadway". Playbill.com.
  9. ^ "Santino Fontana to Perform with the Choir for the Third Time in a Year". mormontabernaclechoir.org.
  10. ^ "Santino Fontana Is Leaving Crazy Ex-Girlfriend". Vulture.com. 2016-11-11. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
  11. ^ The Broadway League. "Tootsie – Broadway Musical – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  12. ^ On June 09, 2019, Santino won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for Tootsie. "Boadway-Bound 'Tootsie' Starring Santino Fontana Will Play Pre-Run in Chicago" broadwayworld.com, January 24, 2018
  13. ^ Peikert, Mark. " 'Tootsie', Starring Santino Fontana, Opens on Broadway" Playbill, April 23, 2019
  14. ^ a b Cowan, Alison Leigh. "Jessica Hershberg and Santino Fontana: A Real-Life Fairy Tale" The New York Times, October 4, 2015
  15. ^ McPhee, Ryan. "He Has Found Her! Tony Nominee Santino Fontana & Broadway's Jessica Hershberg Are Engaged" broadway.com, September 24, 2014
  16. ^ "Perfect Harmony". SamuelFrench.com.
  17. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Try to Remember": 'The Fantasticks' Revival Opens Off-Broadway Aug. 23" Playbill, August 23, 2006
  18. ^ "The Fantasticks (New Off-Broadway Recording)". SH-K-BOOM RECORDS.
  19. ^ Hay Fever, Old Globe Theatre
  20. ^ "Sons of the Prophet". Roundabout Theatre Company.
  21. ^ https://www.playbill.com/article/casting-now-complete-for-encores-zorba-starring-john-turturro-com-346841
  22. ^ Baron, Tricia. "Santino Fontana, Skylar Astin, and More Celebrate 'God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater'" theatermania.com, July 31, 2016
  23. ^ Robbins, Jeremy, Newsworthy, Santino Fontana, Noah Robbins, retrieved 2018-07-04
  24. ^ Semans, Andrew (2012-04-21), Nancy, Please, Will Rogers, Eleonore Hendricks, Rebecca Lawrence Levy, retrieved 2018-07-04
  25. ^ McNeill, Jared. "Marion Knapp". Jared McNeill. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  26. ^ Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY 4:11 p.m. EDT June 17, 2013 (2013-06-17). "'Frozen' defrosts Kristen Bell's Disney dreams". Usatoday.com. Retrieved 2014-02-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ Lee, Michael (March 12, 2015). "'Cinderella' Review". movieviral. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  28. ^ "Santino Fontana on Twitter". Twitter.
  29. ^ "HOME". OFF THE MENU. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  30. ^ Papercop, retrieved 2019-05-06
  31. ^ The Vanishing Princess, retrieved 2019-05-06
  32. ^ "IMPOSSIBLE MONSTERS | A Film by Nathan Catucci". IMPOSSIBLE MONSTERS. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  33. ^ "'Frozen 2' First Trailer: Elsa and Anna Return in Dazzling New Footage".
  34. ^ Alcalá, Félix Enríquez (2010-03-16), Heart, Julianna Margulies, Matt Czuchry, Archie Panjabi, retrieved 2018-07-04
  35. ^ "Nurse Jackie" Play Me (TV Episode 2011), retrieved 2018-07-04
  36. ^ Platt, David (2012-03-02), In Case of Heart Failure, Patrick Wilson, Jennifer Ehle, Margo Martindale, retrieved 2018-07-04
  37. ^ "Made in Jersey" Ancient History (TV Episode 2012), retrieved 2018-07-04
  38. ^ R. Scott Lloyd (18 July 2014). "Guest artist Fontana tells stories through song at Tabernacle Choir concert". DeseretNews.com.
  39. ^ Mozart in the Jungle (TV Series 2014– ), retrieved 2018-02-18
  40. ^ "Sesame Street Muppets, Santino Fontana to join Mormon Tabernacle Choir for Christmas concert". DeseretNews.com. 16 October 2014.
  41. ^ "Fosse/Verdon Is Made for Hardcore Fans of Showbiz History". www.vulture.com. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  42. ^ Evans, Greg (2020-09-28). "Disney Junior's 'Vampirina' Taps Broadway & TV For Season 3 Guest Star Line-Up: Audra McDonald, Christopher Jackson, Taran Killam, Mayim Bialik, Among Others". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  43. ^ "Hear 'Tootsie' star Santino Fontana discuss his work on Stephen King's 'The Institute' audiobook". EW.com. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
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