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Barrett Wilbert Weed

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Barrett Wilbert Weed
Born (1988-11-06) November 6, 1988 (age 36)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
EducationElon University (BFA)
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active2011–present
Notable work

Barrett Wilbert Weed (born November 6, 1988) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for originating the roles of Veronica Sawyer in the Off-Broadway production of Heathers: The Musical and Janis Sarkisian in the Broadway production of Mean Girls. She also voices Octavia "Via" Goetia in Helluva Boss.

Early life and education

Weed grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts. At age five, she began performing with the Boston Children's Opera.[1] Her father died from cancer when she was seven years old.[2] Growing up, she attended Long Lake Camp for the Arts in Long Lake, New York.

She attended the Walnut Hill School for most of high school after transferring from a private preparatory school. In an interview, Weed said of the school, "It's an amazing place — like Hogwarts. Walnut Hill saved my life." She credits the staff and standards of Walnut Hill for much of her later success.[3]

She graduated from Elon University with a BFA in musical theatre in 2011.[4]

On April 13, 2019, Weed was awarded a 2019 Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Award from Elon University, an award given annually which "recognizes 10 alumni who have graduated between 2018 and 2009 and who have achieved major professional success, serve as difference-makers in their communities and loyally support Elon."[5]

Weed is the niece of actress Kathi Moss, who originated the role of Saraghina in 1982 Broadway production of Nine and also appeared in original Broadway productions of Grease and Grand Hotel.[6][7]

Career

Weed made her Broadway debut in Lysistrata Jones in November 2011, as an understudy for many of the female roles. The show closed on January 8, 2012.[8]

Her next major role was Nadia in a reworked version of Bare: A Pop Opera, now called Bare: The Musical, at New World Stages. Previews began on November 19, 2012, with an official opening on December 9, 2012, and the show ran through February 3, 2013.[9]

She then played Zoe Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen for the May Reading in 2014.

Reed then originated the leading role of Veronica in Heathers: The Musical, a musical adaptation of the 1988 cult film Heathers. The musical premiered at Hudson Backstage Theatre in Los Angeles in the fall of 2013, before moving to New York for its Off-Broadway incarnation. The show began previews at New World Stages on March 15, 2014, with an opening night of March 31. She was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award and a Drama Desk Award for her performance. Weed left the show in June, and the show closed on August 4, 2014.[10]

In September 2014, Weed began performing in FOUND The Musical, a new Off-Broadway musical about the creation of the Found books and magazines by Davy Rothbart. Weed played the role of Denise. The show opened on October 14 and ran through November 9, 2014.[11]

Weed played the role of Sally Bowles in the Signature Theatre production of Cabaret from May 12 to June 28, 2015, in the Washington, D.C. area.[12] For this performance, she won the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical.[13]

Weed narrates "Kill The Boy Band" by Goldy Moldavsky on Audible.com and Audio CD's, which was audio released on March 1, 2016.[14]

Weed starred in the new musical Mean Girls as Janis Sarkisian on Broadway. She was part of the world premiere which started on October 31, 2017, and ended December 3, 2017, at the National Theatre. The musical, based on the film of the same name began previews on Broadway on March 12, 2018, and officially opened April 8, 2018.[15] Weed has stated she identifies strongly with the 'outspoken cynicism' of her character.[2] Co-star Grey Henson and Weed worked together to receive their roles in the production.[16] Her final performance in the role was March 8, 2020.[17]

When she is not acting, Weed enjoys teaching voice and acting lessons to teenagers, as well as teaching master classes at high schools.[18]

Since 2020, she has voiced Octavia "Via" Goetia in the adult animated web series Helluva Boss.

On December 2, 2020, it was announced that Weed joined the cast of Bridge and Tunnel, a TV show on Epix. She plays Lizzie, "the artsy, sarcastic older sister of Pags (Brian Muller), who dreams of rock stardom for her all-girl punk band, Wildfire".[19] The show aired on January 24, 2021.

Artistry

Weed is typically classified as a mezzo-soprano, and is widely known for her high belting.[20][21]

Personal life

Weed is an advocate for a number of causes, including female empowerment, gun control, and voting rights.[22][23]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2018 Saturday Night Live Herself (uncredited) Episode: "Tina Fey"
[24]
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Herself Episode: "Tina Fey/Evan Rachel Wood/Mean Girls"
[25]
2019 Crashing Deborah Episode: "MC, Middle, Headliner"
[26]
2020 Blue Bloods Lauren Wilson Episode: "Hide in Plain Sight"
[27]
Helluva Boss Octavia "Via" Goetia Voice role
[28]
2021 Bridge and Tunnel Lizzie Recurring role, four episodes
[19]

Web series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2021 Swipe Monster Courtney Whitlock Mini series
[29]
[30]

Theatre credits

Year(s) Production Role Location Category
2011–2012 Lysistrata Jones Female u/s Walter Kerr Theatre Broadway
2012–2013 Bare: The Musical Nadia New World Stages Off-Broadway
2013 Heathers: The Musical Veronica Sawyer Hudson Theatre Backstage Regional
2014 New World Stages Off-Broadway
FOUND The Musical Denise Atlantic Theatre Company
Dear Evan Hansen Zoe Murphy May 2014 Reading
Waitress Dawn Louise Pinkett American Repertory Theater December 2014 Workshop
2015 Cabaret Sally Bowles Signature Theatre Regional
2017 Mean Girls Janis Sarkisian National Theatre Out-of-town tryout
2018–2020 August Wilson Theatre Broadway

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated Work Result
2014 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical Heathers: The Musical Nominated
Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical Nominated
2016 Helen Hayes Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical Cabaret Won
2018 Broadway.com Audience Awards[31] Favorite Featured Actress in a Musical Mean Girls Won
Favorite Funny Performance Won
Favorite Onstage Pair (with Grey Henson) Won

References

  1. ^ Feldberg, Isaac (April 9, 2018). "From Cambridge to Broadway, Barrett Wilbert Weed's path to 'Mean Girls'". The Boston Globe. Boston Globe Media Partners. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Wong, Curtis M. (June 10, 2018). "'Mean Girls' Star Barrett Wilbert Weed Is Proud To Be A Broadway Anti-Heroine". HuffPost. Oath. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  3. ^ Correspondent, R. Scott Reedy. "Barrett Wilbert Weed makes friends with Broadway's 'Mean Girls'". The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA. Retrieved June 24, 2019. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ Krentcil, Faran (April 23, 2014). "'Heathers' Star Barrett Wilbert Weed Talks About Kissing Disney Heartthrobs and Wearing Short Skirts Onstage". Teen Vogue. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  5. ^ "Young alumni recognized with Elon's Top 10 Under 10 Awards". E-Net! Elon University News & Information. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  6. ^ "Watch Mean Girls star Barrett Wilbert Weed perform her Broadway dream roles". BroadwayBox.com. October 2, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2018 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ "Kathi Moss – Broadway Cast & Staff". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  8. ^ Jones, Kenneth (January 3, 2012). "Lysistrata Jones, the Broadway Musical That Borrows from Ancient Greece, Will Give It Up on Jan. 8". Playbill. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  9. ^ Rooney, David (December 11, 2012). "Ill-Fated Gay Love and Hormonal Tempests on a School Stage". The New York Times. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  10. ^ Stasio, Marilyn (March 31, 2014). "Off Broadway Review: 'Heathers' the Musical". Variety. Variety Media. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  11. ^ Gordon, David (August 8, 2014). "Community Star Danny Pudi and More Cast in New Musical Found". Theatre Mania. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  12. ^ Blanchard, Jayne (May 18, 2015). "A smashing, trashy Cabaret at Signature (review)". DC Theatre Scene. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  13. ^ Clement, Olivia (May 24, 2016). "Dear Evan Hansen Wins at Helen Hayes Awards". Playbill. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  14. ^ "KILL THE BOY BAND by Goldy Moldavsky Read by Barrett Wilbert Weed | Audiobook Review". AudioFile. 2016. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  15. ^ McPhee, Ryan (July 27, 2017). "Mean Girls Musical Finds Its Plastics in Taylor Louderman and Ashley Park; Additional Casting Announced". Playbill. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  16. ^ Stagnitta, Ali (April 16, 2018). "'Mean Girls' Barrett Wilbert Weed Talks On & Off-Stage Friendship With Her Damian, Grey Henson". Hollywood Life. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  17. ^ "Olivia Kaufmann Will Graduate to the Role of Janis Sarkisian in Mean Girls". Broadway.com. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  18. ^ Bell, Crystal. "Mean Girls The Musical's Barrett Wilbert Weed Is Channeling Her Middle School Anxiety". MTV News. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  19. ^ a b Petski, Denise (December 2, 2020). "'Bridge And Tunnel' Casts Barrett Wilbert Weed; Rushi Kota Returns To 'Never Have I Ever'". Deadline. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  20. ^ "Barrett Wilbert Weed at Feinstein's". www.theatermania.com. September 4, 2015.
  21. ^ Gioia, Michael (July 11, 2014). "What's Your Damage? A Track-by-Track Breakdown of the Heathers: The Musical Cast Album". Playbill.
  22. ^ "From Cambridge to Broadway, Barrett Wilbert Weed's path to 'Mean Girls' - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  23. ^ Stagnitta, Ali (September 11, 2018). "'Mean Girls' Barrett Wilbert Weed Urges You To Vote In The Midterms To 'Preserve The Safety Of The People'". Hollywood Life. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  24. ^ "Mean Girls - SNL". May 19, 2018 – via YouTube.
  25. ^ ""The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" Tina Fey/Evan Rachel Wood/Mean Girls (TV Episode 2018)". IMDb.
  26. ^ ""Crashing" MC, Middle, Headliner (TV Episode 2019)". IMDb.
  27. ^ "Blue Bloods "Hide in Plain Sight" Photos: Stacy Keach Guest Stars". KSiteTV. April 17, 2020.
  28. ^ Helluva Boss (TV Series 2019– ) - IMDb, retrieved December 11, 2020
  29. ^ "The Cast – Swipe Monster". Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  30. ^ Swipe Monster (TV Mini Series 2021– ) - IMDb, retrieved September 12, 2021
  31. ^ "Mean Girls Leads Broadway.com Audience Choice Award Winners; Ethan Slater, Hailey Kilgore Also Take Top Prizes". Broadway.com. May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
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