Martin Vidnovic (born January 4, 1948) is an American actor and singer.

Career

Born in

Falls Church, Virginia Falls Church is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,658. Falls Church is included in the Washington metropolitan area. Taking its name from The Falls Church, an 18th-century Ch ...

, Vidnovic graduated from the College-Conservatory of Music (part of the University of Cincinnati) with a

Bachelor of Fine Arts A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a standard undergraduate degree for students for pursuing a professional education in the visual, fine or performing arts. It is also called Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA) in some cases. Background The Bachel ...

.Lovendusky, Eugene
"Martin Vidnovic: What Matters to Him"
broadwayworld.com, July 15, 2007 Vidnovic made his Broadway debut in the ill-fated '' Home Sweet Homer'' (1976) which, following a one-year tour, closed on opening night. He fared better with his next three projects, revivals of ''

The King and I ''The King and I'' is the fifth musical by the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. It is based on Margaret Landon's novel '' Anna and the King of Siam'' (1944), which is in turn derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, governess to the chil ...

'' (1977) as Lun Tha, ''

Oklahoma! ''Oklahoma!'' is the first musical written by the duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, ''Green Grow the Lilacs''. Set in farm country outside the town of Claremore, Indian Territory, in 1906, it tell ...

'' (1979) as Jud Fry, and ''

Brigadoon ''Brigadoon'' is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, and music by Frederick Loewe. The song "Almost Like Being in Love", from the musical, has become a standard. It features two American tourists who stumble upon Brigadoon, a m ...

'' (1980) as Tommy Albright. Vidnovic's performance in ''

Baby An infant or baby is the very young offspring of human beings. ''Infant'' (from the Latin word ''infans'', meaning 'unable to speak' or 'speechless') is a formal or specialised synonym for the common term ''baby''. The terms may also be used to ...

'' (1983) won him the

Drama Desk Award The Drama Desk Award is an annual prize recognizing excellence in New York theatre. First bestowed in 1955 as the Vernon Rice Award, the prize initially honored Off-Broadway productions, as well as Off-off-Broadway, and those in the vicinity. F ...

for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical. Additional Broadway credits include ''

Guys and Dolls ''Guys and Dolls'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on " The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" (1933) and "Blood Pressure", which are two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also b ...

'' (1992), ''

A Grand Night for Singing ''A Grand Night for Singing'' is a musical revue showcasing the music of Richard Rodgers and the lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein II. Featuring songs from such lesser-known works as '' Allegro'', '' Me and Juliet'', ''State Fair'', and ''Pipe Dream'', ...

'' (1993), and ''

King David David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

'' (1997). He was cast in the 1998 stage adaptation of '' Footloose'' but was replaced during previews.

Off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer th ...

, Vidnovic was cast as El Gallo late in the run of the original production of '' The Fantasticks'' and appeared in the 2006 revival as Bellomy. Additional off-Broadway credits include ''Lies and Legends: The Musical Stories of

Harry Chapin Harold Forster Chapin (; December 7, 1942 – July 16, 1981) was an American singer-songwriter, philanthropist, and hunger activist best known for his folk rock and pop rock songs. He achieved worldwide success in the 1970s. Chapin, a Grammy A ...

'' (1985), ''

Olympus on My Mind ''Olympus On My Mind'' is a musical with music by Grant Sturiale and a book and lyrics by Barry Harman, based on Heinrich Von Kleist's adaptation of Plautus' ''Amphitryon. The musical ran Off-Broadway at Lamb's Theatre for 297 performance ...

'' (1986), and the 2003

Jerry Herman Gerald Sheldon Herman (July 10, 1931December 26, 2019) was an American composer and lyricist, known for his work in Broadway theatre. One of the most commercially successful Broadway songwriters of his time, Herman was the composer and lyrici ...

revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own dur ...

Showtune A show tune is a popular song, song originally written as part of the score of a work of musical theatre or musical film, especially if the piece in question has become a Standard (music), standard, more or less detached in most people's minds ...

''.

Family

Vidnovic was briefly married to voice teacher Linda Wonneberger in the late 1970s, and the couple have a daughter, the actress Laura Benanti.Lefkowitz, David
"PLAYBILL ON-LINE'S BRIEF ENCOUNTER with Laura Benanti"
''Playbill'', May 11, 1999 Vidnovic is also the uncle of former Minor Threat bassist Steve Hansgen.

Additional nominations

*1981

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual c ...

for Best Actor in a Musical (''Brigadoon'') *1981 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical (''Brigadoon'') *1980 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (''Oklahoma!'')

References

External links

*
Lortel Archives listing
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vidnovic, Martin American male musical theatre actors American male stage actors American male singers 1948 births Male actors from Virginia Drama Desk Award winners Living people People from Falls Church, Virginia American male voice actors American people of Serbian descent