Robert Westenberg

Robert Westenberg (born October 26, 1953) is an American stage actor and singer, acting teacher, and professor. He received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in the original Broadway cast of ''Into the Woods''.

He appeared on Broadway in ''Sunday in the Park with George'' (as the title role), ''Les Misérables'' (as Inspector Javert), ''Into the Woods'' (as The Big Bad Wolf and Cinderella’s Prince), ''The Secret Garden'' (as Dr. Neville Craven), as well as several other musicals. In 2024, he returned to the stage performing as a part of the United States national tour of ''A Beautiful Noise''.

He was the musical theatre coordinator and associate professor in the theatre and dance department at Missouri State University and now serves as a lecturer of Musical Theatre at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Early life and education

Born in Miami Beach, Florida, but raised in Fresno, California, with his six siblings. Westenberg graduated Bullard High School in 1971, where he was active in sports, specifically football. He then attended California State University, Fresno.

Westenberg received a master's degree from Denver’s National Theatre Conservatory.

Career

Broadway

He made his Broadway debut in the 1983 revival of '' Zorba'' as Nikos, for which he won the Theatre World Award.

He played the dual role of a Soldier/Alex and understudied Mandy Patinkin in Stephen Sondheim's ''Sunday in the Park with George'' which opened in May 1984. He later took over Patinkin's leading roles of Georges Seurat/George where he played opposite Bernadette Peters in September of that year and played the role until April 1985.

He received a Tony Award nomination and won a Drama Desk Award for his performance as Cinderella's Prince and the Wolf in Sondheim's ''Into the Woods'' (1987). It was during this show where he met his wife, Kim Crosby, who played Cinderella.Culwell, Logan
"Did They Finish the Hat? Where Are the Stars of 'Sunday in the Park with George' Now?"
Playbill, May 12, 2015

In 1990, he starred as Inspector Javert in ''Les Misérables'' opposite Craig Schulman as Jean Valjean.

In 1991, he starred as Dr. Neville Craven in the original Broadway production of ''The Secret Garden'' playing opposite Patinkin again along with Daisy Eagan, Alison Fraser and Rebecca Luker. In 2020, Westenberg directed the same production at Missouri State University, where he served as the head of the Musical Theatre department until joining the Musical Theatre faculty at the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023.
CU Boulder College of Music Faculty

In 1995, he was featured as Harry in the Broadway revival (theatre), revival of ''Company''. Two years later he portrayed Lyman Hall in the revival of ''1776''.

Other

In 1981, Westenberg played Norman Mushari in Kurt Vonnegut’s ''God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater'' at Arena Stage.

In 1994 and 2001, Westenberg starred as Scrooge’s nephew Fred in the musical adaptation of ''A Christmas Carol'' in Madison Square Garden.

In 1996, Westenberg was in the US National tour of '' Funny Girl'' as Nick Arnstein opposite Debbie Gibson as Fanny Brice. It ended prematurely in November 1996 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

In 2002, Westenberg was in the US and Japan tour of '' The Full Monty''.

Westenberg has been in several MUNY (St. Louis) productions. He played Henry Higgins in ''My Fair Lady'' in 2001 opposite his wife, Kim Crosby, as Eliza Doolittle.

He played the roles of both Mr. Darling and Captain Hook in the July 2007 St. Louis MUNY production of ''Peter Pan''.Gans, Andrew
"He's Flying: Francis Jue Is 'Peter Pan' at the Muny Beginning July 16"
''Playbill'', July 16, 2007 He reprised these roles in a 2009 production in Branson, Missouri, with Cathy Rigby as Peter Pan. In 2012, he directed a production of ''Les Misérables'' at Springfield Little Theatre.

Westenberg is currently starring as the older Neil Diamond in the 2024 national tour of ''A Beautiful Noise''.

Television and film

Westenberg's film credits include '' Mr. and Mrs. Bridge'' and '' The Ice Storm''. He has made guest appearances on ''Third Watch'', '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'', and the short-lived series ''Aliens in the Family''. He played Prince Raymond on the soap opera, ''One Life to Live'' from 1989-90.

He reprised his roles of a Soldier/Alex and the Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince in the ''American Playhouse'' episodes of ''Sunday in the Park with George'' and ''Into the Woods''.

Stage credits

Filmography

Film

Television

Personal life

He married actress and singer Kim Crosby on June 19, 1991, and the couple now have three children, Emily, Katie, and Joel.

Westenberg and Crosby currently reside in Longmont, Colorado, where Westenberg serves as a lecturer in Musical Theatre in the College of Music at the University of Colorado Boulder. He was previously the chair of the theatre program at Drury University and coordinator of the musical theatre program at Missouri State University."Award-winning actor to lead MSU’s musical theatre program"
missouristate.edu, February 1, 2016Gordon, David

theatermania.com, June 22, 2015"Robert Westenberg Bio"
masterworksbroadway.com, accessed July 2016

Awards and nominations

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Westenberg, Robert
American male musical theatre actors
American male film actors
American male television actors
Entertainers from Miami Beach, Florida
Drama Desk Award winners
Male actors from Miami
Missouri State University faculty
1953 births
Living people
Male actors from Fresno, California