Lenora Nemetz is an American stage and

musical theatre Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movemen ...

actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a Character (arts), character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek ...

Career

Nemetz left her native Pittsburgh as a teenager to work on Broadway. Her Broadway debut was in ''Cabaret''. A protégé of

Bob Fosse Robert Louis Fosse (; June 23, 1927 – September 23, 1987) was an American actor, choreographer, dancer, and film and stage director. He directed and choreographed musical works on stage and screen, including the stage musicals ''The Pajam ...

, Nemetz first came to the attention of New York critics when she understudied and later succeeded

Chita Rivera Chita Rivera (born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero Anderson; January 23, 1933), is an American actress, singer and dancer best known for originating roles in Broadway musicals including Anita in ''West Side Story'', Velma Kelly in ''Chica ...

Velma Kelly Velma Kelly is one of the main characters in the successful 1975 Broadway musical ''Chicago''. Kelly is based on the character "Velma", who first appeared in the 1926 play, also called ''Chicago'', who was in-turn inspired by the life of Belva Ga ...

in Fosse's production of ''

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

''. In a 2007 posting on the BroadwayWorld message board, Nemetz recalled how she got to play both Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly on the same day during the original production of ''Chicago'': ''"I replaced Chita, with

Ann Reinking Ann Reinking (November 10, 1949December 12, 2020) was an American dancer, actress, choreographer and singer. She worked predominantly in musical theater, starring in Broadway (theatre), Broadway productions such as ''Coco (musical), Coco'' (1969) ...

and with Gwenn ic(Verdon) ... and I played both roles - I stood by for both Gwenn and Chita, and they were kind enough to let me play both roles in the same day. At the matinee I played Velma Kelly and in the evening performance I played Roxie Hart. It was fun!!"'' Nemetz also created the role of Delores Dante in the Broadway production of ''Working'', earning a

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. Fo ...

nomination. She appeared with Peter Allen in his one man show ''Up in One'' both on Broadway and in Los Angeles. She then co-starred with Chita Rivera as Angel in '' The Rink'' filling in for

Liza Minnelli Liza May Minnelli ( ; born March 12, 1946) is an American actress, singer, dancer, and choreographer. Known for her commanding stage presence and powerful alto singing voice, Minnelli is among a rare group of performers awarded an Emmy, Grammy ...

. Nemetz made her New York City opera debut in the role of Gladys in the revival of ''

The Pajama Game ''The Pajama Game'' is a musical based on the 1953 novel '' 7½ Cents'' by Richard Bissell. The book is by George Abbott and Richard Bissell; the music and lyrics are by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. and dances were staged by Bob Fosse in his c ...

''. In 2008, she appeared in The Patti LuPone revival of ''Gypsy'' on Broadway, playing Mazeppa and Miss Kratchitt; she was also standby for LuPone as Rose. National tours have included ''

Sweet Charity ''Sweet Charity'' is a musical with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and book by Neil Simon. It was directed and choreographed for Broadway by Bob Fosse starring his wife and muse Gwen Verdon alongside John McMartin. It is based on ...

'', ''

Bye Bye Birdie ''Bye Bye Birdie'' is a stage musical with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams, based upon a book by Michael Stewart. Originally titled ''Let's Go Steady'', ''Bye Bye Birdie'' is set in 1958. The short story "Dream Man", authored ...

'', Cabaret and ''Some Like it Hot''. Nemetz has remained a prominent actress in Pittsburgh theatre, having appeared over the years in productions at

Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (Pittsburgh CLO) is a nonprofit professional theater company based in the Cultural District of Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Despite its name, the organization presents musical theatre classics rather than ...

Pittsburgh Musical Theater Pittsburgh Musical Theater (PMT) is a professional theatre company located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1990, the company has since expanded with the educational programs offered by the Richard E. Rauh Conservatory of Musical Theater. T ...

, City Theater, and

Pittsburgh Public Theater Pittsburgh Public Theater, or The Public for short, is a professional theater company located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After the retirement of longtime Producing Artistic Director Ted Pappas, The Public began the 2018–2019 season with a new ...

Performances

*Murder on the Orient Express (Pittsburgh) 2022 - Helen Hubbard *Oklahoma (Pittsburgh) 2011 - Aunt Eller *Nunsense (Pittsburgh) 2010, 2011 - Sister Robert Anne *Gypsy Broadway (Broadway Revival) 2008 - Mazeppa, Miss Cratchitt, Rose (Standby) *Café Puttanesca (Regional US) World Premiere, 2003 - The Baroness *Hello Dolly (Pittsburgh) 2002 - Dolly Levi *Some Like It Hot (US Tour) First Class National Tour, 2002 - Sweet Sue *Cabaret (US Tour) National Tour, 1999 - Fraulein Kost (Replacement) *Bye Bye Birdie (US Tour) Touring Revival, 1991 - Rose Alvarez *The Pajama Game (Off-Broadway) New York City Opera Revival, 1989 - Gladys *Show Boat (Milburn, NJ; Regional) Paper Mill Production, 1989 - Ellie *Anything Goes (Pittsburgh) Pittsburgh Playhouse, 1988 *Sweet Charity (US Tour) National Tour, 1987 - Nickie; Charity (Standby) *A Chorus Line (Pittsburgh) Pittsburgh Playhouse, 1985- Cassie *The Rink (Broadway) Original Broadway Production, 1984 - Angel (Standby) *America Kicks Up Its Heels (Off-Broadway) Original Off-Broadway Production, 1983 - Hennie *Peter Allen: Up in One Concert (Broadway) 1979 - Performer *Working (Original Broadway Production) 1978 - Performer: Terry Mason (stewardess), Babe Secoli (supermarket checker), Delores Dante (waitress) *Spotlight (Broadway) Closed on the road, 1978 - Performer *Chicago Original Broadway Production, 1975 Roxie Hart (Replacement), Velma Kelly (Replacement), Roxie Hart (Standby) *Cabaret Original Broadway Production, 1966 - Fritzie (Replacement)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Nemetz, Lenora Actresses from Pittsburgh American stage actresses Living people Year of birth missing (living people) 21st-century American women