Stephanie J. Block

Stephanie Janette Block born September 19 1972 is an American actress and singer known for her work in Broadway musicals A threetime Tony Award nominee she was nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for The Mystery of Edwin Drood in 2013 for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Falsettos in 2017 and finally winning as Best Actress in a Musical for The Cher Show in 2019 She is also a sixtime Drama Desk Award nominee and onetime winner and has appeared on numerous cast recordings In 2009 she released a solo album This Place I Know Block began her professional musical career in regional theater and by playing Belle in the Disneyland production of Beauty and the Beast in 1992 She made her Broadway debut in the 2003 original production of The Boy from Oz playing Liza Minnelli Having read the part of Elphaba in the first reading of Wicked in 2000 she was the first actress to play the role in the US touring production from 200506 winning the Helen Hayes Award for Best Actress in a NonResident production She later reprised the role on Broadway from 200708 She received Drama Desk nominations for the OffBroadway productions of By the Way Meet Vera Stark 2011 and Little Miss Sunshine 2013 and for the Broadway productions of 9 to 5 2009 The Mystery of Edwin Drood 2012 Falsettos 2016 and The Cher Show 2019