Happy birthday to Tony-winning performer Beth Leavel, born Nov. 1, 1955, in Raleigh, N.C. Leavel graduated from Meredith College with a bachelor’s degree in social work, before earning a master’s degree in theater at University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She made her Broadway debut in 1985, during the original production of 42nd Street, and moved on to roles in Crazy for You (1992), Show Boat (1994), and The Civil War (1999). Leavel returned to a revival of 42nd Street (2002) as Dorothy Brock, before originating the role of Beatrice Stockwell in The Drowsy Chaperone (2006), for which she received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Below is Leavel and Drowsy Chaperone costar Bob Martin recreating “As We Stumble Along” for a CBS-TV special.
Leavel next replaced Andrea Martin as Frau Blucher in the Broadway production of Young Frankenstein and Carolee Carmello in the Broadway production of Mamma Mia! She followed those with starring roles in the original productions of Elf and Baby It’s You!, which earned her a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. Below is a medley from the jukebox musical Baby It’s You!
Leavel’s latest Broadway appearances have been in Bandstand (2017) and The Prom (2018), for which she earned her third Tony nomination. Below is the official video of “The Lady’s Improving” from The Prom.