Barrett Wilbert Weed (born November 6, 1988) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for originating the roles of Veronica Sawyer in the Off-Broadway production of Heathers: The Musical and Janis Sarkisian in the Broadway production of Mean Girls. She also voices Octavia "Via" Goetia in Helluva Boss.
Early life and education[]
Weed grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts. At age five, she began performing with the Boston Children's Opera.[1] Her father died from cancer when she was seven years old.[2] Growing up, she attended Long Lake Camp for the Arts in Long Lake, New York.
She attended the Walnut Hill School for most of high school after transferring from a private preparatory school. In an interview, Weed said of the school, "It's an amazing place — like Hogwarts. Walnut Hill saved my life." She credits the staff and standards of Walnut Hill for much of her later success.[3]
She graduated from Elon University with a BFA in musical theatre in 2011.[4]
On April 13, 2019, Weed was awarded a 2019 Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Award from Elon University, an award given annually which "recognizes 10 alumni who have graduated between 2018 and 2009 and who have achieved major professional success, serve as difference-makers in their communities and loyally support Elon."[5]
Weed is the niece of actress Kathi Moss, who originated the role of Saraghina in 1982 Broadway production of Nine and also appeared in original Broadway productions of Grease and Grand Hotel.[6][7]
Career[]
Weed made her Broadway debut in Lysistrata Jones in November 2011, as an understudy for many of the female roles. The show closed on January 8, 2012.[8]
Her next major role was Nadia in a reworked version of Bare: A Pop Opera, now called Bare: The Musical, at New World Stages. Previews began on November 19, 2012, with an official opening on December 9, 2012, and the show ran through February 3, 2013.[9]
She then played Zoe Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen for the May Reading in 2014.
Weed then originated the leading role of Veronica in Heathers: The Musical, a musical adaptation of the 1988 cult film Heathers. The musical premiered at Hudson Backstage Theater in Los Angeles in the fall of 2013, before moving to New York for its Off-Broadway incarnation. The show began previews at New World Stages on March 15, 2014, with an opening night of March 31. She was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award and a Drama Desk Award for her performance. Weed left the show in June, and the show closed on August 4, 2014.[10]
In September 2014, Weed began performing in FOUND The Musical, a new Off-Broadway musical about the creation of the Found books and magazines by Davy Rothbart. Weed played the role of Denise. The show opened on October 14 and ran through November 9, 2014.[11]
Weed played the role of Sally Bowles in the Signature Theater production of Cabaret from May 12 to June 28, 2015, in the Washington, D.C. area.[12] For this performance, she won the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical.[13]
Weed narrates "Kill The Boy Band" by Goldy Moldavsky on Audible.com and Audio CD's, which was audio released on March 1, 2016.[14]
Weed starred in the new musical Mean Girls as Janis Sarkisian on Broadway. She was part of the world premiere which started on October 31, 2017, and ended December 3, 2017, at the National Theat34. The musical, based on the film of the same name began previews on Broadway on March 12, 2018, and officially opened April 8, 2018.[15] Weed has stated she identifies strongly with the 'outspoken cynicism' of her character.[2] Co-star Grey Henson and Weed worked together to receive their roles in the production.[16] Her final performance in the role was March 8, 2020.[17]
When she is not acting, Weed enjoys teaching voice and acting lessons to teenagers, as well as teaching master classes at high schools.[18]
Since 2020, she has voiced Octavia "Via" Goetia in the adult animated web series Helluva Boss.
On December 2, 2020, it was announced that Weed joined the cast of Bridge and Tunnel, a TV show on Epix. She plays Lizzie, "the artsy, sarcastic older sister of Pags (Brian Muller), who dreams of rock stardom for her all-girl punk band, Wildfire".[19] The show aired on January 24, 2021.
Artistry[]
Weed is typically classified as a mezzo-soprano, and is widely known for her high belting.[20][21]
Personal life[]
Weed is an advocate for a number of causes, including female empowerment, gun control, and voting rights.[22][23]
Filmography[]
Television[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Saturday Night Live | Herself | Uncredited; episode: "Tina Fey" | [24] |
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | Episode: "Tina Fey/Evan Rachel Wood / Mean Girls" | [25] | ||
| 2019 | Crashing | Deborah | Episode: "MC, Middle, Headliner" | [26] |
| 2020 | Blue Bloods | Lauren Wilson | Episode: "Hide in Plain Sight" | [27] |
| 2021 | Bridge and Tunnel | Lizzie | Recurring role, four episodes | [19] |
Web series[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–2024 | Helluva Boss | Octavia "Via" Goetia | Voice role | [28] |
| 2021 | Swipe Monster | Courtney Whitlock | Miniseries | [29][30] |
Theater credits[]
| Year | Production | Role | Location | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–2012 | Lysistrata Jones | Female u/s | Walter Kerr Theater | Broadway |
| 2012–2013 | Bare: The Musical | Nadia | New World Stages | Off-Broadway |
| 2013 | Heathers: The Musical | Veronica Sawyer | Hudson Theater Backstage | Regional |
| 2014 | New World Stages | Off-Broadway | ||
| FOUND The Musical | Denise | Atlantic Theater Company | ||
| Dear Evan Hansen | Zoe Murphy | May 2014 Reading | ||
| Waitress | Dawn Louise Pinkett | American Repertory Theater | December 2014 Workshop | |
| 2015 | Cabaret | Sally Bowles | Signature Theater | Regional |
| 2017 | Mean Girls | Janis Sarkisian | National Theater | Out-of-town tryout |
| 2018–2020 | August Wilson Theater | Broadway |
Awards and nominations[]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Heathers: The Musical | Nominated | |
| Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical | ||||
| 2016 | Helen Hayes Awards | Cabaret | Won | ||
| 2018 | Broadway.com Audience Awards | Favorite Featured Actress in a Musical | Mean Girls | [31] | |
| Favorite Funny Performance | |||||
| Favorite Onstage Pair (with Grey Henson) |
References[]
- ↑ Feldberg, Isaac (April 9, 2018). "From Cambridge to Broadway, Barrett Wilbert Weed's path to 'Mean Girls'". The Boston Globe. Boston Globe Media Partners. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved on June 20, 2019.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Wong, Curtis (June 10, 2018). "'Mean Girls' Star Barrett Wilbert Weed Is Proud To Be A Broadway Anti-Heroine". The Huffington Post. Oath. Retrieved on June 20, 2019.
- ↑ Reedy, Scott. "Barrett Wilbert Weed makes friends with Broadway's 'Mean Girls'". The Patriot Ledger. Retrieved on June 24, 2019.
- ↑ Krentcil, Faran (April 23, 2014). "'Heathers' Star Barrett Wilbert Weed Talks About Kissing Disney Heartthrobs and Wearing Short Skirts Onstage". Teen Vogue. Retrieved on January 16, 2016.
- ↑ "Young alumni recognized with Elon's Top 10 Under 10 Awards". E-Net! Elon University News & Information. Retrieved on June 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Watch Mean Girls star Barrett Wilbert Weed perform her Broadway dream roles". YouTube. BroadwayBox.com (October 2, 2018). Retrieved on October 3, 2018.
- ↑ "Kathi Moss – Broadway Cast & Staff". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved on October 3, 2018.
- ↑ Jones, Kenneth (January 3, 2012). "Lysistrata Jones, the Broadway Musical That Borrows from Ancient Greece, Will Give It Up on Jan. 8". Playbill. Retrieved on January 8, 2015.
- ↑ Rooney, David (December 11, 2012). "Ill-Fated Gay Love and Hormonal Tempests on a School Stage". The New York Times. Retrieved on January 8, 2015.
- ↑ Stasio, Marilyn (March 31, 2014). "Off Broadway Review: 'Heathers' the Musical". Variety. Variety Media. Retrieved on January 8, 2015.
- ↑ Gordon, David (August 8, 2014). "Community Star Danny Pudi and More Cast in New Musical Found". Theatre Mania. Retrieved on January 8, 2015.
- ↑ Blanchard, Jayne (May 18, 2015). "A smashing, trashy Cabaret at Signature (review)". DC Theater Scene. Retrieved on January 8, 2015.
- ↑ Clement, Olivia (May 24, 2016). "Dear Evan Hansen Wins at Helen Hayes Awards". Playbill. Retrieved on June 26, 2016.
- ↑ "KILL THE BOY BAND by Goldy Moldavsky Read by Barrett Wilbert Weed | Audiobook Review". AudioFile (2016). Retrieved on June 11, 2018.
- ↑ McPhee, Ryan (July 27, 2017). "Mean Girls Musical Finds Its Plastics in Taylor Louderman and Ashley Park; Additional Casting Announced". Playbill. Retrieved on July 30, 2017.
- ↑ Stagnitta, Ali (April 16, 2018). "'Mean Girls' Barrett Wilbert Weed Talks On & Off-Stage Friendship With Her Damian, Grey Henson". Hollywood Life. Retrieved on June 24, 2019.
- ↑ "Olivia Kaufmann Will Graduate to the Role of Janis Sarkisian in Mean Girls". Broadway.com. Retrieved on February 6, 2020.
- ↑ Bell, Crystal. "Mean Girls The Musical's Barrett Wilbert Weed Is Channeling Her Middle School Anxiety". MTV News. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018. Retrieved on June 25, 2019.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Petski, Denise (December 2, 2020). "'Bridge And Tunnel' Casts Barrett Wilbert Weed; Rushi Kota Returns To 'Never Have I Ever'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved on December 4, 2020.
- ↑ "Barrett Wilbert Weed at Feinstein's". TheaterMania.com (September 4, 2015).
- ↑ Gioia, Michael (July 11, 2014). "What's Your Damage? A Track-by-Track Breakdown of the Heathers: The Musical Cast Album". Playbill.
- ↑ Feldberg, Isaac. "From Cambridge to Broadway, Barrett Wilbert Weed's path to 'Mean Girls'". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved on June 20, 2019.
- ↑ Stagnitta, Ali (September 11, 2018). "'Mean Girls' Barrett Wilbert Weed Urges You To Vote In The Midterms To 'Preserve The Safety Of The People'". Hollywood Life. Retrieved on June 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Mean Girls - SNL". YouTube (May 19, 2018).
- ↑ ""The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" Tina Fey/Evan Rachel Wood/Mean Girls (TV Episode 2018)". Internet Movie Database.
- ↑ ""Crashing" MC, Middle, Headliner (TV Episode 2019)". Internet Movie Database.
- ↑ "Blue Bloods "Hide in Plain Sight" Photos: Stacy Keach Guest Stars". KSiteTV (April 17, 2020).
- ↑ "Helluva Boss (TV Series 2019– )". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on December 11, 2020.
- ↑ "The Cast – Swipe Monster". Swipe Monster Show. Retrieved on September 12, 2021.
- ↑ "Swipe Monster (TV Mini Series 2021– )". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on September 12, 2021.
- ↑ "Mean Girls Leads Broadway.com Audience Choice Award Winners; Ethan Slater, Hailey Kilgore Also Take Top Prizes". Broadway.com (May 17, 2018). Retrieved on May 17, 2018.
External links[]
- Barrett Wilbert Weed at Wikipedia
- Barrett Wilbert Weed at the Internet Movie Database
- Barrett Wilbert Weed at the Internet Broadway Database
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