Rebecca Luker (April 17, 1961 – December 23, 2020) was an American actress, singer, and recording artist, noted for her "crystal clear operatic soprano" and for maintaining long runs in Broadway musicals over the course of her three-decade-long career. The New York Times compared her to actresses such as Barbara Cook and Julie Andrews.Holden, Stephen. "The Ghosts of Broadway, Past and Future", The New York Times, December 14, 2005. Retrieved October 14, 2006.
Beginning in regional theatre productions in the early 1980s, Luker made her Broadway debut in the original cast of The Phantom of the Opera as a Christine understudy and later took over the role as the principal actress. She would then originate the role of Lily in The Secret Garden on Broadway in 1991. She was nominated for three Tony Awards, for her performances as Magnolia in Show Boat (1994), Marian in The Music Man (2000) and Winifred in Mary Poppins (2006), another role that she created. She performed widely in theatre throughout her career and also gave concert and cabaret performances. She began acting in television in 2000 and made several films. Luker continued to act until the year of her death, at the age of 59, from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. She can be heard on more than 20 cast albums and various other recordings.
Life and career Luker, the daughter of Martha (Baggett), a high school treasurer, and Norse Doak Luker, Jr., a construction worker, was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and grew up in the suburb of Helena. She attended the University of Montevallo, earning a BA in music, taking a year off in 1984 to perform in Sweeney Todd as Johanna Barker at the Michigan Opera Theatre.Gates, Anita. Playing It Sweet, If She Needs To, Or Sexy-Funny. The New York Times, March 8, 1998. Retrieved October 14, 2006.
Luker's Broadway debut was in The Phantom of the Opera in the role of Christine (1988–91). She was originally an understudy for principal actress Sarah Brightman and her alternate Patti Cohenour. Luker later took over the role after Brightman and Cohenour left the show. She performed opposite Cris Groenendaal and Steve Barton as the Phantom. Subsequent Broadway roles include Lily in The Secret Garden (1991–93), Magnolia in Show Boat (1994–97, the first actress to be nominated for a Tony Award for this role), Maria in The Sound of Music (1998–99), Marian in The Music Man (2000–2001), and Claudia in Nine (2003). She played the role of Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins from 2006Gans, Andrew.Mary Poppins Lands on Broadway at New Amsterdam Theatre Oct. 14" playbill.com, October 14, 2006 to 2010. She later replaced Victoria Clark as Crazy Marie/the Fairy Godmother in the Broadway production of Cinderella for an engagement that lasted from September 2013 to January 2014.Rebecca Luker to Replace Victoria Clark in CINDERELLA September 6 thru January 19 Retrieved September 10, 2013 Luker joined the cast of Fun Home at the Circle in the Square Theatre on Broadway, temporarily assuming the role of Helen Bechdel from April 5, 2016 to May 22, 2016.
Luker appeared Off-Broadway in The Vagina Monologues, Indian Summer, X (Life of Malcolm X), Brigadoon, Death Takes a Holiday, and Can't Let Go. During 2002, the Kennedy Center presented a "Sondheim Celebration"; Luker appeared in Passion as Clara. She performed in the New York City Center Encores! staged concerts of The Boys from Syracuse and Where's Charley?. Her TV appearances include Boardwalk Empire, The Good Wife, Matlock, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and the Hallmark movie Cupid & Cate. She appeared in the 2012 film Not Fade Away. On January 11, 2016, Luker reprised the role of Lily in The Secret Garden at a benefit performance at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.
Luker performed as a concert soloist with symphony orchestras around the world and in intimate solo settings. She performed a solo concert as part of the American Songbook Series at Lincoln Center in 2005, featuring 20 songs composed by a group of younger songwriters including Paul Loesel, Scott Burkell, Jeff Blumenkranz, Barry Kleinbort, and Joseph Thalken. Her 2006 solo cabaret debut at Feinstein's at the Regency received rave reviews from The New York Times and Variety as well as the Bisto award for best debut concert. She performed in 2008 solo concert at Kennedy Center's Terrace Theatre,Pressley, Nelson."Literary Notes From Broadway's Rebecca Luker"The Washington Post, November 10, 2008 a 2011 concert featuring the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein (again at Kennedy Center),"NSO Pops: Some Enchanted Evening: The Music of Rodgers & Hammerstein / Steven Reineke, conductor" Kennedy Center, accessed July 2, 2012 and in 2012, the "Bridge to Broadway" as part of the NYC River to River Festival and "NEW VOICES at NYU: A Celebration of Songs by NYU Musical Theatre Writers Past and Present".Gans, Andrew."Danny Burstein, Rebecca Luker, Rory O'Malley, Drew Gehling, Kate Shindle Set for NYU Concert" playbill.com, March 23, 2012Gioia, Michael."Rebecca Luker and Marin Mazzie Are Part of Bridge to Broadway Concert July 2 at NYC River to River Festival" playbill.com, July 2, 2012
In 2001, Luker, Truman Capote, and the film version of To Kill a Mockingbird were all inducted into the Alabama Stage and Screen Hall of Fame. She also received a doctorate of fine arts, honoris causa, on May 5, 2010 from her alma mater, the University of Montevallo."Rebecca Luker to be commencement speaker" University of Montevallo, May 5, 2010, accessed September 12, 2011
Personal life Luker married Gregory Jbara in 1993. They divorced in 1996. She married Danny Burstein in June 2000, becoming stepmother to his sons Zachary and Alexander.Jones, Kenneth."Madam Librarian! Actors Rebecca Luker and Danny Burstein Tie the Knot" Playbill.com, June 14, 2000
On February 9, 2020, Luker announced that she was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), having been diagnosed in late 2019. In June 2020, she could still sing, as she hosted a livestreamed benefit for ALS. However, by October, the disease had progressed to the point where she had "no diaphragm" and thus could not speak loudly. She had been in a wheelchair for seven months at the time.
In April 2020, Burstein contracted COVID-19 (along with several other cast members of Moulin Rouge!, in which he was starring). He was hospitalized at St. Luke's in Manhattan and recovered. Following his ordeal, Burstein wrote an account of it that was published in The Hollywood Reporter. Toward the end of that article, Burstein wrote, "while I'm getting better, Rebecca has started dealing with the virus as well now. She's not been tested, but has all the symptoms to varying degrees. We are monitoring her closely." Luker ultimately had a much milder case than her husband.
Luker died of ALS at a hospital in Manhattan on December 23, 2020, at age 59.
Stage credits Broadway Year Title Role Notes1988–1991The Phantom of the OperaPrincess/Understudy Christine DaaéOriginal castAlternate Christine DaaéReplacement Christine Daaé1991–1993The Secret GardenLily CravenOriginated the role1994–1997Show BoatMagnolia HawkesRevival1998–1999The Sound of MusicMaria von TrappRevival2000–2001The Music ManMarian ParooRevival2003NineClaudiaReplacement2006–2010Mary PoppinsWinifred BanksOriginated the role2013–2014Rodgers + Hammerstein's CinderellaMarieReplacement2016Fun HomeHelen BechdelReplacement
Other Year Title Role Venue1983A Little Night MusicAnne EgermanMichigan Opera Theatre1984Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetJohanna BarkerMichigan Opera Theatre1985Leave It to Jane Jane Witherspoon Goodspeed Opera House1985-1986The Music ManMarian ParooGarde Arts Center1986No, No, NanetteNanetteCarnegie Hall1987CinderellaCinderellaKansas City Starlight Theatre1993Gay DivorceMimiCarnegie Hall1993Show BoatMagnolia HawksNorth York Performing Arts Centre1996BrigadoonFiona MacLarenNew York City Opera1996Time and AgainJuliaOld Globe Theatre1997The Boys from SyracuseAdrianaEncores! at New York City Center1997HarmonyMary HegelLa Jolla Playhouse2002The Vagina MonologuesPerformerWestside Theatre2002PassionClaraKennedy Center2003She Loves MeAmaliaReprise Theatre Company2003Can't Let GoperformerKeen Company2006Indian BloodJanePrimary Stages2011Where's Charley?Donna Lucia D'AlvadorezEncores!2011Death Takes a HolidayDuchess LambertiLaura Pels Theater2014Little DancerAdult Marie von GoethemKennedy Center2016The Secret GardenLily CravenLucille Lortel TheatreThe Secret Garden Benefit Staging, With Rebecca Luker and Daisy Eagan, Blooms Tonight2019FootlooseVi MooreKennedy Center
Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes2000Cupid & CateAnnetteTV movie2004Law & Order: Special Victims UnitWendy CampbellEpisode: "Poison"2010The Good WifeCarleen LorenEpisode: "Taking Control"2011Submissions OnlyHannah LaboveEpisode: "Mean Like Me"Law & Order: Special Victims UnitMrs. WalshEpisode: "True Believers"2012Boardwalk EmpireSister AgnesRecurring; 4 episodes2015Law & Order: Special Victims UnitLisa ParkerEpisode: "Transgender Bridge"2017ElementaryVirginia SpiveyEpisode: "High Heat"2018–2019NCIS: New OrleansRose LaSalle3 episodes2020BullMichele DowneyEpisode: "Child of Mine"
Film Year Title RoleNotes1997Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted ChristmasChorus (voice)Video2006SpectropiaSinger at the ball2012Not Fade AwayMarti Dietz2014The RewriteJoan
Awards and nominations YearAward CategoryWorkResult1991Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Featured Actress in a MusicalThe Secret Garden1995Tony AwardBest Performance by a Leading Actress in a MusicalShow Boat1997Drama-Logue AwardPerformanceHarmony1998Outer Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Actress in a MusicalThe Sound of Music2000The Music ManDrama Desk AwardOutstanding Actress in a MusicalTony AwardBest Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical2007Bistro AwardDebutFeinstein's at the Regency (Solo Cabaret)Tony AwardBest Performance by a Featured Actress in a MusicalMary PoppinsOuter Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Featured Actress in a Musical2012Outer Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Featured Actress in a MusicalDeath Takes a Holiday
Discography
Solo recordings I Got Love - Songs of Jerome Kern (2013, PS Classics) Greenwich Time (2009, PS Classics) Leaving Home (2004, PS Classics) Anything Goes: Rebecca Luker Sings Cole Porter (1996, Varèse Sarabande)
Cast recordings Passion (2013 New York Cast Recording, PS Classics) Jerome Kern: The Land Where the Good Songs Go - A New Revue (2012 Studio Cast Recording, 101 Distribution, PS Classics) Sweet Little Devil (2012 Studio Cast Recording, PS Classics) Death Takes a Holiday (2011 Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording, PS Classics) Sweet Bye and Bye (2011 Studio Cast Recording, PS Classics) Life Begins at 8:40 (2010 World Premiere Recording, PS Classics) Kitty’s Kisses (2009 World Premiere Recording, PS Classics) Dear Edwina (2008 World Premiere Recording, PS Classics) Brownstone (2003 Studio Cast Recording, Original Cast Record) Everybody’s Getting into the Act (2003 Studio Cast Recording, Varèse Sarabande) The Music Man (2000 New Broadway Cast Recording, Q Records) Wonderful Town (1998 Studio Cast Recording, JAY Records) The Sound of Music (1998 New Broadway Cast Recording, RCA Victor) The Boys from Syracuse (1997 Encores! Cast Recording, DRG Records) Show Boat (1994 Revival Cast Album, Livent Music) Brigadoon (1992 Studio Cast Album, EMI Records) The Secret Garden (1991 Original Broadway Cast Album, Columbia Records) Strike Up the Band (1991 Studio Cast Album, Elektra Nonesuch) Annie Get Your Gun (1991 Studio Cast Album, EMI Records) Kiss Me, Kate (1990 Studio Cast Album, EMI Records) Show Boat (1988 Studio Cast Album, EMI Records)
Featured recordings Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project (2012, Over the Moon) Victor Herbert: Collected Songs (2012, New World Records) Show Some Beauty (2011, Yellow Sound Label) Poetic License 100 Poems/100 Performers (2010, GPR Records) Tom Herman: Music for Voice (2008, CDBY)