Michele Pawk is an American actress and singer. She is also an associate theater professor. She is a Tony Award and Lucille Lortel Award winner, and a Grammy Award nominee.
Biography Pawk attended the College Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, where she received her BFA in musical theater. After graduation, she spent a year working in a musical revue at Disney World. In 1988, she made her Broadway debut in a short-lived musical entitled Mail, but it wasn't until 1992 that she made her mark with her performance in the Ira and George Gershwin-inspired production Crazy for You, for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award as Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. From there she went on to three successful revivals – Merrily We Roll Along (1994), Chicago (1996), and Cabaret (1998) – and an original musical, Seussical (2000), based on the works of Dr. Seuss.
In 2002, Pawk earned critical raves for her performance in Hollywood Arms, the Carrie Hamilton–Carol Burnett play adapted from Burnett's memoir, One More Time. Her portrayal of an alcoholic who dreams of success as a movie magazine writer, a character based on Burnett's mother, won her the Tony Award as Best Featured Actress in a Play. She was featured in Hairspray as Velma Von Tussle, after appearing in Mamma Mia! as "Donna" (October 19, 2005 – February 20, 2006).
Pawk's television credits include L.A. Law, The Golden Girls, and all three editions of the Law & Order franchise. She appeared in small roles in the films Jeffrey (1995) and Cradle Will Rock (1999). She also guest starred on an episode of Quantum Leap (1990) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2020).
Pawk was featured alongside Victoria Clark and Jonathan Groff in the New York premiere of "Prayer for My Enemy" by Craig Lucas at the Playwrights Horizons Theater. The play touches on several topics including the Iraq War (Groff plays a young veteran), homosexuality, alcoholism, and the definition of family. The play ran from November 14, 2008, through December 21, 2008.Playwrights Horizon Current Season , playwrightshorizons.org, accessed November 18, 2008 In December 2022, Pawk took over the role of Madame Morrible in the Broadway production of Wicked. She played her final performance on March 3, 2024. Beginning in April 2025, Pawk was featured alongside Jonathan Groff again when she opened in Just in Time as Bobby Darin's "mother", Polly. She received a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album for the show's cast album.
Teaching Pawk has been a full-time faculty member at Wagner College, Staten Island, New York, since 2010, teaching advanced acting, directing and film studies."Staten Island's Wagner College Theater Department hires a bona fide Broadway babe: Tony winner Michele Pawk" silive.com, October 7, 2010Pawk wagner.edu
Personal life She is married to actor John Dossett. They have a son, Jack, born in February 2000.
Two of Michele's uncles, Johnny Pawk and Steve Pawk, were early professional basketball players in the 1930s.
Stage credits YearTitleRoleVenueRef.1988MailCandi SuwinskiBroadway, Music Box TheatrePlaybill. Michele Pawk (Performer). Playbill.com. https://playbill.com/person/michele-pawk1992Crazy for YouIrene RothBroadway, Shubert Theatre1994Merrily We Roll AlongGussieOff-Broadway, York Theatre Company1996ChicagoMatron "Mama" MortonBroadway, Richard Rodgers Theatre1997Triumph of LoveHesione (Replacement)Broadway, Royale Theatre1998CabaretFraulein KostBroadway, Kit Kat Club2000SeussicalMayzie LaBirdBroadway, Richard Rodgers Theatre2001Mamma Mia!Donna Sheridan (Replacement)Broadway, Winter Garden Theatre2002Hollywood ArmsLouiseBroadway, Cort Theatre2004DemocracyWoman's VoiceBroadway, Brooks Atkinson Theatre2005Children and ArtPerformerBroadway, New Amsterdam Theatre2006Losing LouieSheila EllisBroadway, Biltmore Theatre2007HairsprayVelma Von Tussle (Replacement)Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre2019Beautiful: The Carole King MusicalGenie KleinBroadway, Stephen Sondheim Theatre2022WickedMadame MorribleBroadway, Gershwin Theatre2025Just in TimePolly WaldenBroadway, Circle in the Square Theatre
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.1992Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Featured Actress in a MusicalCrazy for You1998CabaretOuter Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Featured Actress in a Musical2003Tony AwardBest Featured Actress in a PlayHollywood ArmsPlaybill. (2003, June 9). Just the Facts: List of 2003 Tony Award Winners. Playbill.com. https://playbill.com/article/just-the-facts-list-of-2003-tony-award-winners-com-1136392006Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Featured Actress in a PlayThe Paris Letter2011Outstanding Actress in a PlayA Small Fire2020Lucille Lortel AwardOutstanding Featured Actress in a PlayHeroes of the Fourth Turning2025Outer Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Featured Actress in a MusicalJust in Time2026Grammy AwardBest Musical Theater AlbumGRAMMYs. (2026, February 1). 2026 Grammys: See The Full Winners & Nominees List. GRAMMY.com. https://www.grammy.com/news/2026-grammys-nominations-full-winners-nominees-list
References
External links Michele Pawk official website