Kara Lynn Massey (born February 16, 1985), known professionally as Kara Lindsay, is an American stage actress and singer, best known for her roles as Katherine Plumber in Newsies (2012) and Glinda in Wicked (2014, 2016, 2018, 2019).
Education Kara Lynn Lindsay was born in Rochester, New York, and attended Greece Athena High School before studying at Carnegie Mellon University, where she received a BFA in acting/musical theatre.
Career In 2009, Lindsay appeared as Laura in a musical theatre production at the Paper Mill Playhouse of Little House on the Prairie with Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura in the original television series, as "Ma".Kara Lindsay, Melissa Gilbert star in Little House on the Prairie at the Paper Mill Playhouse , newjerseynewsroom.com; accessed January 10, 2016. Lindsay originated the role of Katherine Plumber in Newsies, a Disney musical written for the stage by Harvey Fierstein, in 2011. The character is the fictional love interest of protagonist Jack Kelly, but Lindsay said she drew inspiration for her portrayal from the real-life investigative journalist, Nellie Bly. She continued her role when Newsies moved to Broadway and played her final performance on February 2, 2014.
From April 2 to November 23, 2014, Lindsay played the role of Glinda in the second national tour of Wicked, where she starred opposite Laurel Harris as Elphaba. She then reprised the role of Glinda on Broadway on December 16, 2014, until January 31, 2016, when she was replaced by Carrie St. Louis, who had previously replaced her on tour as Glinda. On November 1, 2016, Lindsay returned to the role of Glinda on Broadway, replacing Carrie St. Louis. She returned to the 2nd national tour of Wicked in 2018, and exited the company, alongside Jackie Burns, on February 24, 2019, in Salt Lake City.
Personal life In 2008, Lindsay and Kevin Massey met at the final callbacks for Little House on the Prairie. They began dating around 2009, when the show went on tour, and became engaged after the tour had ended. Lindsay married Massey on June 2, 2013. Together they have a son, Emerson Charles Massey, who was born on November 12, 2019. Lindsay and Massey appear annually at the Disney Epcot International Festival of Arts in Orlando, Florida.
In February 2025, Lindsay revealed that she had been diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in late 2024. Lindsay completed chemotherapy in January 2025.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 2017 Disney's Newsies the Broadway Musical Katherine Plumber
Television Year Title Role Notes 2011 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Katherine Plumber 2012 Submissions Only Composition Callbacks Group 2 Episode: "The Growing Interconnectedness" 2013 Working in the Theatre Herself Episode: "The Anatomy of a Song"2018Murphy BrownCallieEpisode: "Results May Vary"
Theater Year Title Role Notes 2009-2010 Little House on the Prairie Laura Ingalls National tour2011 Cabaret Sally Bowles Starlight Theatre (Kansas City, Missouri)NewsiesKatherine Plumber Paper Mill Playhouse 2012–2014 Nederlander Theatre 2014 Wicked Glinda 2nd North American Tour 2016 Mary Poppins Mary Poppins North Carolina Theatre 2014–2016 Wicked Glinda Gershwin Theatre 2016 Newsies Katherine Plumber Pantages Theatre 2016–2017 Wicked Glinda Gershwin Theatre 2017, 2018 Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Cynthia Weil Stephen Sondheim Theatre 2018 Singin' In The Rain Kathy Selden Sacramento Music Circus 2018–2019 Wicked Glinda 2nd North American Tour 2019 Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Cynthia Weil Stephen Sondheim Theatre2023Mary PoppinsMary PoppinsNorth Carolina Theatre2024Once Upon A MattressPrincess Winnifred (standby)Encores!Hudson Theatre2025Romy & Michele: The MusicalMichele WeinbergerStage 422026Shrek the MusicalPrincess FionaThe Muny2026Mary PoppinsMary PoppinsPaper Mill Playhouse
References
External links karalindsay.com, Kara Lindsay's official website Profile, broadway.com; accessed January 10, 2016.