Kate Wetherhead is an American actress, writer and director known for her work on The Devil Wears Prada the Musical, Submissions Only, Legally Blonde, Ordinary Days, and the Jack and Louisa book series.
Early life and education Kate was born in Burlington, Vermont, to Christine and Arnold Wetherhead. She began acting at age six and writing at seven. Wetherhead found her love for theatre after seeing a local production of West Side Story. She appeared in several shows at the University of Vermont, including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Miracle Worker. She has a bachelor's degree in English from Wesleyan University and trained as an actor at Circle in the Square Theatre School.
Career Wetherhead began her career in children's theatre, appearing off-Broadway in Sarah, Plain and Tall, Tatjana in Color, Summer of the Swans, and Cam Jansen, as well as touring with A Christmas Carol. She made her Broadway debut in 2005 in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee as the understudy for Olive Ostrovsky, Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, and Marcy Park. She left the show to originate the roles of Kate and Chutney in the Broadway production of Legally Blonde. She left Legally Blonde in 2008, performing in such shows as Almost, Maine, Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, and Steel Magnolias. In 2009 she starred as Deb in Ordinary Days by Adam Gwon for Roundabout Theatre Company.
In 2010, she met Andrew Keenan-Bolger in a regional production of It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman, and, after collaborating on a behind-the-scenes video for the production, they decided to make a series together. The two created the show Submissions Only, with Wetherhead writing and directing as well as playing the protagonist, Penny Reilly. In 2012, she returned to Off-Broadway in The Other Josh Cohen, for which she received a Drama Desk Award nomination. Submissions Only ended its third and final season in 2014. From 2013 to 2016, Wetherhead and Keenan-Bolger co-wrote the three-part children's book series Jack & Louisa, published by Penguin Group. The two also have a feature film in development with Sycamore Pictures.
In 2018, Wetherhead made her theatrical directorial debut at Bucks County Playhouse, directing Cinderella. She has since directed Shrek The Musical for the playhouse, along with developmental readings and workshops for New York University and Michigan State University.
In March 2021 it was announced that Wetherhead would write a musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada. The Devil Wears Prada opened in October 2024 at the Dominion Theatre with a score by Elton John, lyrics by Shaina Taub and Mark Sonnenblick, book by Kate Wetherhead, and direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde, Hairspray).
Personal life Wetherhead is married to Tony Award winning lighting designer Jeff Croiter.
Theatre YearShowRoleNotes2001A Christmas CarolEnsembleTheatreWorksUSA2002Sarah, Plain and TallAnnaLucille Lortel TheatreThe Spitfire GrillPercySkylight Opera Theatre2003Summer of the SwansSaraLucille Lortel TheatreTatjana in ColorTatjanaThe Culture Project2004Cam Jansen and the Curse of the Emerald ElephantCam JansenThe Lamb's Theatre2005The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeUnderstudy for Olive Ostrovsky, Marcy Park, and Logainne SchwartzandgrubenierreBroadway, 2005–20062006Sarah, Plain and TallAnnaOff-BroadwayDear EdwinaEdwina SpoonappleRattlestick Playwrights Theater2007Legally BlondeChutney/KateBroadway, April 3, 2007 – February 25, 20082008Almost, MaineVariousSt. Michael's Playhouse, July 2008Steel MagnoliasAnnellePaper Mill PlayhouseEmmet Otter's Jug-Band ChristmasJaneGoodspeed Musicals, December 7, 2008 – January 4, 20092009Ordinary DaysDebRoundabout Theatre Company2010James and the Giant Peach SpiderGoodspeed MusicalsIt's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's SupermanBlackbird/Clark's Kryptonian MotherDallas Theater Center2011CabaretSally BowlesDallas Theater Center, April 22 – May 22, 20112012The Other Josh CohenA Lot of PeopleOff-Broadway, October 10 – November 11, 20122013Clever Little LiesJaneGeorge Street Playhouse, November 19 – December 22, 20132014The Other Josh CohenA Lot of PeoplePaper Mill Playhouse, February 19 – March 15, 2014The Heidi ChroniclesHeidi HollandGuthrie Theatre2015CompanyAmyBucks County Playhouse2015Clever Little LiesJaneWestside Theatre, October 13, 2015 – March 20, 20162016God Bless You, Mr. RosewaterCompanyEncores! City Center2017Ebenezer Scrooge's Big Playhouse Christmas ShowWoman 1New Hope Playhouse2017Hurricane DianeBethTwo River Theater2018The Other Josh CohenA Lot of PeopleWestside Theatre2019Hurricane DianeBethNew York Theatre Workshop2020Your Best OneLauraCapital Repertory Theatre2024BurlesqueN/AAdditional playwright2024The Devil Wears PradaN/APlaywright
Filmography YearTitleRoleNotes2007Legally Blonde: The MusicalKate/ChutneyFilmed stage production2010–2014Submissions OnlyPenny Reilly22 episodes2012The Big CMousse GirlEpisode: "Bundle of Joy"2015Serial: The TV ShowSarah KoenigShort; also writer and director2016The Ceiling FanWomanShort; also writer and director2017The Marvelous Mrs. MaiselPollyEpisode: "The Disappointment of the Dionne Quintuplets"2017The Late Show with Stephen ColbertKateSketch: "The Emperors New Wall"2018Awkwardly (TV Series)Mary2 episode; also director
Writing credits ReleaseTitleNotesSubmissions OnlyTV SeriesThe Ceiling FanFilm Jack and Louisa: Act 1Book Series with Andrew Keenan-BolgerJack and Louisa: Act 2Jack and Louisa: Act 3A Theatre Camp MovieFilmBurlesqueMusicalThe Devil Wears Prada the MusicalMusicalEver AfterMusical The Baby-Sitters Club Musical
Concerts YearTitleNotes2014Submissions Only Live at 54 BelowSang in "More of You", "Steal Away", "Uh Oh", "I Got a Reading", "Where I'm Supposed to Be", and "Nobody Does Mean Like Me"; also introduced "Chin in My Hands" and "Why Must the Show Go On"
Discography YearTitleNotes2002Sarah, Plain and TallAnna2006Finding Nemo – The MusicalNemo2007Legally Blonde: The Musical (original Broadway cast recording)Featured vocals2010Ordinary Days (original cast recording)Deb2015Submissions Only (Original Soundtrack)Various2017God Bless You, Mr. RosewaterDawn, Caroline
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominee Result2007Actors' Equity Association AwardOutstanding Broadway EnsembleLegally Blonde 2013Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Featured Actress in a MusicalThe Other Josh Cohen
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