Marissa McGowan

Marissa McGowan is an acclaimed vocalist and actress who, most recently, appeared on Broadway in the Roundabout Theatre Company revival of Kiss Me Kate at Studio 54, playing the Wardrobe Mistress and understudying Lilli Vanessi, played by the incomparable Kelli O’Hara. She had the honor to be chosen by Mr. Marvin Hamlisch to star as Stella Purdy in the world premiere of Marvin’s last musical The Nutty Professor (directed by the legendary Jerry Lewis), for which she won the “best leading actress” award in Nashville for her performance. She has also appeared on Broadway in the A Little Night Music revival alongside Catherine Zeta Jones and Angela Lansbury (original cast recording), Bonnie and Clyde (original cast recording), Les Misérables (revival and national tour) where she performed both the roles of Eponine and Cosette, and with Roundabout Theatre Company in The Robber Bridegroom.

Other appearances by Ms. McGowan include her work in the musical Chess at the Kennedy Center. Her regional roles include Heather in the world premiere of Human Error at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Magnolia in Show Boat at the Asolo Repertory Theatre, Maria in The Sound of Music with the Lyric Theatre, Petra in A Little Night Music at American Conservatory Theatre (which earned her a Theater Bay Area Award for Outstanding Actress), Guinevere in Camelot and Mary Jane in Big River at the Goodspeed Opera House, Johanna in Sweeney Todd and Adelaide in Guys and Dolls at the Geva Theater, and Marian in The Music Man and Philia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Weston Theater Company.

Ms. McGowan’s television credits include Major Crimes (TNT) and Odd Mom Out (BRAVO). She has numerous recordings and readings of new works throughout New York City. Her concert appearances include at Lincoln Center (in a tribute to Marvin Hamlisch, directed by Mike Nichols), in the role of Susan in Sweet Smell of Success in Concert (Hudson Theater NYC), and as a guest soloist with the symphonies of Indianapolis, Omaha, Houston, Kalamazoo, and New Albany and the Naples Philharmonic, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Phonecia Festival of the Voice, Annapolis Chorale, Alpine Theatre Project, and the American Cancer Society Marvin Hamlisch tribute at the Hudson Theater in New York City.

As a teacher, Ms. McGowan has taught master classes all across the country and has a roster of private students in the New York City area. She grew up on Long Island and then attended Syracuse University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in musical theater.