Kate Rockwell

Kate Rockwell (born Katherine Rockwell Wilfong; August 4, 1984) is an American actress, dancer, and singer. She is known for her work on Broadway and for originating the roles of Skylar in Bring It On: The Musical in 2011 and of Karen Smith in the 2018 musical, Mean Girls, for the latter of which she received Drama Desk Award and Helen Hayes Award nominations.

Rockwell was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is the eldest child born to Charles Wilfong and Linda Warner (née Rockwell). She has two younger siblings, Elizabeth (who goes by "Libet") and William (who goes by "Bear").

She graduated from Sycamore High School in 2002 and then attended Baldwin Wallace University, earning a BM in musical theatre in 2006.

Soon after graduating from college, Rockwell was cast in her first professional production as Philia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival in Boise, Idaho under the direction of her former Baldwin Wallace professor, Victoria Bussert. The production later transferred to the Great Lakes Theater with Rockwell continuing as Philia.

In 2007, Rockwell was one of the final 12 contestants on NBC's Grease: You're the One That I Want!, a televised reality competition designed to cast the lead roles of Sandy Dumbrowski and Danny Zuko for the Broadway revival of Grease directed by Kathleen Marshall. She was nicknamed "Serious Sandy" and was ultimately eliminated, placing fifth to eventual winner, Laura Osnes.

Rockwell made her Broadway debut as Margot in Legally Blonde on May 15, 2008, replacing Haven Burton. She later joined the U.S. national touring production of Legally Blondeas a replacement for the role of Margot.

In March 2010 she joined the cast of 2009 Broadway production of Hair and remained with the production until its closing on June 27, 2010. Rockwell then continued on as a Member of the Tribe in the U.S. national touring production of the musical.

In January 2011 at the Alliance Theatre, Rockwell starred as Skylar in the world premiere of Bring It On: The Musical,loosely based on the 2000 film of the same name. She remained part of the production through its national tour in 2011 and limited engagement on Broadway from August to December 2012.

In January 2013, she returned to Broadway as Sherrie in Rock of Ages, replacing fellow Grease: You're the One That I Want! competitor, Ashley Spencer. During the days surrounding her debut as Sherrie, Rockwell filmed a series of video blogs for Broadway.com entitled "Oh, Sherrie! Backstage at Rock of Ages with Kate Rockwell." She left the production on April 20, 2014 and was replaced by Carrie St. Louis.

In the summer of 2014, Rockwell portrayed Jane, opposite Nicholas Rodriguez, in The Muny's production of Tarzan. She returned to The Muny the following summer, starring as Belle in the company's production of Beauty and the Beast.

In the fall of 2016, Rockwell appeared in the Arena Stage's regional production of Carousel as Carrie Pipperidge. She was later nominated for a Helen Hayes Award in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical category for this role.

Rockwell currently stars as Karen Smith in the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical, Mean Girls, written by Tina Fey with music and lyrics by Jeff Richmond and Nell Benjamin, respectively. The show had its world premiere as an out-of-town tryout at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C. from October 31, 2017 to December 3, 2017 in which Rockwell originated the role of Karen Smith. The musical, which is based on the film of the same name, began previews on March 12, 2018, and officially opened on Broadway on April 8, 2018 at the August Wilson Theatre in New York City. She received a nomination for the Helen Hayes Award in the Outstanding Performer in a Visiting Production category (for her performance in the D.C. production) and a nomination for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical.

In 2008, Rockwell met actor, Spencer Howard, when he (as dance captain) was preparing Rockwell for her entry into the Legally Blonde national tour as a replacement for an injured performer. In February 2009, they began a relationship. Rockwell and Howard then married on September 8, 2014 in Marblehead, Massachusetts. The couple now reside in New York City with their two dogs, Mabel and Bessie.

• Credits in bold indicate Broadway production(s)

Film

Television

Solo recordings

• Back To My Roots (2018)

Cast recordings

• Bring It On: The Musical – Original Broadway Cast Recording (2012)
• Like You Like It – Original Studio Cast RADcording (2016)
• Mean Girls – Original Broadway Cast Recording (2018)

Collaborative projects

• Broadway's Carols for a Cure, Volume 14 (2012)
• Broadway's Carols for a Cure, Volume 20 (2018)

As featured artist

• "Rockin' Around the Pole" by The Hot Elves (2018)