Bonnie Milligan

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Bonnie Milligan
Milligan in 2024
Alma materOhio State University (BA)
Occupations
  • Singer
  • Actress
Years active2012-present

Bonnie Milligan is a musical theater performer and television actor, known for her "belting" style of singing and wide vocal range.[1][2] She was awarded the 2023 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Debra in Kimberly Akimbo.[3]

Bonnie Milligan performing in 2019

Early life

Milligan is originally from Illinois and Ohio.[4] The daughter of a Protestant minister, she has stated that her parents divorced when she was sixteen and that her mother, with whom she lived, often had financial trouble.[1][5] Her father passed away at the age of 69 in 2020 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.[6][7] Milligan has one brother, Tim.[7]

After her parents' divorce, Milligan moved to the small farm town of Archbold, Ohio, where she graduated from high school. She subsequently went to Ohio State from which she graduated with a theatre degree in 2006.[4][8] Following that, she moved to New York to try to break into musical theater there. In New York, Milligan worked as a waiter while going to auditions before breaking through in her performing career.[9]

Career

Theater

In 2012, Milligan appeared as Holden in the Flea Theater's production of Restoration Comedy by playwright Amy Freed.[10][11] Beginning in 2014, she played Pat in the first national tour of Kinky Boots, a role she continued in until 2017.[12][13]

In 2018, Milligan made her Broadway debut in Head Over Heels, originating the role of Pamela, for which she won a Theatre World Award in 2019.[14] From November 2021 to January 2022, Milligan appeared as Debra in Kimberly Akimbo at the Atlantic Theater Company.[15] In February and March 2022, Milligan starred as Lorraine in the Delaware Theatre Company World Premiere theatre production of Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen and Ann McNamee's Other World.[16] In the fall of 2022, Kimberly Akimbo opened on Broadway at the Booth Theatre with Milligan continuing in her role.[17] She won a Tony award for this role.

Other work

Milligan's most prominent TV role was as Katherine Witherbottom in the television show Search Party from 2016 to 2022.

As of May 2022, a YouTube video of Milligan performing a medley duet with Laura Osnes of mostly Disney princess songs as part of Milligan's "Belting Bonnie's Bon Voyage" show in 2014 at Feinstein's/54 Below had been viewed more than 2.5 million times.[18][5]

Milligan has been a vocal advocate for body positivity.[19]

Theatre credits

Selected credits, adapted from About the Artists.[20]

Year Title Role Venue Notes
2014 Kinky Boots Pat First National Tour National tour
2015 Head Over Heels Pamela Oregon Shakespeare Festival Repertory theater
The Count of Monte Cristo Ensemble
2015 Gigantic Daphne Vineyard Theater Off-Broadway
2018 Head Over Heels Pamela Curran Theatre Regional
2018–19 Hudson Theatre Broadway
2019 Camelot Sagramore Vivian Beaumont Theatre Concert
2021 Kimberly Akimbo Debra Atlantic Theater Company Off-Broadway premiere
2022 Other World Lorraine Delaware Theatre Company Regional
2022–24 Kimberly Akimbo Debra Booth Theater Broadway
2024 Titanic Alice New York City Center Encores!
2024 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Rona The Kennedy Center Regional

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2019 Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Head Over Heels Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Nominated
Theatre World Award Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance Won
2022 Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical Kimberly Akimbo Won
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Nominated
2023 Tony Award Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical Won

References

  1. ^ a b Meyer, Dan (January 17, 2020). "Seth Rudetsky is Obsessed! With Head Over Heels' Bonnie Milligan". Playbill. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  2. ^ Pope, Ricky (August 19, 2021). "Review: BONNIE MILLIGAN Raises the Roof at 54 Below". Broadway.com. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  3. ^ "Winners". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Marks, Peter (June 6, 2023). "These Broadway actors are finally getting the spotlight they deserve". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Bonnie Milligan: Belting Bonnie's Bon Voyage, With Matt Doyle & Laura Osnes". Feinstein's/54 Below. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  6. ^ "The Easiest Way To Avoid Sore Throats, According To A Broadway Star Who'd Know". Bustle. February 2, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "After the Death of Her Father, Bonnie Milligan Thought Broadway's Kimberly Akimbo Was Out of Reach". Peoplemag. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  8. ^ "Alum Bonnie Milligan Wins Tony | Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts". theatreandfilm.osu.edu. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  9. ^ "Head Over Heels Beltress Bonnie Milligan Visits Her Old Gig, Sings Celine Dion & More on Side by Side". Broadway.com. November 23, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  10. ^ Rooney, David (December 12, 2012). "Jinks Aplenty, More Low Than High, and Gleefully So". The New York Times. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  11. ^ "Restoration Comedy – The Flea". theflea.org. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  12. ^ Theater, Lincoln Center. "Bonnie Milligan". Lincoln Center Theater. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  13. ^ Rudetsky, Seth (August 9, 2018). "How Head Over Heels Star Bonnie Milligan Landed Her Debut as a Broadway Leading Lady". Playbill. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  14. ^ Gans, Andrew (March 10, 2022). "Checking In With… Head Over Heels and Kimberly Akimbo Star Bonnie Milligan". Playbill. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  15. ^ "Kimberly Akimbo". Atlantic Theater Company. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  16. ^ Walsh, Helen (March 8, 2022). "Delaware Theatre Company presents Hunter Bell's Other World". Broad Street Review. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  17. ^ Paulson, Michael (February 25, 2022). "Musical Comedy 'Kimberly Akimbo' to Open on Broadway Next Fall". The New York Times. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  18. ^ "Bonnie Milligan & Laura Osnes - "Disney Princess Medley"". YouTube. August 20, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  19. ^ Evans, Suzy (August 3, 2018). "Bonnie Milligan On Her Character's Confidence – And How She's Embraced Her Own". TodayTix. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  20. ^ "Bonnie Milligan theatre profile". www.abouttheartists.com. Retrieved February 10, 2024.