Jeanne Lehman

Jeanne Lehman
SAG * AFTRA * AEA * AGMA * CANADIAN AEA
Jeanne Lehman
SAG * AFTRA * AEA * AGMA * CANADIAN AEA
Biography
For over 30 years, Ms. Lehman has enjoyed a varied and exciting career that embracing
theatre, television, concerts, cabaret, and recordings, and has carried her from Broadway
to International stages. She is currently playing the role of “Mrs. Potts” in the
Broadway production of Disney’s BEATUY AND THE BEAST at the LuntFontanne Theatre. She was last seen on Broadway as the “Mother Abbess” in THE
SOUND of MUSIC, with Richard Chamberlain, Rebecca Luker, and Laura Benanti,
continuing her role on the Broadway National tour, Atlanta’s Theatre of the Stars tour,
the St. Louis Muny, Stage West (Canada), and the Stratford Festival of Canada where she
also appeared as “Mrs. Blair” in INHERIT THE WIND.
Audiences have seen her as “Mrs. Potts” in the Los Angeles Company of BEAUTY
AND THE BEAST, in productions at the Sacramento Music Theatre, North Carolina
Theatre Co., Michigan Opera Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, North Shore Theatre, the
ABC/CBS special BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: A CONCERT ON ICE, and have
heard her sing the title song for Michelle Kwans’s ABC special DISNEY’S TOP TEN
FAVORITES.
Other Broadway credits include: RODGERS AND HART, JEROME KERN GOES
TO HOLLYWOOD, GOING UP, A MUSICAL JUBILEE (with John Raitt, Tammy
Grimes, Lillian Gish, Patrice Munsell), and IRENE in which she also toured and played
the title role as standby to both Debbie Reynolds and Jane Powell. Also on tour she was
“Mrs. Molloy” in HELLO DOLLY with Carol Channing, “Eve” in APPLAUSE with
Lauren Bacall and Eleanor Parker; and played both “Abigail Adams” and “Martha
Jefferson” in the second national company and Bicentennial productions of 1776.
Off-Broadway credits: PUTTING IT TOGETHER/standby to Julie Andrews
(Manhattan Theatre Club); LINGOLAND (York); “Jenny”/COMPANY (York); “Ruth”/
MILK AND HONEY (American Jewish Theatre); GROUCHO: A LIFE IN REVIEW
(Lucille Lortel); GERSHWIN:100 YEARS. She has appeared with Peter Howard and
Lee Roy Reams at the Algonquin Hotel’s famous Oak Room in PETER HOWARD
CELEBRATES BROADWAY, and with Steve Ross in NOEL COWARD AND HIS
LADIES.
PBS Performances, EMI/RCA Recordings include: SONDHEIM: A CELEBRATION
AT CARNEGIE HALL (featured with Madeline Kahn/Mark Jacoby); SKITCH
HENDERSON AT 80/BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION; A JEROME KERN
TREASURY, BROADWAY SHOWSTOPPERS; KURT WEILL ON BROADWAY
(w/Thomas Hampson); SIMPLE GIFTS, CAROLS FROM THE ABBEY for
Broadway Cares/Equity fights Aids; and the newly released LINGOLAND.
Nationally/Regionally, she has starred opposite John Schuck/SHE LOVES ME; David
Birney/MY FAIR LADY; Giorgio Tozzi, Noel Harrison/FANNY; Gary Beach, Orson
Bean, Larry Kert, Jimmy Brennan, Gary Sandy/THE MUSIC MAN; and Barry
Williams/I DO! I DO! Other favorite roles include: “Anna”/THE KING AND I
(Augusta Opera); “Magnolia” and “Julie”/ SHOW BOAT; “Guenevere”/CAMELOT;
“Glinda”/THE WIZARD OF OZ (w/Cathy Rigby); “Maria”/SOUND OF MUSIC (6
productions); and “Julie”/CAROUSEL. At the famed Goodspeed Opera House, she
originated the role of “Mrs. Larue in MRS. MCTHING, and played “Betsy”/DEAREST
ENEMY, and “Kitty” in WHERE’S CHARLEY?
CARNEGIE HALL: She appeared opposite Jon Lovitz in VERY WARM FOR MAY,
and was the leading lady in OH, BOY!; OH, LADY, LADY!; ZIP! GOES A
MILLION; and NO, NO, NANETTE! At Town Hall, she played the title roles in
EILEEN (w/Maureen O’Sullivan) and LEAVE IT TO JANE.
A POPULAR GUEST SOLOIST, Ms. Lehman has headlined numerous times at
Carnegie Hall with Skitch Henderson and THE NEW YORK POPS (and subsequent
Japan tours); with Peter Nero and the PHILLY POPS (Mann Center for the Performing
Arts/Academy of Music, Philadelphia); and with the Los Angeles Philharmonic
(Hollywood Bowl); Tonhalle Symphony Orchestra (Zurich); London Sinfonietta (Royal
Festival Hall); the Library of Congress; and with Symphony Orchestras in Oslo, Korea,
Dallas, Sacramento, Vancouver, Toronto, Tulsa, Florida, Minneapolis, Ives Center, Salt
Lake City, San Diego; in tributes to such legends as Rodgers, Hammerstein, and Hart;
Lerner and Loewe; Stephen Sondheim; Cole Porter; George and Ira Gershwin; Irving
Berlin; Noel Coward; Jerome Kern; Jerry Herman; and more!
Television audiences have seen her as the mother of triplets in a recent Cingular
commercial; as “Mrs. Weinberger” on LAW AND ORDER:SVU; “Marilyn
Springer”/KATE AND ALLIE; and in guest star roles on ALL MY CHILDREN; ONE
LIFE TO LIVE; AS THE WORLD TURNS; LOVING; THE DAYS AND LIVES
OF MOLLY DODD; and in over 65 commercials.
HER FAVORITE ROLE IS THAT OF WIFE TO ACTOR/SINGER, LARRY
FRENCH
Other items of interest: Jeanne is currently in her 5th term as a Councillor for Actors
Equity Association; has traveled as Vocal Consultant for professional theatre companies
in Korea and Japan with her husband, and is a Stephen Minister at Fifth Avenue
Presbyterian Church in NYC.
Jeanne Lehman
SAG * AFTRA * AEA * AGMA * CANADIAN AEA
Resume
Broadway
The Sound of Music
Mother Abbess
w/ Richard Chamberlain
Beauty and the Beast
Irene
Jerome Kern Goes To Hollywood
Going Up
Rodgers and Hart
Musical Jubilee
Mrs. Potts
Irene
Standby for Liz Robertson
and Elizabeth Welch
Standby for Kimberly Farr
Standby for Leading Ladies
Standby for Tammy Grimes
and Patrice Munsel
Martin Beck Theatre
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Ritz Theatre
Golden Theatre
Helen Hayes Theatre
St. James Theatre
Stratford Theatre Festival
Inherit The Wind
Mrs. Blair
Festival Theatre
Mother Abbess
Festival Theatre
Mrs. Potts
Shubert Theatre
w/ William Hutt & Jimmy Blendick
The Sound of Music
Los Angeles
Beauty and the Beast
Off Broadway (Highlights)
Ancestral Voices
Putting It Together
Very Warm For May
w/ John Lovitz
Company
Milk and Honey
Peter Howard Celebrates
Broadway w/ Leroy Reams
Noel Coward and his Ladies
Steel Magnolias
Jane
Standby for Julie Andrews
Mrs. Spofford
Jenny
Ruth
A.R. Gurney
Manhattan Theatre Club
Carnegie Hall
York Theatre
American Jewish Theatre
Co-Star
Oak Room, Algonquin
Co-Star
Truvy
Oak Room, Algonquin
FAPO-TC
Recordings
The Sound of Music
A Jerome Kern Treasury
Broadway Showstoppers
Kurt Weill on Broadway
Irene
Sondheim Celebration:
Celebration at Carnegie Hall
Lingoland
1998 Broadway Revival
Solo Artist
Soloist
Solo Artist
1973 Broadway Revival
Soloist w/ Madeline Kahn
Solo Artist
RCA
Angel Records
EMI
EMI Classics
Sony
RCA
Jay Records
Regional
The Odd Couple
w/ Barbara Feldon
My Fair Lady w/ David Burney
She Loves me w/ John Schuck
The Wizard of Oz w/ Cathy Rigby
The King and I
I Do! I Do! w/ Barry Williams
Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast
Sylvie
Eliza
Amalia
Glinda
Anna
Agnes
Mrs. Potts
Mrs. Potts
Mrs. Potts
Mrs. Potts
Helen Hayes PAC
Pittsburgh CLO
Pittsburgh CLO
Pittsburgh CLO
Augusta Opera
American Heartland Theatre
North Shore Theatre
Sacramento Music Circus
Michigan Opera Theatre
North Carolina Theatre Co.
Television / Film
Law and Order: SVU
Beauty and the Beast:
Concert on Ice
Sondheim:
Celebration at Carnegie Hall
Kate and Allie
As The World Turns
Loving
All My Children
One Life to Live
Energy in Motion
Skitch Henderson at 80
Mrs. Weinberger (Featured)
Mrs. Potts
Soloist w/ Madeline Kahn
Marilyn Springer (Guest Star)
Mrs. Goldstein (Featured)
Saleswoman (Featured)
Mrs. Young (Featured)
Jeannie (Recurring)
Lead
Guest Soloist
NBC TV
ABC / CBS
PBS
CBS
CBS
ABC
ABC
ABC
Worlds Fair Amex Pavilion
PBS Great Performances
Jeanne Lehman
SAG * AFTRA * AEA * AGMA * CANADIAN AEA
Commercial List
Beauty and the Beast (currently running)
Blockbuster Video (Bernstein, Rein)
Little Debbie Snack Cakes (Lucky, Foeney)
Spic and Span (Y & R)
Patio Burrito (Marschalk – Delmonte Corp. – Y & R, Chicago)
Ethan Allan (Sailer, Davidoff, Rodgers)
Wagner Paint (Ogilvy & Mather)
Oxydol (P & G – Dancer-Fitzgerald)
Bounce Fabric Softener (Benton & Bowles)
Walmart (Bernstein Rein – Minneapolis)
KMBR Radio (Bernstein Rein – Minneapolis)
United Way (Lowe & Partners)
Maine Savings Bank (Quinn & Johnson)
Clean ‘n Smooth (Warwick, Welch, & Miller)
Jello (Y & R)
4-Way Cough Syrup (Needham, Harper, & Steers)
Minute Rice (Gen Foods, Grey Advt.)
Resh Horizons Bread (Ted Bates – Roger Sturtyvent)
Natural Sun Orange Juice (Jingle/ On Camera – Colarosse, Griswald, Eshleman,
Sherman, & Kahn)
Coldsnap Freezer Dessert Maker (Wells, Rich, & Green)
Scott Paper (Dancer-Fitzgerald)
Comtrex (Bristol Myers – Lawrence, Charles, & Free)
Jeanne Lehman
SAG * AFTRA * AEA * AGMA * CANADIAN AEA
Press Quotes
“If any performer will have audiences talking for years to come about this Sound of
Music, it is Jeanne Lehman. As the Mother Abbess, this Broadway veteran hand-delivers
the definitive performance as the show’s Mother Superior. She’s likable enough just for
being so affirming with naughty Maria. When she lets loose with ‘Climb Every
mountain’, that’s all she wrote. Lehman’s perfect pitch, clear diction, and heart-felt
conviction made a prayerful anthem out of what is often reduced to cliché. It’s a wonder
Tuesday night’s wowed crowd didn’t march right out the door to climb Hayden Butte”
Max McQueen – Tempe Tribune
“The cast climbs every mountain… (list)... and Jeanne Lehman, whose Mother Abbess
becomes something ever so much better than the voice of god – the sound of Richard
Rodgers”
Lawrence Bommer – Chicago
Reader
“Jeanne Lehman as the wise Mother Abbess literally stops the show with ‘Climb Every
Mountain’.”
Sandra C. Dillard – The Denver Post
“Jeanne Lehman is delightful as Mrs. Potts – her rendition of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ will
send a chill down your spine.”
Rich Fahey – The Daily Item
“The supporting cast, some of whom have played the show on Broadway and road, never
dissolve into campy exaggeration. Lastly it is doubtful that the title song ever had been
sung as well as by Jeanne Lehman, the production’s Mrs. Potts.”
Robert Nesti – The Boston Herald
“…the clock, and Jeanne Lehman, Mrs. Potts the housekeeper turned teapot are both
distinct and appealing characters, whose costumes are just fantastic enough. Lehman
handles the title song at the pivotal moment in the second act with quiet grace worthy of
the original.”
Will Stackman – www.aislesay.com
“As Fiona MacLaren, Jeanne Lehman does an excellent job on her musical numbers with
her rich contralto. When opposite Quinn, Ms. Lehman charms the audience with her
parts in ‘The Heather on the Hill’ and ‘Almost Like Being in Love’. And, she does a
most satisfactory job without him when accompanied by the Girls of Brigadoon in
‘Waitin For My Dearie.’ When not singing, Ms. Lehman displays the most realistic
rendition of a Scottish brogue of any of the other players. She is delightful and picks up
the pace in every scene she’s in”
Mariella Fries – The Morning Call
Jeanne Lehman
SAG * AFTRA * AEA * AGMA * CANADIAN AEA