Whatever happened to Katrina Lenk?

[fosterfan2]

Posted: 10/19/25 at 9:28am

She's extremely talented and great to watch. I know she's kind of a specific type of performer,but I'd love to see her back on Broadway. I know she's done a few readings here and there. Superb performer.

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/19/25 at 9:30am

She hasn’t been gone that long. COMPANY only closed in July of 2022 (which, granted, seems like forever ago). They just announced her doing “High Spirits” at Encores next year.

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 10/19/25 at 9:35am

I'm not sure what she's been up to but I agree we need her back on Broadway!

I've been meaning to make a message like this about Jessie Mueller.

Updated On: 10/19/25 at 09:35 AM

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 10/19/25 at 11:34am

Jessie Mueller, very privately, had a baby close to a year ago.

[fosterfan2]

Posted: 10/19/25 at 12:09pm

quizking101 said: "She hasn’t been gone that long. COMPANY only closed in July of 2022 (which, granted, seems like forever ago). They just announced her doing “High Spirits” at Encores next year."

Yesss! Hopefully she has a lead. Wished I lived in NYC so I could see it. 

 

[darquegk]

Posted: 10/19/25 at 1:31pm

Wasn’t she attached to the Tangled workshop?

[Ke3]

Posted: 10/19/25 at 1:38pm

Also the response to her in Company was kind of mean. Like in an overall sense. No performer is owed good reviews of course but people were really really mean about her in that production. I don't have another word for it. Then they got nine Tony noms and five wins. She got neither a nomination or a win. It was a clear cold shoulder moment. That has to be a bit demoralizing. 

I'll never forget Christian Lewis (critic) tweeting something along the lines of "it's fine if performers can't sing as long as they can act and she can't do either." It's easy to say reviews and responses to shows aren't personal but stuff like that feels personal. 

I for one thought she was the singular bright spot in a production I dislike more every time I think about. Hope I can see High Spirits!

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 10/19/25 at 1:46pm

That comment is a low blow. I thought Katrina was outstanding and loved her Being Alive. Plus her soaring vocals, flowing movements, and expert comic timing (cutting the watermelon) in The Band's Visit.

[Marcus Lycus]

Posted: 10/19/25 at 2:58pm

Jessie mueller is doing a concert with Seth Rudetsky at the NJPAC on November 1

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/19/25 at 11:19pm

Katrina Lenk is 50 years old now (I just looked her up and was surprised since I thought she was more like 43). That’s a tough age for an actress. Her IMDB page also doesn’t have a lot going on. Maybe she is having trouble transitioning into older roles, or perhaps she is purposely taking a break. Love her either way.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 10/19/25 at 11:52pm

What older roles?

[Marcus Lycus]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 12:01am

Wow I didn’t realize she was that much older than 35 in Company.  Just shows how age is really just a number.  

[Laurapattifan]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 12:55am

She’s done a few readings/workshops that had public showings. A Wrinkle in Time at NY Stage and film (she was replaced by Amber Grey for the production), a musical version of The Cherry Orchard, and a Michael Friedman work at the NYPL. I found the first two to be quite boring, but she was delightful in the Friedman work. 

[binau]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 3:11am

Katrina’s Bobbi still haunts me. She literally brought a new sound to Sondheim - it’s simply not the case that she ‘can’t sing’ but her sultry expressive vocals brought new texture to ‘someone is waiting’ and ‘being alive’. The style is not typical of Broadway and it makes me cringe that the general population would have been fine or preferred to substitute this for boring standard fare vocals (see also, Rosalie Craig). 

As for her acting, I always found it very interesting how she played the role. She was incredibly sexy and powerful but there was always the subtext of, I’m not sure, awkwardness or insecurity. I believe it was 100% intentional to try and bring more subtext in the role because it can be quite boring just to be the observer in the corner. Also, she is single and a subtle alcoholic so I felt that she was trying to take us on a complex journey around this not just someone who is a passenger waiting around for the right guy to come along and had bad luck  

I met one of the producers recently (not a ‘real’ producer but one of the many investors who had their name as one and collected a tony award for best revival as a consequence). He did cite Katrina’s casting as one of the show failings. Ouch. 
 

This revival I remember also being one of the first examples where we saw post Covid costs rise to very challenging levels causing the show to close earlier than might have happened in the few years before it. A problem that is only even worse now. 

Sondheim has always had a legacy of collecting odd vocalists who can act rather than vocal powerhouses. Katrina was continuing this tradition. 

The last Sondheim show on Broadway Sondheim ever saw. I know he loved it.

I wish he could have seen Audra in Gypsy: Sondheim, Marin Mazzie and Gavin Creel couldn’t be there . 

Updated On: 10/20/25 at 03:11 AM

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 6:52am

rosalie could hit every note. Katrina could not. Their voices are not remotely similar.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 7:17am

To be it just didn’t work in the context of the show. You had this big brassy powerhouse “ladies who lunch,” and then this really quiet sultry “being alive” that should have felt explosive but just didn’t land. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 9:05am

I got the sense that while all previous incarnations of Company were built around the Bobby that this version of the show was more about the supporting characters, Joanne in particular. I’d love to see her as a Viola replacement in Death Becomes Her! Whatever potion she’s using, it’s working!


I really hope Jessie Mueller comes back to Broadway. I know she was involved with a reading or two for the Thelma & Louise musical. I have no clue where that currently stands in development or if she’d continue with it. If she wanted to dip her toes back into the scene, I’d love to see her tackle Mother in Ragtime, possibly as Caissie’s replacement when she goes off to do The Lost Boys.

Updated On: 10/20/25 at 09:05 AM

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 12:27pm

It’s fairly well known within the industry that Jessie has strong mid-west roots and is very specific about which projects will bring her back to New York. Her family is not based in the city and there isn’t any intention to relocate permanently.

[CukorLover]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 2:58pm

Just two weeks ago, Lenk had a guest starring role as an attorney on the new season of LAW & ORDER. She looked great!