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Kelli Barrett
Kelli Barrett
Kelli Barrett
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Kelli Barrett is an American actress and singer.

Key Information

Biography

[edit]

Kelli Barrett was raised by a single mother in Virginia Beach, Virginia. As a child, she showed interest in acting after seeing Merrily We Roll Along on stage. She sang all the time with her mother stating "She’ll either be a lawyer or an actress because [she] loved to argue." Barrett attended the Governor's School for the Arts before attending University of the Arts in Philadelphia.[1]

Barrett booked recurring roles on television shows including As the World Turns, Chicago Fire and I Just Want My Pants Back. She made minor appearances on The Good Wife, Person of Interest, Ugly Betty and Blue Bloods. She became part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe by portraying Maria Castle in Marvel's The Punisher.[2]

Personal life

[edit]

Barrett married actor Jarrod Spector on October 26, 2014.[3]

Filmography

[edit]
Television roles
Year Title Role Notes
2008 Late Night with Conan O'Brien Performer 1 episode
2008–2009 As the World Turns Maddie Coleman Recurring
2010 The Good Wife Bianca Price Episode: "Doubt"
Ugly Betty Trista Episode: "The Past Presents the Future"
2011 A Gifted Man Rachel Lewis Episode: "In Case of Abnormal Rhythm"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Dahlia Jessup Episode: "Flight"
2011–2012 I Just Want My Pants Back Jane Recurring
2012 Person of Interest Lily Thorpton Episode: "Super"
Made in Jersey Hannah Atwood Episode: "Cacti"
2013 Chicago Fire Renee Whaley 2 episodes
NCIS Ruby Lemere Episode: "Seek"
2014 Blue Bloods Maryann Russell Episode: "Unfinished Business"
2016 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Phoebe Burnap Episode: "Catfishing Teacher"
BrainDead Polly Savident Episode: "Back to Work: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Congress and How It Gets Things Done (and Often Doesn't)"
2017 The Blacklist: Redemption Cynthia Stegner Episode: "Independence, U.S.A."
Wormwood Isabel Bigley / Broadway Actress TV Miniseries; Episode: "Chapter 2: A Terrible Mistake"
The Punisher Maria Castle Recurring
2019 Fosse/Verdon Liza Minnelli Miniseries
2019 Dynasty Nadia 4 episodes
2021 Dickinson Adelaide May Episode: "Split the Lark"
Younger Kamila 2 episodes
Film roles
Year Title Role Notes
2004 Syn Vivian Short film
2009 Confessions of a Shopaholic Girl in Black / Talking Mannequin
Red Hook Ellen
2010 Remember Me Miami Brunette
The Switch Jessica
2011 Mr. Popper's Penguins Tommy's Mom
2014 Zarra's Law Vanessa Andreoli
2016 Happy Baby Zahava

Stage

[edit]
Stage roles
Year Title Role Notes
2007 Gypsy Louise Regional
2008 Rock of Ages Sherrie Christian Original Off-Broadway Cast
2009 The Royal Family Gwen Cavendish Broadway Revival
2011 Baby It's You! Mary Jane Greenberg / Lesley Gore Original Broadway Cast
2012 Anastasia Anya / Anastasia Workshop
2014-15 Wicked Nessarose Broadway Replacement
2015 Doctor Zhivago Lara Guishar Original Broadway Cast
2016 My Fair Lady Eliza Regional
2017 Deathless Samantha Serling World Premiere Cast
2018 Gettin' the Band Back Together Dani Franco Original Broadway Cast
2023 Parade Mrs. Phagan Broadway Revival Cast
2026 Beaches Roberta "Bertie" White Original Broadway Cast

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Kelli Barrett

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Kelli Barrett (born January 26, 1984, in ) is an American actress, singer, writer, director, and certified life coach known for her extensive work in musical theater, television, and film. Barrett has established herself as a prominent figure on Broadway, serving as a leading lady in five productions, including originating the role of Lara Guishar in (2015), playing Nessarose in Wicked (2014–2015 replacement), and portraying Mrs. Phagan in the 2023 revival of . Her Broadway debut came in 2009 as Gwen Cavendish in The Royal Family, followed by roles such as Lesley Gore and Mary Jane Greenberg in (2011) and Dani Franco in Gettin' the Band Back Together (2018). She originated the role of Sherrie in the Off-Broadway production of Rock of Ages and starred as Eliza Doolittle in a regional theater production of directed by Tony nominee . In television and film, Barrett has appeared in over 30 projects, with notable roles including Liza Minnelli in FX's Fosse/Verdon (2019), Maria Castle in Marvel's The Punisher (2017), and Adelaide May in Apple TV+'s Dickinson (2021), for which she received Emmy consideration. Additional TV credits include guest spots on Younger, Dynasty, and Chicago Fire. Beyond performing, she works as a published writer, director, acting and vocal coach, and founder of Empowered Artist Coaching, while co-founding The Hysterical Women’s Society; she is also an alumna of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Barrett is married to Tony-nominated actor Jarrod Spector and tours with award-winning concerts.

Early life and education

Early life

Kelli Barrett was born on January 26, 1984, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. From a young age, Barrett showed an affinity for the performing arts. Barrett's passion for acting crystallized at age 11 when she attended a production of the musical Merrily We Roll Along in Virginia, an experience that ignited her lifelong dedication to the stage. The show's innovative storytelling and emotional depth resonated deeply, inspiring her to seek out similar opportunities through groups like the Hurrah Players in nearby Norfolk. Growing up in Virginia Beach further shaped her artistic pursuits. This foundational period laid the groundwork for her transition to more structured training at the Governor's School for the Arts.

Education

Barrett attended the Governor's School for the Arts in , during her high school years, where she specialized in musical theater as part of the school's selective arts magnet program. She graduated from both Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach and the Governor's School in 2002. Following high school, Barrett pursued higher education at the University of the Arts in , where she studied musical theater from 2002 to 2006 and received the presidential scholarship. Her coursework at the university encompassed , voice, and training integral to the musical theater curriculum. These academic experiences facilitated early professional opportunities, including a role in Bright Lights, Big City at the Prince Theater during her junior year.

Career

Stage career

Kelli Barrett began her professional stage career in regional theater, appearing as Louise in a production of Gypsy at the Westchester in 2007, where she was noted for her convincing transformation from shy ingenue to confident performer. Earlier, she took on ensemble roles, including as Nurse and ensemble member in the world premiere of at the Prince Music Theatre in in 2006. Her breakthrough came with the role of Sherrie Christian in the original Off-Broadway production of Rock of Ages at New World Stages in 2008, where she originated the part of the ambitious aspiring actress and received praise for her energetic vocals and charismatic presence in the jukebox musical's '80s rock anthems. Barrett made her Broadway debut later that year as Gwen Cavendish in the revival of The Royal Family at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, portraying the conflicted young actress in a cast led by Jan Maxwell and Rosemary Harris. In 2011, Barrett appeared as Mary Jane Greenberg and Lesley Gore in the original Broadway production of Baby It's You! at the Broadhurst Theatre, embodying the girl group era alongside Florence Henderson as Florence Ballard. She joined the long-running Wicked on Broadway in 2014 as a replacement for Nessarose, performing the role of Elphaba's wheelchair-bound sister from May 2014 to January 2015 at the Gershwin Theatre. Barrett originated the leading role of Lara Guishar opposite Tam Mutu in the Broadway premiere of Doctor Zhivago at the Broadway Theatre in 2015, earning acclaim for her portrayal of the resilient heroine amid the Russian Revolution, though the production closed after a short run. Barrett continued with the role of Dani Franco in the original Broadway cast of Gettin' the Band Back Together at the Belasco Theatre in 2018, a musical comedy about a former hockey player returning home. In regional theater, she starred as Eliza Doolittle in Michael Arden's innovative revival of My Fair Lady at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor in 2016, reimagining the story through a lens of social experimentation and receiving strong reviews for her vocal clarity and emotional depth. More recently, she played Mrs. Phagan in the Tony-winning revival of Parade on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre from 2023 to 2023, contributing to the ensemble in the historical drama about the Leo Frank case. In 2025, Barrett appeared at the Cape Playhouse in a regional production of Come From Away, taking on the roles of Beverley Bass and Annette in the musical recounting post-9/11 hospitality in Newfoundland.

Television and film career

Barrett made her early film appearance in a supporting role as Roland's Wife Jessica in the 2010 romantic comedy The Switch, directed by Will Speck and Josh Gordon, where she portrayed a minor character in the ensemble alongside Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston. Transitioning to television, Barrett secured guest spots on several series, including an appearance as Renee Whaley, the ex-girlfriend of Kelly Severide, in two episodes of NBC's Chicago Fire in 2016. She also featured as Kamila in three episodes of TV Land's Younger across its run from 2016 to 2021, playing a colleague in the publishing world. Additionally, she had a guest role in the 2012 episode "Quick Harding" of Fox's New Girl, contributing to the sitcom's ensemble dynamics. In 2017, Barrett joined the with a recurring role as Maria Castle, the wife of Frank Castle (), in Netflix's . Appearing primarily in flashbacks across two seasons (2017 and 2019), her portrayal depicted Maria's loving family life before the tragic massacre that drives the protagonist's vigilante arc; the performance was noted for humanizing the 's motivation amid the series' critical acclaim for its intense character development and 68% score for Season 1. Barrett portrayed Nadia, a home health aide entangled in the Carrington family drama, in four episodes of The CW's Dynasty reboot in 2019. That same year, she earned recognition for her role as Liza Minnelli in the FX miniseries Fosse/Verdon, a critically acclaimed production directed by Thomas Kail that explored the partnership of choreographer Bob Fosse and dancer Gwen Verdon; the series received 17 Primetime Emmy nominations, including for Outstanding Limited Series, with Barrett's depiction of Minnelli in key scenes from Cabaret (1972) highlighting her vocal and dramatic range. Further television credits include a guest appearance as the fictional opera singer Adelaide May in the 2021 episode "Split the Lark" of Apple TV+'s Dickinson, where she performed alongside in a surreal context. While no verified voice work in animated projects appears in her credits, Barrett continued with screen roles into 2025, including a guest spot as Special Agent Maxine Joubert in an episode of CBS's FBI.

Cabaret and other performances

Following her Broadway roles, Barrett transitioned into the New York scene in the mid-2010s, where she developed a reputation for intimate, narrative-driven performances that blend personal storytelling with classic and contemporary songs. Barrett's cabaret work earned her significant accolades, including a 2016 Bistro Award for Ongoing Artistry in Cabaret and Concert Performance, shared with her husband Jarrod Spector, recognizing their collaborative contributions to the genre. Much of Barrett's cabaret output has centered on joint acts with Spector, beginning with their 2015 debut of "This Is Dedicated: Music's Greatest Marriages" at Feinstein's/54 Below, a show that explores iconic musical partnerships through duet renditions and has toured nationally in subsequent years. Their follow-up cabaret "Funny How It Happens," launched around 2018 and focused on the serendipitous elements of their own relationship via songs like "Close to You" and "Cabaret," has become a staple of their performances, with tours continuing through 2025 and emphasizing emotional authenticity in cabaret storytelling. In addition to these collaborations, Barrett has presented solo cabaret shows that highlight her vocal range and interpretive skills, often incorporating elements of her stage-honed vocal techniques to convey character-driven narratives through song. She frequently leads master classes across the country on acting the song in cabaret contexts, teaching performers to integrate breath, body, and intention for grounded, repeatable interpretations. Barrett has also contributed to cabaret-adjacent recordings outside traditional theatrical productions, including a cabaret-style rendition of "You're There" on the 2015 Doctor Zhivago original Broadway cast album and performances of "Cabaret" and "Mein Herr" on the 2019 Fosse/Verdon original series soundtrack, which capture her versatile delivery in non-stage formats.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Kelli Barrett met actor in 2010 while they were cast as a married couple in a developmental reading of the musical . At the time, both were in other relationships, so their initial connection evolved into a close friendship over the next 18 months before they began dating, mirroring the slow-burn romance of the film When Harry Met Sally.... Spector later proposed to Barrett with a surprise band performing outside a . The couple married on October 26, 2014, in a ceremony in . Since then, Barrett and Spector have shared a family life centered in New York, where they continue to pursue their performing arts careers. The couple has no publicly known children. Post-marriage, Barrett and Spector have frequently collaborated on joint shows that highlight their personal and professional partnership, such as This Is Dedicated: Music's Greatest Marriages. In public appearances and interviews, they have shared anecdotes about balancing their demanding acting schedules with married life, often addressing the common question of what it is like to be wed to another performer and emphasizing the mutual support that strengthens their relationship. The couple maintains a residence in , immersing themselves in the city's vibrant theater community.

Coaching and writing career

Kelli Barrett is a certified life, life purpose, and creativity through the ICF-accredited Life Purpose Institute, and she holds ICF Master Certified Coach status. She founded Empowered Artist in the early 2020s following the , establishing it as a specialized practice to support artists in overcoming limiting beliefs and navigating career challenges. The targets performers by integrating somatic wellness, manifestation techniques, and goal-setting tailored to the creative industry. Barrett's writing credits include published works as a and author, with contributions focused on and the . She has co-written productions, such as the 2018 musical theater piece Everything Changes, blending narrative and performance elements. In her directing experience, Barrett has led theater workshops and sessions, drawing on her Broadway background to guide artists in song interpretation and character development. A notable example is her 2025 series "Level Up: Acting the Song," a three-week summer intensive comprising six small-group sessions where participants develop two songs through breath, body, and intention work. This program exemplifies her in artist , challenging the "suffering artist" stereotype and promoting liberation via group discussions on rejection, inner critics, and value alignment. Barrett integrates her over two decades as a working and singer into her , offering online one-on-one sessions, group formats, and creative exercises that bridge skills with life purpose exploration. As of 2025, Empowered Artist Coaching has expanded to include in-person events in , such as the ongoing Group Life series starting April 15, with hybrid Zoom options, and maintains an active social media presence on platforms like for client engagement and session announcements. She also co-founded The Hysterical Women’s Society, a nonprofit advancing in .

References

  1. https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/kelli-barrett-484821
  2. https://www.fullcircleartists.com/artists/kelli-barrett/
  3. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1799058/
  4. https://www.thejewishnews.com/culture/arts/love-and-cabaret/article_6dc15bd1-5255-523f-84d2-fd7d37e6926d.html
  5. https://www.dailypress.com/2009/10/11/broadway-stars-are-again-part-of-festival/
  6. https://www.gsarts.org/musical-theatre-graduates
  7. https://www.broadway.com/buzz/136336/kelli-barrett-rolls-from-rocker-to-classic-ingenue-in-the-royal-family/
  8. https://www.theatermania.com/news/barrett-hilsabeck-et-al-to-join-karen-mason-in-westchester-gypsy_10695/
  9. https://www.recordonline.com/story/lifestyle/2007/06/13/theater-review-gypsy-at-broadway/52875384007/
  10. https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Kelli-Barrett/
  11. https://playbill.com/article/rock-of-ages-with-maroulis-barrett-molina-and-swenson-opens-off-broadway-oct-16-com-154273
  12. https://sludgecentral.com/2008/10/review-of-rock-of-ages-its-rad
  13. https://playbill.com/person/kelli-barrett-vault-0000046790
  14. https://www.broadway.com/buzz/176115/kelli-barrett-is-wickeds-newest-nessarose-on-the-great-white-way/
  15. https://www.theatermania.com/news/doctor-zhivago-star-kelli-barrett-on-finding-the-new-broadway-musicals-lara_72246/
  16. https://www.theatermania.com/news/kelli-barrett-to-star-in-my-fair-lady-at-bay-street-theater_77613/
  17. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/14/nyregion/review-a-london-linguist-makes-a-bet-on-my-fair-lady-at-sag-harbor.html
  18. https://capeplayhouse.com/2025-come-from-away/
  19. https://www.theatermania.com/news/cape-playhouse-come-from-away-to-star-joel-hatch-kelli-barrett-christiani-pitts_1792263/
  20. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0889573/fullcredits/
  21. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5675620/characters/nm1799058/
  22. https://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/BWW-Review-Kelli-Barrett-Jarrod-Spector-KINGS-QUEENS-Is-A-Jewel-In-The-Feinsteins54-Below-Crown-20211014
  23. https://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/Christine-Andreas-Jarrod-Spector-Kelli-Barrett-Among-31st-Annual-BISTRO-AWARD-Winners-20160307
  24. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq7vPdnMJyk
  25. https://cabaret313.org/jarrod-spector-kelli-barrett-funny-how-it-happens/
  26. https://www.broadwayworld.com/connecticut/article/BWW-Interview-Jarrod-Spector-And-Kelli-Barrett-of-FUNNY-HOW-IT-HAPPENS-at-Ridgefield-Playhouse-20210119
  27. https://www.artistsandbeyond.com/kellibarrett
  28. https://www.instagram.com/p/DKugrRnOWwy/?hl=en
  29. https://castalbums.org/recordings/Doctor-Zhivago-2015-Original-Broadway-Cast/29502/
  30. https://genius.com/albums/Various-artists/The-music-of-fosse-verdon-original-series-soundtrack
  31. https://www.broadway.com/buzz/180011/meet-your-new-fave-broadway-couple-beautifuls-jarrod-spector-doctor-zhivagos-kelli-barrett/
  32. https://www.theridgefieldpress.com/entertainment/article/Broadway-s-Jarrod-Spector-and-Kelli-Barrett-15918632.php
  33. https://playbill.com/article/beautifuls-jarrod-spector-weds-wickeds-kelli-barrett-com-334239
  34. https://www.broadway.com/buzz/178099/hes-sure-the-boy-she-loves-beautiful-star-jarrod-spector-wickeds-kelli-barrett-are-married/
  35. https://54below.com/events/jarrod-spector-and-kelli-barrett-this-is-dedicated-musics-greatest-marriages/
  36. https://www.ramapo.edu/berriecenter/event/jarrod-spector-kelli-barrett-dedicated/
  37. https://www.empoweredartistcoaching.com/about-1
  38. https://www.instagram.com/empoweredartistcoaching/?hl=en
  39. https://www.empoweredartistcoaching.com/group-coaching
  40. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelli-barrett-78a9a95
  41. https://www.nats.org/_A_Musical_Theatre_Cabaret.html
  42. https://www.instagram.com/p/DKFhYN8P8aE/?hl=en
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