Anika Larsen

Anika Larsen
Larsen in 2015
Born (1973-12-19) December 19, 1973
Alma materYale University
OccupationActress/Singer
Years active1999-present
Spouse
Freddie Maxwell
​
(m. 2015)​
Children2
WebsiteOfficial website

Anika Larsen (born December 19, 1973)[1] is an American actress and singer. She was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical in 2014 for portraying Cynthia Weil in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Larsen has made an album of recordings titled, Sing You To Sleep.[2]

Personal life

Larsen was raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts in a blended family of adopted children, from Cambodia, Vietnam, and America.[3] She studied theatre at Yale University and performed in the a cappella choir, Shades.[4]

In 2015 she married musician Freddie Maxwell and gave birth to their first child, a son named Kie Larsen Maxwell.[5] In 2017, she gave birth to their second son, Ashe.[6]

Career

Larsen made her Broadway debut in 2000 in the ensemble of Rent. In 2002 she originated the role of Roberta in the cult Off-Broadway musical, Zanna, Don't!, for which she received a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

In 2005 she again appeared on Broadway in the ensemble of All Shook Up and in 2007 performed in the original Broadway ensemble of Xanadu. She has also performed in Avenue Q playing the role of Lucy the Slut/Kate Monster on National Tour, Broadway, and Off-Broadway.

In 2019, The Old Globe Theatre premiered the musical Almost Famous, based on the Cameron Crowe film of the same name, with additional music and lyrics by Tom Kitt, with Larsen starring as Elaine Miller (played by Frances McDormand in the film.[7]

Larsen is the founder of the Jaradoa Theatre Company, which combines performance with community service. In 2009 a musical based on her own life, titled Shafrika: The White Girl, dealing with her experiences of living with a blended adoptive family, was staged at the Vineyard Theatre.[8][9]

Stage

Year Title Role Venue Ref.
2000 Rent Ensemble Broadway - Nederlander Theatre [10]
2003 Zanna, Don't! Roberta Off-Broadway - John Houseman Theater
2005 All Shook Up Ensemble Broadway - Palace Theatre
Miracle Brothers Juan Off-Broadway - Vineyard Theatre
2006 Godspell Performer Regional - Paper Mill Playhouse
How to Save the World and Find True Love in 90 Minutes Julie Lemmon Off-Broadway, New World Stages
2007 Xanadu Euterpe, Siren, '40s Singer, Thetis Broadway - Helen Hayes Theatre
2009 Shafrika, The White Girl Herself, Bookwriter, Composer, Lyricist Off-Broadway, Vineyard Theatre
Avenue Q Lucy The Slut, Kate Monster Broadway - John Golden Theatre
2012 Disaster! Sister Mary Downey Off-Broadway - Triad Theatre
Myths and Hymns Performer Off-Broadway, Prospect Theatre Company
Closer Than Ever Performer Off-Broadway, The York Theatre Company
2013 Unbroken Circle Edna Off-Broadway - St. Luke's Theatre
2014 Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Cynthia Weil Broadway - Stephen Sondheim Theatre
2019 Almost Famous Elaine Miller Regional - The Old Globe Theatre
2022 Broadway - Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2003 Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Zanna, Don't! Nominated [11]
2014 Drama Desk Awards Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Won
Tony Awards Best Featured Actress in a Musical Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Nominated

References

  1. ^ Date of birth, familysearch.org; accessed May 31, 2014.
  2. ^ Larsen, Anika (January 7, 2014). "Anika Larsen on Her Life-Saving Surgery and the BeautifuI Show That Made Her Love Acting Again". Broadway.com.
  3. ^ "Cambridge Native, Broadway Star Nabs Most Coveted Role: Mom". BayStateParent.com. September 27, 2016.
  4. ^ "About Anika". anikalarsen.biz.
  5. ^ Gioia, Michael (July 13, 2015). "Exclusive! Beautiful's Anika Larsen Welcomes Baby Boy". Playbill. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  6. ^ "Mom-to-Be Anika Larsen Previews 'Sing You to Sleep' CD". Playbill. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  7. ^ "Almost Famous Cast Announcement". The Old Globe. August 1, 2019.
  8. ^ "Our Mission". Jaradoa Theater. Archived from the original on 2014-04-29. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  9. ^ David, Cara Joy (January 15, 2014). "Quick Questions: Beautiful's Anika Larsen is Back on Broadway". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  10. ^ "Anika Larsen". Playbill. July 18, 2025.
  11. ^ "Anika Larsen". BroadwayWorld. July 18, 2025.
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