Kerstin Anderson | |
|---|---|
 Anderson in 2024 | |
| Born | Kerstin Bridget Anderson (1994-09-10)September 10, 1994 (age 31) |
| Alma mater | Pace University |
| Years active | 2015–present |
Kerstin Bridget Anderson (born September 10, 1994) is an American stage actress and singer. She starred asMaria Von Trapp in the 2015–2017 U.S. national tour ofThe Sound of Music, for which she received critical praise.[1] She made herBroadway debut as the alternate forEliza Doolittle in the 2018–2019 revival ofMy Fair Lady.[2] Since then, she has performed mostly in U.S. regional theatre.
Anderson was raised inSouth Burlington, Vermont, the daughter of Frederick G. "Ted" Anderson, a scientist withIBM,[3][4] and Kathleen "Kathy" Kilcoyne, a college athletic director.[4][5] She grew up singing,[6] and while attendingSouth Burlington High School, in 2010, she played the title role inPeter Pan with the nearby Lyric Theatre Company.[7][8] In high school productions, she played Asaka inOnce on This Island (2011)[9] and Elle Woods inLegally Blonde (2012).[10] While still in high school, she directedYou're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (2011), the first musical produced by a new community theatre company,Spotted Pup Productions. She then played Heidi in their production of[title of show] (2012).[11] She also competed on the high school's dance team, which won the state championship her junior year.[12][13]
After graduating from high school in 2013, Anderson attendedPace University. There, she starred as Clara inThe Light in the Piazza,[7] directed byVictoria Clark, and as Annie inThe Visit.[14] In 2014, Anderson played Shy in theForestburgh Playhouse production ofThe Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.[15] She interrupted her education after her second year to playMaria Von Trapp in the 2015–2017 U.S. national tour ofThe Sound of Music.[16]
The national tour ofThe Sound of Music began in September 2015.[17][18] Reviews of Anderson's performances as Maria were strongly positive. Jordan Riefe ofThe Hollywood Reporter wrote, "Her crisp, clear soprano voice isn’t the strongest in the cast, but Anderson makes a fine fit for the tricky role."[19] Margaret Gray of theLos Angeles Times commented, "Anderson takes charge with a spirit so joyful, a physicality so lithe and coltish, and a soprano so flawlessly soaring, that only Frau Schraeder ... could possibly resist her charm."[20] Tim Smith ofThe Baltimore Sun agreed: "She shines right from her first scene.... She is ... persuasive an actor, effortlessly connecting with the children and making Maria's spiritual struggle register. She is especially adept at conveying Maria's gradual falling in love with von Trapp".[21] InVariety, Bob Verini commented that Anderson has a "natural glow (though she ... seems to have no control over her hands)".[22] The tour ended in July 2017.[23] For the role, she was nominated in 2017 for theIRNE Award: Large Theater: Best Visiting Actress.[24]
Anderson made her Broadway debut as Eliza in the2018 Broadway revival ofMy Fair Lady. Originally an understudy for the role, she became the alternate for the role, playing Saturday matinée performances beginning on July 8, 2018,[2] switching to Tuesday nights in October 2018[25] and continuing until the production closed in July 2019.[23]
She repeated the role of Maria forNorthern Stage in Vermont from November 2019 to January 2020, followed by Lucy Lemay in the musicalUnknown Soldier, composed byMichael Friedman, atPlaywrights Horizons in New York in February and March 2020 and again atArena Stage in Washington, D.C. from March to May 2024; Sister James inDoubt: A Parable atWestport Country Playhouse in Connecticut in November 2021; Simone in the musicalAfterwords, by Zoe Sarnak (music and lyrics) and Emily Kaczmarek (book), at5th Avenue Theatre,Seattle, Washington, in April and May 2022; Diana Dahl Bennett inCult of Love atBerkeley Repertory Theatre, California, from January to March 2024; Anne Egerman inA Little Night Music in concert production atLincoln Center'sDavid Geffen Hall in June 2024; Jenna inWaitress at 5th Avenue Theatre, Washington, and atTheatre Under the Stars in Houston, Texas, in March 2025; and Natalie Haller inAll Shook Up atGoodspeed Musicals, Connecticut, from June to August 2025.[26] She also appears on the cast recording ofUnknown Soldier; a review inMusical Theatre Review stated: "The cast is excellent and includes: Kerstin Anderson".[27]
Of Anderson's performance as Jenna inWaitress, Natalie de la Garza ofHouston Press complimented both her acting and singing, writing: "Anderson beautifully ... turns in the most grounded and the most affecting performance. [W]hen she sings, the production hits another level. ... The anticipation was high and Anderson more than delivered."[28] Gemma Wilson ofThe Seattle Times agreed: "Anderson sounds sensational. ... Listening to her, Gresham and Shaw ... is a unique pleasure, one to remind you what makes musical theater a joy."[29] D. R. Lewis ofDC Theater Arts. commented that, inUnknown Soldier, "Anderson ... deftly captures [Lucy's] mounting desperation."[30]
