# Kate Wetherhead

Kate Wetherhead is an American actress, writer and director known for her work on The Devil Wears Prada the Musical, Submissions Only, Legally Blonde, Ordinary Days, and the Jack and Louisa book series.

## Early life and education

Kate was born in Burlington, Vermont, to Christine and Arnold Wetherhead. She began acting at age six and writing at seven. Wetherhead found her love for theatre after seeing a local production of West Side Story. She appeared in several shows at the University of Vermont, including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Miracle Worker. She has a bachelor's degree in English from Wesleyan University and trained as an actor at Circle in the Square Theatre School.

## Career

Wetherhead began her career in children's theatre, appearing off-Broadway in Sarah, Plain and Tall, Tatjana in Color, Summer of the Swans, and Cam Jansen, as well as touring with A Christmas Carol. She made her Broadway debut in 2005 in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee as the understudy for Olive Ostrovsky, Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, and Marcy Park. She left the show to originate the roles of Kate and Chutney in the Broadway production of Legally Blonde. She left Legally Blonde in 2008, performing in such shows as Almost, Maine, Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, and Steel Magnolias. In 2009 she starred as Deb in Ordinary Days by Adam Gwon for Roundabout Theatre Company.
In 2010, she met Andrew Keenan-Bolger in a regional production of It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman, and, after collaborating on a behind-the-scenes video for the production, they decided to make a series together. The two created the show Submissions Only, with Wetherhead writing and directing as well as playing the protagonist, Penny Reilly. In 2012, she returned to Off-Broadway in The Other Josh Cohen, for which she received a Drama Desk Award nomination. Submissions Only ended its third and final season in 2014. From 2013 to 2016, Wetherhead and Keenan-Bolger co-wrote the three-part children's book series Jack & Louisa, published by Penguin Group. The two also have a feature film in development with Sycamore Pictures.
In 2018, Wetherhead made her theatrical directorial debut at Bucks County Playhouse, directing Cinderella. She has since directed Shrek The Musical for the playhouse, along with developmental readings and workshops for New York University and Michigan State University.
In March 2021 it was announced that Wetherhead would write a musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada. The Devil Wears Prada opened in October 2024 at the Dominion Theatre with a score by Elton John, lyrics by Shaina Taub and Mark Sonnenblick, book by Kate Wetherhead, and direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde, Hairspray).

## Personal life

Wetherhead is married to Tony Award winning lighting designer Jeff Croiter.

## Theatre

| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
| 2001 | A Christmas Carol | Ensemble | TheatreWorksUSA |
| 2002 | Sarah, Plain and Tall | Anna | Lucille Lortel Theatre |
| 2002 | The Spitfire Grill | Percy | Skylight Opera Theatre |
| 2003 | Summer of the Swans | Sara | Lucille Lortel Theatre |
| 2003 | Tatjana in Color | Tatjana | The Culture Project |
| 2004 | Cam Jansen and the Curse of the Emerald Elephant | Cam Jansen | The Lamb's Theatre |
| 2005 | The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee | Understudy for Olive Ostrovsky, Marcy Park, and Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre | Broadway, 2005–2006 |
| 2006 | Sarah, Plain and Tall | Anna | Off-Broadway |
| 2006 | Dear Edwina | Edwina Spoonapple | Rattlestick Playwrights Theater |
| 2007 | Legally Blonde | Chutney/Kate | Broadway, April 3, 2007 – February 25, 2008 |
| 2008 | Almost, Maine | Various | St. Michael's Playhouse, July 2008 |
| 2008 | Steel Magnolias | Annelle | Paper Mill Playhouse |
| 2008 | Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas | Jane | Goodspeed Musicals, December 7, 2008 – January 4, 2009 |
| 2009 | Ordinary Days | Deb | Roundabout Theatre Company |
| 2010 | James and the Giant Peach | Spider | Goodspeed Musicals |
| 2010 | It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman | Blackbird/Clark's Kryptonian Mother | Dallas Theater Center |
| 2011 | Cabaret | Sally Bowles | Dallas Theater Center, April 22 – May 22, 2011 |
| 2012 | The Other Josh Cohen | A Lot of People | Off-Broadway, October 10 – November 11, 2012 |
| 2013 | Clever Little Lies | Jane | George Street Playhouse, November 19 – December 22, 2013 |
| 2014 | The Other Josh Cohen | A Lot of People | Paper Mill Playhouse, February 19 – March 15, 2014 |
| 2014 | The Heidi Chronicles | Heidi Holland | Guthrie Theatre |
| 2015 | Company | Amy | Bucks County Playhouse |
| 2015 | Clever Little Lies | Jane | Westside Theatre, October 13, 2015 – March 20, 2016 |
| 2016 | God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater | Company | Encores! City Center |
| 2017 | Ebenezer Scrooge's Big Playhouse Christmas Show | Woman 1 | New Hope Playhouse |
| 2017 | Hurricane Diane | Beth | Two River Theater |
| 2018 | The Other Josh Cohen | A Lot of People | Westside Theatre |
| 2019 | Hurricane Diane | Beth | New York Theatre Workshop |
| 2020 | Your Best One | Laura | Capital Repertory Theatre |
| 2024 | Burlesque | N/A | Additional playwright |
| 2024 | The Devil Wears Prada | N/A | Playwright |

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2007 | Legally Blonde: The Musical | Kate/Chutney | Filmed stage production |
| 2010–2014 | Submissions Only | Penny Reilly | 22 episodes |
| 2012 | The Big C | Mousse Girl | Episode: "Bundle of Joy" |
| 2015 | Serial: The TV Show | Sarah Koenig | Short; also writer and director |
| 2016 | The Ceiling Fan | Woman | Short; also writer and director |
| 2017 | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Polly | Episode: "The Disappointment of the Dionne Quintuplets" |
| 2017 | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert | Kate | Sketch: "The Emperors New Wall" |
| 2018 | Awkwardly (TV Series) | Mary | 2 episode; also director |

## Writing Credits

| Title | Notes |
| Submissions Only | TV Series |
| The Ceiling Fan | Film |
| Jack and Louisa: Act 1 | Book Series with Andrew Keenan-Bolger |
| Jack and Louisa: Act 2 | Book Series with Andrew Keenan-Bolger |
| Jack and Louisa: Act 3 | Book Series with Andrew Keenan-Bolger |
| A Theatre Camp Movie | Film |
| Burlesque | Musical |
| The Devil Wears Prada the Musical | Musical |
| Ever After | Musical |

## Concerts

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2014 | Submissions Only Live at 54 Below | Sang in "More of You", "Steal Away", "Uh Oh", "I Got a Reading", "Where I'm Supposed to Be", and "Nobody Does Mean Like Me"; also introduced "Chin in My Hands" and "Why Must the Show Go On" |

## Discography

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2002 | Sarah, Plain and Tall | Anna |
| 2006 | Finding Nemo – The Musical | Nemo |
| 2007 | Legally Blonde: The Musical (original Broadway cast recording) | Featured vocals |
| 2010 | Ordinary Days (original cast recording) | Deb |
| 2015 | Submissions Only (Original Soundtrack) | Various |
| 2017 | God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater | Dawn, Caroline |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2007 | Actors' Equity Association Award | Outstanding Broadway Ensemble | Legally Blonde | Won |
| 2013 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | The Other Josh Cohen | Nominated |