# Kara Lindsay

Kara Lynn Massey (born February 16, 1985), known professionally as Kara Lindsay, is an American stage actress and singer, best known for her roles as Katherine Plumber in Newsies (2012) and Glinda in Wicked (2014, 2016, 2018, 2019).

## Education

Kara Lynn Lindsay was born in Rochester, New York, and attended Greece Athena High School before studying at Carnegie Mellon University, where she received a BFA in acting/musical theatre.

## Career

In 2009, Lindsay appeared as Laura in a musical theatre production at the Paper Mill Playhouse of Little House on the Prairie with Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura in the original television series, as "Ma". Lindsay originated the role of Katherine Plumber in Newsies, a Disney musical written for the stage by Harvey Fierstein, in 2011. The character is the fictional love interest of protagonist Jack Kelly, but Lindsay said she drew inspiration for her portrayal from the real-life investigative journalist, Nellie Bly. She continued her role when Newsies moved to Broadway and played her final performance on February 2, 2014.
From April 2 to November 23, 2014, Lindsay played the role of Glinda in the second national tour of Wicked, where she starred opposite Laurel Harris as Elphaba. She then reprised the role of Glinda on Broadway on December 16, 2014, until January 31, 2016, when she was replaced by Carrie St. Louis, who had previously replaced her on tour as Glinda. On November 1, 2016, Lindsay returned to the role of Glinda on Broadway, replacing Carrie St. Louis. She returned to the 2nd national tour of Wicked in 2018, and exited the company, alongside Jackie Burns, on February 24, 2019, in Salt Lake City.

## Personal life

In 2008, Lindsay and Kevin Massey met at the final callbacks for Little House on the Prairie. They began dating around 2009, when the show went on tour, and became engaged after the tour had ended. Lindsay married Massey on June 2, 2013. Together they have a son, Emerson Charles Massey, who was born on November 12, 2019. Lindsay and Massey appear annually at the Disney Epcot International Festival of Arts in Orlando, Florida.
In February 2025, Lindsay revealed that she had been diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in late 2024. Lindsay completed chemotherapy in January 2025.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2017 | Disney's Newsies the Broadway Musical | Katherine Plumber | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2011 | Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade | Katherine Plumber | |
| 2012 | Submissions Only | Composition Callbacks Group 2 | Episode: "The Growing Interconnectedness" |
| 2013 | Working in the Theatre | Herself | Episode: "The Anatomy of a Song" |
| 2018 | Murphy Brown | Callie | Episode: "Results May Vary" |

### Theater

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2009-2010 | Little House on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls | National tour |
| 2011 | Cabaret | Sally Bowles | Kansas City Starlight Theatre |
| 2011 | Newsies | Katherine Plumber | Paper Mill Playhouse |
| 2012–2014 | Newsies | Katherine Plumber | Nederlander Theatre |
| 2014 | Wicked | Glinda | 2nd North American Tour |
| 2016 | Mary Poppins | Mary Poppins | North Carolina Theatre |
| 2014–2016 | Wicked | Glinda | Gershwin Theatre |
| 2016 | Newsies | Katherine Plumber | Pantages Theatre |
| 2016–2017 | Wicked | Glinda | Gershwin Theatre |
| 2017, 2018 | Beautiful: The Carole King Musical | Cynthia Weil | Stephen Sondheim Theatre |
| 2018 | Singin' In The Rain | Kathy Selden | Sacramento Music Circus |
| 2018–2019 | Wicked | Glinda | 2nd North American Tour |
| 2019 | Beautiful: The Carole King Musical | Cynthia Weil | Stephen Sondheim Theatre |
| 2023 | Mary Poppins | Mary Poppins | North Carolina Theatre |
| 2024 | Once Upon A Mattress | Princess Winnifred (standby) | Encores! |
| 2024 | Once Upon A Mattress | Princess Winnifred (standby) | Hudson Theatre |