Marc Kudisch

Kudisch was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, the son of Florence and Raymond Kudisch.^[1] His family is Jewish.^[2][3] He grew up in Plantation, Florida. He enrolled at Florida Atlantic University^[4][5] to study political science and switched to theatre.^[6] After receiving his degree, Kudisch went to New York City and was cast as Conrad Birdie in the Barry Weissler-produced national tour of Bye Bye Birdie with Tommy Tune and Ann Reinking.^[7] Kudisch later starred in a television version of the Broadway musical along with Jason Alexander and Vanessa Williams.^[8][9]

Kudisch's Broadway credits include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Baron Bomburst), Assassins (The Proprietor), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Trevor Graydon), Finding Neverland (Charles Frohman/Captain Hook), Girl from the North Country (Mr. Burke), Floyd Collins (Lee Collins), Bells Are Ringing (Jeff Moss), Michael John LaChiusa's The Wild Party at the Public Theater (Jackie), The Scarlet Pimpernel (Chauvelin), High Society (George Kittredge), Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Gaston), and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Reuben). He has been nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his roles in Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2005) and 9 to 5 (2009), as well as the Outer Critics Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award.

Once more playing a villain, Kudisch starred in the Roundabout Theatre Company revival of The Apple Tree with his former fiancee, Kristin Chenoweth, as Eve and Brian d'Arcy James as Adam. In late 2008, Kudisch joined Allison Janney, Megan Hilty and Stephanie J. Block in the new musical, 9 to 5. Based on the film of the same name, the production was directed by Joe Mantello and had its pre-Broadway run at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles beginning September 21, 2008. The musical began preview performances on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre on April 7, 2009 with an official opening on April 30, 2009. Kudisch played sexist, egotistical boss Franklin Hart Jr., a part played by Dabney Coleman. Dolly Parton, who appeared in the original film, wrote the music and lyrics for the new musical. The show closed on September 6, 2009.^[10]

He starred as Slick Follicle in the City Centers Encores! production of Girl Crazy, which ran Nov. 19 – 22, 2009.^[11] Kudisch appeared off-Broadway in the critically acclaimed improvisational comedy show Noo Yawk Tawk,^[12] as well as The Thing About Men, See What I Wanna See (Public Theater), and in the Lucille Lortel Award nominated The Glorious Ones. In 1987 he appeared in the murder mystery/party game Tamara: The Living Movie at New York City's Armory. He appeared in the Off-Broadway musical Minister's Wife. The show's music was by Josh Schmidt, lyrics by Jan Tranen, and a book by Austin Pendleton and it was based on Candida by George Bernard Shaw. He also performed in a one-man show beginning in July 2011 entitled What Makes Me Tick.^[13][14]

Kudisch has also appeared in Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music as Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm opposite Juliet Stevenson and Jeremy Irons in a 2003 production at the New York City Opera, and with Victor Garber and Judith Ivey in a 2004 staging by the Los Angeles Opera. In regional theatre, he originated the role of Vincent van Gogh in The Highest Yellow, also by LaChiusa. In June 2007, he starred as Darryl van Horne in the American premiere of The Witches of Eastwick at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia.

On television, in addition to a stint on All My Children, Kudisch played a kinky lawyer on Sex and the City and was also the spokesperson for Toyota in the U.S. for several years. He appeared on the NBC show Smash as Darryl Zanuck.^[15]

In the early 90s, Kudisch became a baritone after working with a new vocal coach. Unlike many operatic singers, he trained in opera after college.^[16]

Kudisch and Kristin Chenoweth met when she moved to New York. They were engaged from 1998 to 2001.^[17] Kudisch began a relationship in 2003 with Broadway dancer and choreographer Shannon Lewis, with the couple marrying in 2011.^[18] In 2016, the two mounted a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for 3D Theatricals, with Marc directing and Shannon choreographing.^[19]