Donna Vivino

Donna Vivino
EducationBarnard College (BA)
OccupationsActress, singer
Websitehttp://www.donnavivino.com/

Donna Vivino is an American theatre, television, and film actress and singer. She is known for playing Elphaba in both the Broadway and national tour productions of Wicked and for originating the role of Young Cosette in the original Broadway cast of Les Misérables. Her stage work includes Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional productions, notably performing as Jersey in the 2024 original Broadway production of Alicia Keys' Hell's Kitchen. On screen, she has appeared in Law & Order, FBI, the short film Family Affair, and the feature film Ezra.

Early years

Vivino was raised in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, where she attended Fair Lawn High School, and graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City.[1][2]

Career

Early Career

Vivino made her Broadway debut as the original Young Cosette in the Broadway production of Les Misérables and is on the cast recording. Prior to that she was a child actor on television and film appearing in dozens of commercials, the CBS show Hometown as a series regular and the feature film Married To It.

Beautiful Dreamer

Vivino's song-cycle "Beautiful Dreamer" travels through musical eras along with her personal history. This show features 13 songs that have resonated with Vivino since childhood and embody her various interpretations of a "dream". Accompanied by a world-class jazz quartet led by her father, Jerry Vivino and pianist/arranger Mitch Forman, Vivino gave interpretations of songs by Rodgers and Hart, George and Ira Gershwin, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Randy Newman, and other legendary writers. A recording of the show is available on iTunes, Amazon, and Sh-K-Boom Records.

Stars of David

Vivino performed in Stars Of David, which opened November 12, 2013, at the Daryl Roth Theatre. The show ran until December 15, and Donna was seen in roles such as Mandy, Ruth Ginsburg, and Fran Drescher.

Wicked

Vivino played a 20-month stint as Elphaba on the first U.S. tour of the smash-hit musical Wicked. Her first performance in the lead role was on November 5, 2008. She starred alongside Katie Rose Clarke and later Chandra Lee Schwartz as Glinda. Her final performance took place on July 4, 2010. On August 23, 2011, Vivino took over the position of Elphaba standby on Broadway, replacing Jennifer DiNoia. She first covered during the absence of lead Teal Wicks on the matinee of September 14. Jackie Burns replaced Wicks once her contract ended. Vivino was reunited with Clarke and Schwartz (who reprised their lead roles) while performing as standby. Vivino went on for Burns the last three weeks of Burns' contract while she was suffering from the flu. She then went on as the Elphaba standby for Willemijn Verkaik and then for Lindsay Mendez. She left the show on November 3, 2013.

Cats

In early 2020, she played the role of Grizabella in a North American tour of Cats before her run was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recent Work

Vivino joined the original cast of Alicia Keys' Hell's Kitchen on Broadway in 2024, first serving as the standby for Shoshana Bean (Jersey) and later taking over the role of Jersey before departing the show in December 2024.

In 2025, she portrayed Heidi Hansen in the Utah premiere of Dear Evan Hansen at Pioneer Theatre Company.

She also starred as Mary Flynn in Michael Arden's production of Merrily We Roll Along, performing opposite Wayne Brady and Aaron Lazar.

Theatre credits

Broadway

Off-Broadway

Dear Evan Hansen as Heidi Hansen (Utah premier 2025)

National tours

  • Cats, National, as Grizabella (2020)
  • Wicked, 1st national, as Elphaba (November 5, 2008 – July 4, 2010)
  • Wicked, 1st national, as Elphaba standby (October 3, 2007 – November 4, 2008)
  • Hairspray, 1st national, as Shelley (2003–04)

Workshops and readings

  • Bedwetter, as Beth Ann
  • Legally Blonde, as Enid Hoopes
  • Dancing Under Water, as Girl Next Door
  • Terezin, as Lorelei
  • Tarzan, as Storyteller
  • Owl Creek, as Shiloh

Television and film

References

  1. ^ Belkin, Lisa. "Savvy 7-year-old acts like a real pro", Lawrence Journal-World, January 5, 1986. Accessed February 8, 2011. "FAIR LAWN, N.J. - The actress 49 inches tall, 7 years old and missing three teeth - stood in the center of her den and patiently explained the difference between television commercials and real life."
  2. ^ Staff writer (n.d.). "Biography". donnavivino.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
  3. ^ "Submissions Only". Archived from the original on 2014-11-28. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
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