Joanna the Actor
Joanna Gleason is a celebrated actress and Tony Award winner whose remarkable career in theatre spans decades and showcases her extraordinary versatility and depth. She first gained widespread recognition for her iconic portrayal of the Baker's Wife in Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods (1987), a role that earned her the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. This performance, full of wit, warmth, and vulnerability, cemented her as one of Broadway’s most respected talents.
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Gleason’s Broadway credits are diverse, with notable performances in Joe Egg, The Real Thing, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, where her nuanced portrayals captivated both critics and audiences. She has also appeared in acclaimed revivals continuing to prove her range in both dramatic and comedic roles. Beyond Broadway, Gleason’s theater work includes regional productions and solo shows where her skill in bringing complex characters to life remains a hallmark of her craft.​​
Theatre
2011
[Off-Broadway]
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2009
[Off-Broadway]
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2009
[Off-Broadway]
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2008
[Off-Broadway]
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2005-2006
[Broadway]
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2004
[Off-Broadway]
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1991
[Broadway]
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1989
[Off-Broadway]
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1989
[Off-Broadway]
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1987
[Broadway]
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1986
[Off-Broadway]
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1986
[Off-Broadway]
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1985
[Broadway]
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1984
[Off-Broadway]
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1984
[Broadway]
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Sons of the Prophet
Gloria
Written by Stephen Karam
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Love, Loss, and What I Wore
Performer
Written by Nora and Delia Ephron
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Happiness
Muriel
Music by Scott Frankel; Lyrics by Michael Korie, Book by John Weidman
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Something You Did
Alison
Music by Lindsay Jones; Written by Willy Holtzman
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Muriel
Music and Lyrics by David Yazbek; Book by Jeffrey Lane
Tony Nominee: Best Featured Actress
The Normal Heart
Dr. Emma Brookner
Written by Larry Kramer
Nick & Nora
Nora Charles
Music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr., Book by Arthur Laurents
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Eleemosynary
Artie
Written by Lee Blessing
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Love Letters
Melissa Gardner
Written by A. R. Gurney
World Premiere with John Rubinstein at the Long Wharf Theatre
Into the Woods
Baker’s Wife
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; Book by James Lapine
Winner: Tony Award for Best Actress; Drama Desk for Best Featured Actress; Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
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Social Security
Trudy Heyman
Written by Andrew Bergman
Winner: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
It’s Only a Play
Virginia Noyles
Written by Terrence McNally
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Joe Egg
Pam
Written by Peter Nichols
Winner: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Nominee: Tony for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
A Hell of a Town
Performer
Written by Monte Merrick
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I Love My Wife
Monica
Book & Lyrics by Michael Stewart; Music composed and arranged by Cy Coleman
Winner: Theatre World Awards Performance
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Television/Film
Joanna Gleason has enjoyed a diverse and accomplished career in television and film, taking on a wide range of roles that showcase her versatility as an actress. One of her most notable TV appearances was as a recurring character, Jordan Kindall, on the critically acclaimed series The West Wing, where she played the lawyer for and romantic interest of John Spencer's Leo McGarry, contributing a quiet but impactful presence to the ensemble cast.
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Notable Movies include...
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The Skeleton Twins (2014), The Affair (2014),The women (2008), Sex and the City: The Movie (2008), Wedding Daze (2006), Father and Sons (2005), The Wedding Planner (2001), Boogie Nights (1997), Mr. Holland's Opus (1995), For Richer, for Poorer (1992), The Boys (1991) Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989), Into the Woods (1989), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986).​
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Notable TV Shows include:
The Girls on the Bus (2024), Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015), Bette (2000), The West Wing (1999), King of the Hill (1997), Friends (1994), ER (1994), Murphy Brown (1988).
