Christopher Sieber Explained

Birth Name:Christopher Luverne Sieber
Birth Date:18 February 1969
Birth Place:St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Other Names:Chris Sieber
Years Active:1996–present
Alma Mater:American Musical and Dramatic Academy

Christopher Luverne Sieber (born February 18, 1969) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles Kevin Burke in Two of a Kind and Agatha Trunchbull in Matilda the Musical. He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Sir Dennis Galahad in Spamalot, and Lord Farquaad in Shrek the Musical. He has also played both male leads in the musical La Cage aux Folles.

Early life

Sieber was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Fred and Caron Sieber. He is the middle child of three. Mike, his older brother, was a swimmer, and his younger brother, Marc, was in drama alongside him. He is a 1988 graduate of Forest Lake Area High School in Forest Lake, Minnesota, and was inducted into the Forest Lake Schools Hall of Fame in June 2011. After graduating, Sieber went to New York City to study at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.[1]

Career

Stage

Sieber made his off-Broadway debut in a production of the musical A Christmas Carol in 1994.[2] Sieber has appeared in several Broadway musicals, including Into the Woods, Monty Python's Spamalot, Shrek The Musical and Company. For his roles in Spamalot and Shrek The Musical, Sieber received Tony Award nominations.

On June 1, 2007, Sieber sang tenor in the world premiere of Eric Idle's Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy) in Toronto.

On January 31, 2014, it was announced that Sieber would be joining the company of Matilda the Musical on Broadway as Miss Trunchbull starting performances on March 18.[3] However, due to a hand injury sustained in rehearsals, he did not start performances until April 18.[4]

In 2016, Sieber joined the cast of The Prom as Trent Oliver in the out-of-town tryout at Atlanta’s Alliance Theater, and continued in the role at Broadway’s Longacre Theater from October 2018 to August 11, 2019.[5] [6]

On March 4, 2024, it was announced that Sieber would join the cast of Death Becomes Her as Ernest Menville in its preview run at Chigago's Cadillac Palace Theatre, Starting performances on April 30, 2024.[7]

Television

In 1998, Sieber made his television debut playing Kevin Burke, father to the Olsen twins on the ABC sitcom Two of a Kind. The series lasted for one season before its cancellation. From 2003 to 2004, Sieber returned to ABC for It's All Relative, in which he and John Benjamin Hickey played same-sex parents to Maggie Lawson; other co-stars in the series included Reid Scott, Harriet Sansom Harris, and Lenny Clarke. In 2007, Sieber portrayed an eccentric zoologist for NBC comedy pilot Wildlife, which was not ordered by the network.[8] In 2010, Sieber led the ABC comedy pilot It Takes a Village alongside Leah Remini and Cheyenne Jackson.[9] In addition to these roles, Sieber has also had guest-starring roles in series such as Sex and the City, Pushing Daisies, , and several episodes of The Good Wife.

Personal life

While It's All Relative was being produced, Sieber came out as gay and said that he was happily partnered to actor and chef Kevin Burrows.[10] They married on November 24, 2011, in New York City.[11] The couple live on an island on Lake Tamarack in the Stockholm area of Hardyston Township, New Jersey.[12] [13]

Sieber is involved with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) and has appeared in several of its Broadway Cares revues, among other events the charity produces. He teaches classes on drama and performance.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010See You in September Steven
Morning Glory Groundhog Reporter
2014Are You Joking? Allen Brown

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998-99Two of a KindKevin BurkeMain cast; 22 episodes
2000Sex and the CityKevinEpisode: "Attack of the 5'10" Woman"
EdBob CrickmoreEpisode: "Pretty Girls and Waffles"
2003-04It's All RelativeSimon BanksMain cast; 22 episodes
2007Pushing DaisiesNapoleon LeNezEpisode: "Smell of Success"
2011-16The Good WifeNeil Howard Sloan-JacobEpisode: "Real Deal"
Episode: "Iowa"
2013ElementaryCarter LydonEpisode: "Possibility Two"
2015Frank BakerEpisode: "Patrimonial Burden"
2018The Good FightNeil Howard Sloan-JacobEpisode: "Day 492"
2021Blue BloodsMike DoughertyEpisode: "The Common Good"

Theatre

YearTitleRoleTheaterNotes
1990Anything GoesBilly CrockerVariousTour
1993Bye Bye BirdieAlbert Peterson
1994A Christmas CarolPunch & Judy Man / Young Marley / UndertakerThe Theater at Madison Square GardenOff-Broadway
1996Jesus Christ SuperstarJudas IscariotThe MunyRegional
Guys and DollsBenny Southstreet
The Boys in the BandDonaldLucille Lortel TheatreOff-Broadway
1997Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatSimeonThe MunyRegional
1997-1998Triumph of LoveAgisRoyale TheatreBroadway
1998-2001Beauty and the BeastGastonPalace Theatre
2000AvowCity CenterOff-Broadway
2002Into the WoodsThe Wolf / Rapunzel's Princeu/s The Wolf / Cinderella’s PrinceAhmanson TheatreRegional
Broadhurst TheatreBroadway
2003Thoroughly Modern MillieMr. Trevor Graydon IIIMarquis Theatre
2004ChicagoBilly FlynnAmbassador Theatre
CompanyRobertFreud PlayhouseRegional
CinderellaPrinceDavid H. Koch TheaterNew York City Opera
2004-05SpamalotSir Dennis Galahad / The Black Knight / Prince Herbert's FatherShubert TheatreRegional
2005-2008Shubert Theatre and Palace TheatreBroadway and West End
2005On the Twentieth CenturyBruceNew Amsterdam TheatreConcert
2008CamelotSir Dinadan Lincoln CenterNew York Philharmonic
Shrek The MusicalLord Farquaad5th Avenue TheatreRegional
2008-2010Broadway TheatreBroadway
2010The KidDan SavageAcorn TheatreOff-Broadway
HairsprayEdna TurnbladPaper Mill PlayhouseRegional
2011La Cage aux FollesGeorgesLongacre TheatreBroadway
ChicagoBilly FlynnAmbassador Theatre
2011-2012La Cage aux FollesAlbinVariousNational Tour
2012-2013ChicagoBilly FlynnAmbassador TheatreBroadway
2013VioletPreacher / Bus Driver 1 / Radio Singer / Bus Driver 4 New York City CenterEncores!
2013PippinCharlemagne / Charles the GreatMusic Box TheatreBroadway
2014
2014-2016Matilda the MusicalMiss TrunchbullShubert Theatre
2014The Heart of Robin HoodPierreAmerican Repertory TheatreRegional
2016The PromTrent OliverAlliance Theatre
2016-2017ChicagoBilly FlynnAmbassador TheatreBroadway
2017Big RiverThe DukeNew York City CenterEncores!
Jesus Christ SuperstarKing HerodThe MunyRegional
AnnieOliver "Daddy" WarbucksPaper Mill Playhouse
2018CandideNarrator / PanglossAlliance Theatre
AnnieOliver "Daddy" WarbucksThe Muny
The PromTrent OliverLongacre TheatreBroadway
2019CinderellaSebastianPaper Mill PlayhouseRegional
2020CompanyHarryBernard B. Jacobs TheatreBroadway
2021-2022
2023The Goodbye GirlCharacter ActorTheatre Row BuildingOff-Broadway
Gutenberg! The Musical!The Producer (One night only)James Earl Jones TheatreBroadway
2024Death Becomes HerErnest MenvilleCadillac Palace TheatreRegional
The Little MermaidChef LouisThe Muny
Death Becomes HerErnest MenvilleLunt-Fontanne TheatreBroadway

Discography

Awards and nominations

YearAward CategoryWorkResult
2005Tony AwardBest Featured Actor in a MusicalSpamalot
2009
Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Outer Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Actor in a Musical
2012Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Actor in a MusicalThe Kid

Notes and References

  1. Web site: May 14, 2019. Thank You to Alumnus Christopher Sieber for Speaking at AMDA NY's Spring 2019 Graduation Ceremony. April 6, 2021. AMDA News.
  2. Web site: Christopher Sieber Theatre Credits, News, Bio and Photos. live. May 29, 2020. BroadwayWorld. https://web.archive.org/web/20120501200002/http://broadwayworld.com:80/people/Christopher-Sieber/ . 2012-05-01 .
  3. Web site: Gilbert. Ryan. January 31, 2014. Get Naughty! Matt Harrington & Tony Nominee Christopher Sieber Join the Revolting Cast of Matilda. live. February 1, 2014. Broadway.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20140219134205/http://www.broadway.com/buzz/174374/get-naughty-matt-harrington-tony-nominee-christopher-sieber-join-the-revolting-cast-of-matilda/ . 2014-02-19 .
  4. Web site: McPhee. Ryan. Maggots Beware! Christopher Sieber (Finally) Steps Into Matilda as Miss Trunchbull. Broadway.com. 18 April 2014. 21 April 2014.
  5. Web site: Keller . Ilana . Broadway: Don't tell 'The Prom' star Christopher Sieber to break a leg . 2024-07-28 . Asbury Park Press . en-US.
  6. Web site: The Prom's Christopher Sieber on Casting the Netflix Movie, Cursing in Hip-Hop Class & More . 2024-07-28 . Broadway.com . en.
  7. Web site: Gans . Andrew . March 4, 2024 . Christopher Sieber, Michelle Williams, More Join Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard in Death Becomes Her Musical . May 15, 2024 . Playbill.
  8. News: NBC's Fall 2007 TV Schedule . https://web.archive.org/web/20070516034808/http://www.darkhorizons.com/news07/tv-nbc.php . dead . 2007-05-16 . Garth . Franklin . 2007-05-14 . 2007-09-11 . DarkHorizons.com.
  9. Web site: Sneak Peek at ABC's "It Takes a Village" with Cheyenne Jackson and Christopher Sieber. Michael. Jensen. LOGO News. April 5, 2010. May 29, 2020.
  10. News: New stage for an out actor . . 2003-10-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060104030146/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_2003_Oct_14/ai_110809180 . dead . 2006-01-04 . Anne . Stockwell . 2007-09-11 .
  11. Web site: November 25, 2011. Two-Time Tony Nominee Christopher Sieber Marries Kevin Burrows at Thanksgiving Day Wedding. live. November 26, 2011. Broadway.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20111127124516/http://www.broadway.com:80/buzz/158724/two-time-tony-nominee-christopher-sieber-marries-kevin-burrows-at-thanksgiving-day-wedding/ . 2011-11-27 .
  12. News: Green. Penelope. 18 July 2004. An Island in New Jersey: An Actor's Commute, and All that Jazz. The New York Times. 2008-03-10.
  13. Web site: May 7, 2017. Artist activists will come together to support county Democrats. live. January 13, 2018. New Jersey Herald. Billeisen, who will emcee the evening, will be joined by Seth Danner and Christopher Sieber, Stockholm resident and two-time Tony nominee for Monty Python's 'Spamalot' and 'Shrek The Musical,' along with other contributing performers.. https://web.archive.org/web/20200806183757/https://www.njherald.com/news/20170507/artist-activists-will-come-together-to-support-county-democrats . 2020-08-06 .
  14. News: Keddy. Genevieve Rafter. 4 December 2010. Photo Coverage: The Songs of Scot Alan at Barnes & Noble. BroadwayWorld. 2011-04-07.