Janet Aldrich
Janet Aldrich | |
|---|---|
 Aldrich in 1987 | |
| Born | Janet Wallerich October 16, 1956 |
| Other names | Janet Aldridge Janet Valdes-Dapena |
| Occupation | Actress |
Janet Aldrich (born Janet Wallerich; October 16, 1956 in Hinsdale, Illinois) is an American actress and singer. Born in Hinsdale, Illinois and raised in Naples, Florida, she studied theatre at the University of Miami. She has had an active performance career since 1980. She has appeared in several Broadway musicals and plays, and has worked in American regional theatre; notably winning a Helen Hayes Award in 1986 for her performance in the Washington D.C. production of Forbidden Broadway. She has also worked in theaters in Europe, and was awarded France's Victoires de la Musique award in 1987 for her portrayal of Sally Bowles in the Paris production of Cabaret. While primarily a stage actress, she has also worked in American television and film.
Early life and education
[edit]The daughter of George M. Wallerich and Frances Wallerich (later Frances Aldridge),[1] Janet Marie Wallerich was born on October 16, 1956.[2] Originally from Hinsdale, Illinois, she moved to Naples, Florida with her parents in 1966.[3] Her father worked in real estate development.[4] Her mother was Canadian by birth, and was employed as a model and later secretary for the Marshall Field's department store.[1] Her parents divorced and her mother married Janet's step-father, Frank M. Aldridge,[1] in 1972.[5]
Janet studied theatre at the University of Miami (UM). While there she portrayed Maria in Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story at the UM's Jerry Herman Ring Theatre in 1976 with a student cast that included Ray Liotta as Riff, Valerie Perri as Anita, and Bruce Lazarus as Doc.[6] She played Laurey in the UM's Spring 1977 production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! with Steven Bauer (then billed as Rocky Echevarría) as Jud.[7] She played Cunégonde with Bauer in the title role of Candide at the UM in the Fall of 1977 in a cast that also included Saundra Santiago as the Old Lady.[8] She graduated from the UM with B.A. in Theatre.[9]
Career
[edit]
Janet began her career performing under the name Janet Aldridge, and it was under this name that she made her New York debut in November 1980 as one of the Geminae twins at the Equity Library Theatre in Stephen Sondheim's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.[9] The summer prior to this she performed the role of Osgood in Sondheim's Anyone Can Whistle at the Berkshire Theatre Festival with a cast that included George Hearn as J. Bowden Hapgood, Mary Louise Wilson as Cora Hoover Hooper, and Rhonda Coullet as Fay Apple.[10] By 1981 she was using the stage name Jane Aldrich when she made her Broadway debut at the Uris Theatre in the musical Annie.[11]
Aldrich subsequently returned to Broadway in the ensemble of the 1984 revival of The Three Musketeers,[12] and as Ruby in the 1987 revival of George Abbott's play Broadway. [13] On April 27, 1989 she performed the role of Maligna in the musical Starmites for the grand opening of the Broadway theatre Criterion Center Stage Right.[14] After the close of that show she portrayed Lady Jaqueline Carstone as a replacement cast member in the Broadway production Me and My Girl in 1989.[15]
Off-Broadway Aldrich portrayed the roles of Joan, the Nurse, and Exerciser in American Princess at the INTAR Theatre (1982),[16][17] and Mistress Dainty in The Heather Brothers's musical Lust (1995) at John Houseman Theater.[18] In 1986 she starred in Pump Boys and Dinettes at the Geva Theatre Center.[19] That same year she won the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Actress, Resident Musical, for her work in Forbidden Broadway at the Omni Shoreham Hotel's theater in Washington D.C.[20][21] For her portrayal of Sally Bowles in the Paris, France production of Cabaret she won the Victoire de la Musique award in 1987.[22]
In 1992 Aldrich performed the role of the Baker's Wife in Sondheim's Into the Woods at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia.[23] She was nominated for a Philadelphia Inquirer Critics Choice Award for this performance.[24] In 1993 she starred as Rose in The Song of Singapore at the Downtown Cabaret Theater in Bridgeport, Connecticut for which she received a nomination for a Connecticut Critics Choice Award.[25] In 1996 she portrayed Karen Richards in Charles Strouse's musical Applause at the Paper Mill Playhouse.[26] In 2017 she portrayed Sophie Tucker in the original musical Ben, Virginia & Me (The Liberace Musical) at the New York Musical Theatre Festival.[27]
On screen Aldrich portrayed the role of Daniel Vigne in the 1985 French film Une Femme ou Deux starring Gérard Depardieu and Sigourney Weaver.[28] She also worked as a guest actress on the soap operas As the World Turns and Guiding Light.[28]
Personal life
[edit]Aldrich married Carlos Valdes-Dapena on April 9, 1988.[29] They moved to Montclair, New Jersey in 1994 where they raised their two children.[30]
Performance credits
[edit]Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | See Me | Cormac Fingeret |
| 2026 | Expired_Link | Freya Golden |
| 2025 | Her Turn | Rebecca Skirboll |
| 1985 | Ringers | Tony Cookson |
| 1985 | Une Femme ou Deux | Daniel Vigne |
| 2000 | Jails Hospitals & Hip Hop | Danny Hoch |
| 2008 | In 500 Words or Less | Molly Fowler |
| 2011 | Liberty Road | Jason Fraley |
| 2020 | #FareLife | Brian Hogan |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Cosby Mysteries | Paige Coleman Episode 6 | NBC |
| 1993 | Another World | Madame Charpentier, Courturier | NBC |
| 1993 | Saturday Night Live | Canteen Boys Eyes, Amy #4 | NBC |
| 1992 | Saturday Night Live | Jack McManus | NBC |
| 1992 | Saturday Night Live | Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer | NBC |
| 1992 | Saturday Night Live | Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer | NBC |
| 1992 | Saturday Night Live | Tyson/Tall Tales of Recession | NBC |
| 1992 | Guiding Light | Patsy, PTA Chair | CBS |
| 1991 | Saturday Night Live | Johnny Letter | NBC |
| 1991 | Saturday Night Live | Alec Baldwin host: Jackie, his tough Biker Chick | CBS |
| 1990 | Saturday Night Live | Sheba, "Bleak Poetry" sketch with Sting | CBS |
| 1987 | Guiding Light | Sheila, Josh's call girl | CBS |
| 1986 | This Is Your Life Nikolai Volkoff | Magda, Nikolai's First Girlfriend | WWE |
| 1985 | Guiding Light | Suzy, Roxie's Friend from her dark past | CBS |
| 1984 | As the World Turns | Courtney, Script 7176 | CBS |
| 1983 | Ryan's Hope | Nurse Nancy | CBS |
Theatre
[edit]| Year | Title | Theater | Director | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Reunions | City Center Stage II | Gabriel Barre | Off Broadway, New York City |
| 2024 | The Wedding Singer | Gateway Playhouse | Keith Andrews | Bellport, Long Island |
| 2021 | Turtle On A Fence Post | Theater 555 | Gabriel Barre | Off Broadway, New York City |
| 2020 | Tuning In - Cancelled due to COVID-19 | Adirondack Theater Festival | ||
| 2017 | Ben, Virginia & Me – The Liberace Musical | NYMF | Paul Stancato | Off Broadway, New York City |
| 2016 | The House of Glass - Workshop | Arena Stage | Matt Cowart | Washington, DC |
| 2012 | The Music Man | Arena Stage | Molly Smith | Washington, DC |
| 2010 | Annie | Olney Theatre Center for the Arts | Mark Waldrop | Olney, MD |
| 2002 | Annie Warbucks | Montclair Operetta Conservatory | John de la Rosa | Montclair, NJ |
| 2001 | Annie | Montclair Operetta Conservatory | John de la Rosa | Montclair, NJ |
| 1996 | Applause | Paper Mill Playhouse & Pre-Broadway Tour | Gene Saks | Millburn, NJ |
| 1995 | On the Town- Concert Version | Westfield Symphony Orchestra | Brad Keimach | Westfield, NJ |
| 1995 | Anything Goes | Downtown Cabaret Theater | Scott Thompson | Bridgeport, CT |
| 1995 | Lust | John Houseman Theater | Bob Carlton | Off Broadway, New York City |
| 1995 | Lust – The American Premiere | Walnut Street Theater | Bob Carlton | Philadelphia, PA |
| 1994 | Me and My Girl | Walnut Street Theater | Charles "Chuck" Abbott | Philadelphia, PA |
| 1993 | The Song of Singapore | Downtown Cabaret Theater | Michael Garin | Bridgeport, CT |
| 1993 | Prime Time Prophet | Players' Theatre | Kevin Connors | Off-Broadway New York City |
| 1992 | Into The Woods | Walnut Street Theater | Charles "Chuck" Abbott | Philadelphia, PA |
| 1989 | Me and My Girl | Marquis Theater | Mike Ockrent | Broadway New York City |
| 1988 | Starmites | Criterion Center | Stuart Ross | Broadway New York City |
| 1987–1988 | Cabaret – In French | Théâtre Mogador | Jérôme Savary | Paris, France |
| 1987 | Broadway | Royale Theatre | George Abbott | Broadway New York City |
| 1987 | Broadway | Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival | George Abbott | Cleveland, Ohio |
| 1987 | The Boys From Syracuse | Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival | Gerald Freedman | Cleveland, Ohio |
| 1986 | Pump Boys and Dinettes | Geva Theatre Center | Jon Glazer | Rochester, NY |
| 1985-1986 | Forbidden Broadway | Omni Shoreham Hotel Marquis Room | Jan Neuberger, Gerard Alessandrini | Washington, DC |
| 1985 | Godspell | Ford's Theater | David Bell | Washington, DC |
| 1985 | They're Playing Our Song | Downtown Cabaret Theatre | Richard Sabellico | Bridgeport, CT |
| 1984 | The Three Musketeers | Broadway Theatre (53rd Street) | Joe Layton | Broadway New York City |
| 1984 | Meet Me In St. Louis | Darien Dinner Theatre | Dennis Cole | Darien, CT |
| 1984 | Comedy of Errors | Equity Library Theater | Kent Thompson | Off-Broadway New York City |
| 1983 | Wanted Dead Or Alive | Panache Cabaret | Chapman Roberts | Off-Broadway New York City |
| 1983 | La Chanteuse Extraordinaire | Le Ragtime | Bart Taylor | Cannes, France |
| 1983 | The Stronger - Workshop | Middlesex College Theater | Bobby LuPone, Bernie Telsey | Edison, NJ |
| 1983 | The Men's Group | Equity Library Theater | Kent Thompson | Off-Broadway New York City |
| 1982 | American Princess | INTAR Theatre | Jed Feuer | Off-Broadway New York City |
| 1981 | Annie | Uris Theatre | Martin Charnin | Broadway New York City |
| 1980 | Annie | 2nd National Tour | Martin Charnin | Broadway National Tour |
| 1980 | Anyone Can Whistle | Berkshire Theatre Festival | Robert Tucker | Stockbridge, MA |
| 1980 | A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum | Equity Library Theater | Cash Baxter | Off-Broadway New York City |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Obituaries: Frances Aldridge". The Stuart News. January 15, 2008. p. B4.
- ↑ Janet Wallerich in the U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2
- ↑ "Wallerich". Chicago Tribune. July 5, 1991. p. 5, section 3.
- ↑ "Unique Architectural Design Feature of New Home Colony". The Naples Daily News. March 5, 1972. p. 49.
- ↑ Frances Wallerich in the Florida, U.S., Marriage Indexes, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001
- ↑ Russell, Candice (February 18, 1976). "West Side Story Comes Alive". The Miami Herald. p. 25.
- ↑ Russell, Candice (April 15, 1977). "Oklahoma! at Ring Theatre Is Fresh, Exuberant and Fun". The Miami Herald. p. 88.
- ↑ Russell, Candice (October 21, 1977). "Candide Sweet Situation". The Miami Herald. p. 44.
- 1 2 "That's Show Biz". The Miami News. November 14, 1980. p. 13.
- ↑ "Musical Final Production at BTF". The Republican. August 1, 1980. p. 19.
- ↑ Willis 1982, p. 155.
- ↑ Dietz 2016, p. 226.
- ↑ Gussow, Mel (June 26, 1987). "The Stage: George Abbott's Broadway". The New York Times.
- ↑ Willis 1990, p. 34.
- ↑ "Janet Aldrich". Playbill. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ↑ Willis 1984, p. 79.
- ↑ Rich, Frank (October 12, 1982). "THEATER: 'AMERICAN PRINCESS,' COMIC MUSICAL". The New York Times. p. C10.
- ↑ Dietz 2010, pp. 271–272.
- ↑ Garner, Jack (July 21, 1986). "GeVa Theatre's New Show Fills 'Er Up With Lots of Fun". Democrat and Chronicle. p. 1C.
- ↑ Associated Press (April 30, 1986). "Helen Hayes Theater Awards Go to Iceman, La Cage". Jacksonville Journal. p. 12D.
- ↑ "Helen Hayes Award Nominees & Recipients". theatreWashington. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
- ↑ "Les Victoires de la Musique - Palmarès 1987". Archived from the original on May 29, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
- ↑ "Fairy Tales in Music, With New Twists". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 27, 1992. p. 26, section Weekend.
- ↑ Ridley, Clifford A. (July 4, 1993). "A Season on the Stage". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. M1.
- ↑ "Past Awards". Bridgeport, Connecticut: Downtown Cabaret Theatre. Archived from the original on December 9, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
- ↑ "Applause Opens Paper Mill Season". The Trenton Times. October 2, 1996. p. 3.
- ↑ "Off-Broadway Review: "Ben, Virginia and Me" at the New York Musical Festival at the Acorn Theatre at Theatre Row". Theatre Reviews Limited. August 6, 2017.
- 1 2 Hubbard, Steen & O'Donnell 1989, p. 5.
- ↑ Janet Marie Wallerich in the Florida, U.S., Marriage Indexes, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001, Certificate 030202
- ↑ "Montclair's Janet Aldrich Returns to MOC Stage in Annie Warbucks". The Montclair Times. April 25, 2002. p. B2.
Bibliography
[edit]- Dietz, Dan (2010). Off Broadway Musicals, 1910-2007: Casts, Credits, Songs, Critical Reception and Performance Data of More Than 1,800 Shows. McFarland & Company. ISBN 9780786457311.
- Dietz, Dan (2016). The Complete Book of 1980s Broadway Musicals. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 9781442260924.
- Hubbard, Linda S.; Steen, Sara J.; O'Donnell, Owen (1989). Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. Gale. ISBN 9780810320703.
- Sweet, Jeffrey; Guernsey, Otis Love, eds. (1989). The Best Plays of 1987-1988. Applause Books. ISBN 978-1557830401.
- Willis, John (1982). Theatre World, 1980-1981 Season. Vol. 37. Crown Publishers. ISBN 9780517543443.
- Willis, John (1984). Theatre World, 1982-1983 Season. Vol. 39. Crown Publishers. ISBN 9780517552704.
- Willis, John (1990). Theatre World, 1988-1989 Season. Vol. 45. Crown Publishers. ISBN 9780517577158.