Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Italian American Heritage Month: Bernadette Lazzara Peters

Bernadette Lazzara Peters

Born Bernadette Lazzara to a Sicilian American family in the Ozone Park section of Queens, New York, Bernadette Peters made her way from TV appearances as a three-year-old to successful stage roles that led her to become an unquestioned Broadway diva -- a compelling actress-in-song who has starred in landmark Broadway musical revivals and original productions where she created iconic characters. 

Bernadette Peters received her first Tony Award in 1986 for Song and Dance and won her second Tony in 1999 for the revival of Annie Get Your Gun. In 2012, she was the recipient of the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award in recognition of her years of service to charitable organizations. Peters made her stage debut at the age of nine, and first came to the attention of theatergoers with her acclaimed performances in Dames at Seaand George M!

Additionally, she starred on Broadway in On The Town (Tony Award nomination), Jerry Herman’s and Michael Stewart’s Mack and Mabel (Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations), Sunday in the Park with George (Tony and Drama Desk nominations), Into the Woods (Drama Desk nomination), The Goodbye Girl(Tony nomination), Gypsy (Tony and Drama Desk nominations), A Little Night Music and Follies (Drama Desk nomination). Peters currently stars on television in Mozart in the Jungle and The Good Fight, with numerous additional guest appearances including those on Smash, Grey’s Anatomy and Ugly Betty. Her film credits include The Longest Yard, Silent MovieThe Jerk, Pennies from Heaven, Annie, Slaves of New York, Pink Cadillac, Alice, Impromptu and Coming Up Roses. Her solo albums, I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight; Sondheim, Etc.; Bernadette Peters Live at Carnegie Hall; and Bernadette Peters Loves Rodgers & Hammerstein have all been nominated for Grammy Awards. 

With Mary Tyler Moore, Peters co-founded Broadway Barks, an animal welfare organization dedicated to changing people’s perceptions of shelter animals. She is the author of three New York Times best-selling children’s books, Broadway Barks, Stella Is A Star and Stella & Charlie: Friends Forever. Peters proudly serves on the Board of Trustees of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Part of a month long series spotlighting a different accomplished Italian American every day during Italian American Heritage Month.

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