BREAKING NEWS: Today, the Theater community lost an unforgettable Broadway legend with the most spectacular Golden Aged pipes you've ever experienced. 3 time Tony Award nominee Rebecca Luker passed away today due to illness at the age of 59.

Originally born in Alabama, Luker received a BA in Music from the University of Montevallo in 1984. Several years after graduating, Luker landed her Broadway debut in 1988 with the original Broadway cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's long running smash hit The Phantom of the Opera. As part of the original cast, Luker appeared in the Ensemble plus was originally cast as the understudy for Sarah Brightman in the lead role of "Christine Daae". When Brightman departed the Broadway company of PHANTOM, Luker took over the role of "Christine" fulltime at the Majestic Theatre for 3 years.

Following her departure from PHANTOM in 1991, she went on to star in so many legendary Broadway smash hits including….

creating the role of "Lily" in The Secret Garden,

originating the role of "Magnolia" in Hal Prince's legendary 1994 revival of Showboat (which earned Luker her first Tony nomination),

originating the role of "Maria Von Trapp" in the 1998 Broadway revival of The Sound Of Music,

originating the role of "Marian Paroo (a.k.a. MARIAN THE LIBRARIAN) in the recent 2000 Broadway revival of The Music Man (earning a 2nd Tony nomination for her performance),

replacing Tony winner Laura Benanti as "Claudia" in the 2003 Broadway revival of Nine,

originating the role of "Winifred Banks" in the Broadway production of Disney's Mary Poppins,

temporary replacing Tony winner Victoria Clark as "Crazy Marie: The Fairy Godmother" in the Broadway production of Cinderella,

and

was last seen on the Great Bright Way temporary replacing Tony nominee Judy Kuhn as "Helen Gold" in the Tony winning Fun Home.

Her recent latest Broadway venture was being part of the early development stages & world premiere production of Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty's new musical Little Dancer.

She's also appeared in several Off Broadway shows (including The Vagina Monolouges, Brigadoon, and Death Takes a Holiday), in various New York City Center Encore shows, and Regional Theater productions

Her Film/TV works included Law and Order SVU, The Good Wife, Elementary, NCIS, and was most recently seen on TV.

Along with her roles on stage, Luker has recorded 4 major Studio solo albums and played various concerts all over the world.

Luker was also married to fellow Broadway performer 7 time Tony nominee Danny Burstein since 2000.

Our hearts are extremely broken due to this horrible loss of this legendary Broadway angelic voice. She will be missed and her legacy will live on. Brava! We Love You!

RIP

Thoughts?

Who has seen Rebecca Luker LIVE on stage?

Broadway Veteran Rebecca Luker Has Passed Away at 59

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that Broadway veteran Rebecca Luker has passed away. Last year, Rebecca was diagnosed out of nowhere with ALS, a fatal neurodegenerative disease closely related to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. She was 59 years old.

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Author: NYBroadwayTours