Award-winning actress, singer Kristin Chenoweth coming to Heidelberg

Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth is coming to Heidelberg this fall. Kristin will be the keynote speaker for the 2022 Patricia Adams Lecture Series (PALS) on Sept. 30.

The announcement was made Wednesday at the conclusion of the PALS event on campus by Susan McCafferty, chair of the PALS Selection Committee, and Ashley Helmstetter, assistant vice president for Alumni Engagement and HYPE Career Ready® and Placement.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Kristin Chenoweth to the Heidelberg campus in a few months,” McCafferty said. “During her time with us, she’ll have an opportunity to interact with our entire campus community, but especially with our students. We are certain her message of passion, ambition and purpose will resonate with our community here, and will align perfectly with the mission of The Patricia Adams Lecture Series.”

During her visit, Kristin will meet with students in various classes and participate in an informal interview setting. The highlight will be her keynote address – “A Little Bit of Wicked: Life, Love, and Faith in Stages” – during an evening dinner and reception.

About Kristin Chenoweth’s career

Emmy and Tony Award winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth’s career spans film, television, voice-over and stage. In 2015, Kristin received a coveted star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2009, she received an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in “Pushing Daisies.” In 1999, she won a Tony Award for “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” and she was nominated for her original role of Glinda the Good Witch in “Wicked” in 2004. Kristin has been nominated for two Emmy Awards and for a People’s Choice Award for her role on “Glee.” Kristin earned a Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award and Broadway.com Audience Choice Award for her lead role in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s “On the Twentieth Century.” She also earned nominations for a Tony Award and a Drama League Award.  

In 2009, she wrote an upliftingly candid, comedic chronicle of her life so far, “A Little Bit Wicked,” which debuted on the New York Times Hardcover Non-Fiction Best Seller List.         

Kristin recently co-starred in Apple TV+’s acclaimed musical-comedy series “Schmigadoon!” For her role as Mildred Layton, Kristin received a Critics’ Choice Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.  

Kristin just released her first picture book “What Will I Do with My Love Today?” This heart-warming story, is a sweet tale about a young girl who shares her love through acts of generosity around New York City. Kristin is an editor and participant in an upcoming essay book, “My Moment: 106 Women on Fighting for Themselves” out in May. In 2023, Kristin will release her hilarious and insightful gift book, “I'm No Philosopher, But I Have Thoughts: For Saints, Sinners, and the Rest of Us.”        

Kristin released her latest holiday album “HAPPINESS is…Christmas!” Filled with holiday classics both old and new, the 12-song set shows Kristin in a festive but classy light as she rings in the best time of year.  Previously, Kristin released a stand-alone Holiday e-single titled “White Christmas.” Kristin released her album “For The Girls,” debuting at #3 on the Current Pop Albums chart and #11 on the Billboard Top Albums chart. The album is a heartfelt tribute to the great female singers throughout history, particularly some of Kristin’s heroes and friends. To celebrate the release, Kristin returned to the Broadway stage in November 2019, for an eight-performance concert engagement at the Nederlander Theatre.   

Kristin has performed to sold-out audiences across the world, including performances at Carnegie Hall and Royal Albert Hall. Kristin released “The Art of Elegance,” her album of American Songbook classics via Concord Records.  The album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Current Jazz and Traditional Jazz charts, and #1 on Amazon’s Vocal Pop chart. Kristin also returned to the stage in her limited engagement “My Love Letter To Broadway,” receiving rave reviews. In 2014, she released a CD and DVD of her own live concert performance, “Kristin Chenoweth: Coming Home.” Kristin performed with iconic The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra in their annual Christmas concert. The concert aired on PBS and BYUtv in December 2019.  

Notable television roles include appearances in “American Gods,” “Trial & Error,” “The West Wing,” Disney’s “Descendants” and “The Muppets.” Kristin starred in the holiday film “A Christmas Love Story,” which premiered on Hallmark Channel. and hosted the Food Network competition series “Candy Land.” 

Kristin was seen starring in the sports drama “National Champions.” She also starred in the Netflix film “Holidate,” and voiced the character Daisy in the HBO Max film “The Witches.” She voiced the role of Gabi in the hit animated film “Rio 2” and Fifi, Snoopy’s beloved French poodle in "The Peanuts Movie." She starred in the indie teen drama entitled "Hard Sell" and additional film credits have included “The Boy Next Door,” “Deck the Halls,” “Twelve Men of Christmas,” “Four Christmases,” “RV,” “Bewitched,” “The Pink Panther,” “Hit & Run” and “Family Weekend.” She also starred in NBC’s “Hairspray Live!” as Velma Von Tussle. Kristin voiced the role of Princess Skystar in Lionsgate/Hasbro’s “My Little Pony: The Movie,” and can also be heard in the Sony Pictures animated film “The Star.”  

Kristin is a passionate supporter of charities which dedicate their time and efforts to helping those in need. She formed a charity partnership with the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center (BAPAC) Foundation in her home state of Oklahoma. Kristin's accomplishments were honored by her hometown with BAPAC naming "The Kristin Chenoweth Theatre" in 2012. Partnering with the BAPAC in a labor of love, Kristin launched an annual Broadway Bootcamp in 2015, providing young Broadway hopefuls with the opportunity to take classes, hold performances and learn from top mentors in the entertainment industry including Kristin herself. In her lifelong mission to cultivate arts education across the globe, Kristin has also created “Places! The Kristin Chenoweth Tour Experience," a unique educational program for young singers that puts them right next to her performing on stage. Each concert in Kristin’s ongoing tour will feature local participants from higher education conservatories, universities, and colleges for the immersive educational experience.  

Kristin is a graduate of Oklahoma City University with a Master’s degree in Opera Performance. She is an inductee into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, as well as the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.