About the artist
Joanna Gleason is a Canadian-American actress and singer best known for her work on the Broadway stage, most notably originating the role of the Baker's Wife in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical «Into the Woods», a performance for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Her sound is that of a classic musical theatre performer, marked by expressive phrasing, comic timing, and the ability to bring both wit and emotional depth to Sondheim's intricate lyrics and melodies.
Songs such as «Any Moment / Moments in the Woods» and «I Guess This Is Goodbye / Maybe They're Magic» showcase her ability to navigate Sondheim's famously demanding, conversational style of musical storytelling, where songs function as extensions of dramatic dialogue rather than standalone numbers. Beyond «Into the Woods», she has appeared in other stage productions, including interpretations of works like «Take Care of This House» and Shakespearean material such as «Sonnet XVII», reflecting a career that spans both musical theatre and classical repertoire.
Gleason's career extends beyond the stage into film and television acting, but it is her Broadway work, particularly her Tony-winning performance, that has secured her place in musical theatre history as one of the definitive interpreters of Sondheim's material.