The 2012 Tony Award nominations were announced recently and Evanstonian Jessie Mueller was nominated in the category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for her performance in “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.”
The Michael Mayer-directed revival of the 1965 show was Ms. Mueller’s Broadway debut, where she started opposite her childhood idol Harry Connick Jr. She played the role of the 1940s jazz singer Melinda Wells, love interest of Dr. Mark Bruckner.
Ms. Mueller was named Theater Chicagoan of the year in 2011 after her memorable performances in “Guys and Dolls” and “Shout” at the Marriot Theatre in Linconshire.
Jessie Mueller comes from a family of professional actors and began developing her vocal style while attending Evanston Township High School. She went on to Syracuse University, where she studied musical theater.
After graduation, she became a star in her own right on the Chicago musical scene. “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever” opened Dec. 12, 2011, and closed on Jan. 29, 2012, after 29 previews and 57 regular performances at the St. James Theatre in New York.
The 2012 Tony Awards will be held on June 10.