Karen Olivo
Birth Place: New York, NY, USA
From THE COLOR PURPLE to RAGTIME: Top Broadway Moments on THE LATE SHOW (May 21, 2026)
Review: MURDER BALLAD at SLAC Takes Us to the Edge of Desire (Apr 9, 2026)
Leslie Odom Jr. to Adapt and Star in Sammy Davis Jr. Horror Flick (Dec 3, 2025)
BIO
Karen Olivo originated the lead role of Satine in Broadway's Moulin Rouge! (2019) after playing the role in the Boston production in 2018. Other Broadway credits: West Side Story (2009, Tony Award winner); In the Heights (2008); and Brooklyn (2004). Regional/off-Broadway credits include: Fun Home (2018); Hamilton (2016); tick, tick...BOOM! (2014); and By the Way, Meet Vera Stark (2011).
Photos
Robyn Hurder, Ricky Rojas, Aaron Tveit, Danny Burstein, Karen Olivo, Tam Mutu and Sahr Nguajah during the Broadway Opening Night performance Curtain Call bows for "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on July 25, 2019 in New York City.
From: Photo Coverage: A Look Back on the Most Memorable Performances of 2019
Robyn Hurder, Ricky Rojas, Aaron Tveit, Danny Burstein, Karen Olivo, Tam Mutu and Sahr Nguajah during the Broadway Opening Night performance Curtain Call bows for "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on July 25, 2019 in New York City.
From: Photo Coverage: A Look Back on the Most Memorable Performances of 2019
Bahiyah Hibah, Aaron Tveit, Karen Olivo, Danny Burstein, Sahr Nguajah, Tam Mutu, Ricky Rojas and Robyn Hurder with cast during the Broadway Opening Night Legacy Robe Ceremony honoring Bahiyah Hibah for "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on July 25,2019 in New York City.
From: Photo Coverage: A Look Back at the Legacy Robe Ceremonies of 2019
Bahiyah Hibah, Aaron Tveit, Karen Olivo, Danny Burstein, Sahr Nguajah, Tam Mutu, Ricky Rojas and Robyn Hurder with cast during the Broadway Opening Night Legacy Robe Ceremony honoring Bahiyah Hibah for "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on July 25,2019 in New York City.
From: Photo Coverage: A Look Back at the Legacy Robe Ceremonies of 2019
Bahiyah Hibah, Aaron Tveit, Karen Olivo, Danny Burstein, Sahr Nguajah, Tam Mutu, Ricky Rojas and Robyn Hurder with cast during the Broadway Opening Night Legacy Robe Ceremony honoring Bahiyah Hibah for "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on July 25,2019 in New York City.
From: Photo Coverage: A Look Back at the Legacy Robe Ceremonies of 2019
STAGE CREDITS
Movies
[ 2007 ] Ana, Isabel's daughter
[ 2008 ] Bethany
[ 2011 ] Carmen
[ 2012 ] Carrie Hines
TV Shows
Cassie Reynolds
Yelina Muñoz, Jennifer Benitez
Giada Cabrini
Awards and Nominations
Karen Olivo, Moulin Rouge!
winner
Karen Olivo, Moulin Rouge!
Karen Olivo, Moulin Rouge!
winner
Karen Olivo, West Side Story
Karen Olivo, West Side Story
Karen Olivo, West Side Story
winner
Karen Olivo, West Side Story
winner
Karen Olivo, In the Heights
News
by Josh Sharpe - May 21, 2026
With The Late Show with Stephen Colbert coming to an end this week, we are looking back at some of our favorite Broadway performances and musical theater-themed moments from over the past ten years.
by Tyler Hinton - Apr 9, 2026
The regional premiere of MURDER BALLAD at Salt Lake Acting Company takes us to the edge of desire.
by Josh Sharpe - Dec 3, 2025
Leslie Odom Jr., who recently wrapped up his encore run as Aaron Burr in Hamilton, is set to adapt and star in a new film about singer Sammy Davis Jr. and his friendship with Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 9, 2025
Breaking the Binary Theatre has announced the complete casting for the fourth annual Breaking the Binary Theatre Festival. Learn more about the upcoming event here!
by Melissa Heckscher - Aug 4, 2025
Just weeks before returning to Broadway as Aaron Burr in Hamilton, Leslie Odom Jr. talks to BroadwayWorld about his solo show, reuniting with the original cast, and how he’s a lot more than just “Burr, sir.”
by Michael Major - Jul 10, 2025
Nicci Claspell is opening up about making her Broadway principal debut in Moulin Rouge! on Broadway with two hours notice and no rehearsal. Claspell first played Satine on the national tour of the hit musical, covering the role while playing Arabia.
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 5, 2025
Tony Award winner Leslie Odom, Jr. will be appearing in a recurring role as Donovan in Imperfect Women, the upcoming limited series from Apple TV+, which stars and is executive produced by Elisabeth Moss and Kerry Washington.
by Sidney Paterra - Jun 1, 2025
It's been over three decades since a fully performed production of Chess has been seen on a Broadway stage. While many of its songs have become beloved standards, the show's plot remains largely unknown to audiences. With months until performances begin, study up on everything you need to know about Chess.
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 15, 2025
Perhaps no member of a Broadway company is more indispensable or rightfully lauded than our incredible covers. And of all the good folks working behind the scenes ready to keep the show going on day after day, perhaps no one works harder than the swing.
by AniKatrina Fageol - Oct 30, 2024
Truth. Beauty. Freedom. Love. The Bohemian ideals combined with a spectacular medley of tunes, some incredible choreography, and a love story for the ages.
by Blair Ingenthron - Sep 7, 2024
LET ME SAY THIS: A DOLLY PARTON TRIBUTE CONCERT, will be presented on Tuesday, September 17 at 9:30 PM at Joe's Pub, featuring Alex Finke, Raymond J. Lee, Kenita R. Miller, and Jennifer Sánchez.
by Josh Sharpe - May 30, 2024
Leslie Odom Jr. stopped by TODAY on Wednesday to discuss starring and producing the play Purlie Victorious, which recently was nominated for 6 Tony Awards. Later on in the interview, he also went on to discuss good Broadway etiquette for audience members. Watch the interview now!
by Stephi Wild - Apr 16, 2024
Power Street Theatre has announced that tickets to the world premiere of the highly anticipated musical Siluetas, written by award-winning playwright (and PST co-founder) Erlina Ortiz and Broadway performer and composer Robi Hager (Spring Awakening, Fun Home), are now on sale.
by Joshua Wright - Apr 10, 2024
BroadwayWorld chatted with Leslie Odom, Jr. about his upcoming performance at Ridgefield Playhouse on April 18th, 2024.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Karen Olivo has appeared on Broadway in 5 shows.
Karen Olivo has not appeared in the West End.
Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Moulin Rouge!, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Moulin Rouge!, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Moulin Rouge!, Best Featured Actress in a Musical (BroadwayWorld Awards) for West Side Story, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for West Side Story, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for West Side Story, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for West Side Story and Outstanding Ensemble Performances (Drama Desk Awards) for In the Heights.
Karen Olivo has won several awards, including Outstanding Actress in a Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Moulin Rouge!, Best Featured Actress in a Musical at the BroadwayWorld Awards for West Side Story, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for West Side Story, and Outstanding Ensemble Performances at the Drama Desk Awards for In the Heights.
Videos
