Gerri Weagraff
Actor/Singer/Model
I grew up watching my parents perform in community theater. When I was 16, at the urging of some friends, I auditioned for a local production of Fiddler on the Roof in my hometown of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. I was cast as Hodel, and was bitten by the proverbial theater bug. Since then, I've been in more than100 theatrical productions.
After I got my Master's degree in Spanish, my first career was radio news broadcasting. For nearly nine years, I worked full time as a radio newscaster and voice-over artist. A career in nonprofit public relations followed, while continuing to act in my spare time.
In 2010, a new chapter began when I was cast in Troika Entertainment’s North American Tour of Fiddler on the Roof. I performed in the production throughout the U.S. and Canada for two years, portraying the role of Golde during the second year. Since then, I've performed in two additional national tours as well as regional theaters.
Close to my Wilmington, Delaware home is The Candlelight Theatre, where I have been performing since 1987. Favorite Candlelight roles include Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd, Julia in Lend Me a Tenor, Florence Unger in The Odd Couple (female version), Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street, Sister Amnesia in Nunsense, Mayor Matilda Hyde in All Shook Up, Miss Hannigan in Annie, and Vi Moore in Footloose.
Fiddler on the Roof has marked milestones in my life. In a 1986 Players Club of Swarthmore Fiddler production, I was cast as Tzeitel, my mother was cast as Yente (the first and only show we did together), and a young man named Paul Weagraff was cast as Motel. After getting married 13 times on stage, Paul and I got married in real life in 1988. Our two children, Rebekah and Jordan, grew up sharing our passion for the theater. From 1997 to 2006 (shortly before Rebekah went to college), theater was truly a family affair with the four of us performing in some 20 productions together.
WHAT THE CRITICS SAY…
"The strain of so many hopes dashed is apparent in the portrayal of the Dowager Empress, played by
Gerri Weagraff. There is a defeated and depressing weight to her character portrayal." -- Broadway World (Sioux Falls, SD) review of Anastasia, 2022
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"Gerri Weagraff's Mrs. Potts is sensible and full of charm—her performance of the title tune is a winner..."
-- Talkin' Broadway (AZ) review of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, 2017
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"Gerri Weagraff is a gem as Fanny's mother..." -- Talkin' Broadway (AZ) review of Funny Girl, 2016
"Gerri Weagraff...knocks it out of the park with her multi-faceted performance. Weagraff switches from harmless vagrant to rambling crazy lady in an instant with humorous yet sad results." -- Delco News Network (PA) review of Sweeney Todd, 2015
"Gerri Weagraff's character provides the show's biggest plot twist…and she demonstrates her comic effectiveness as though she were playing two roles." -- Ticket to Entertainment (PA) review of Unnecessary Farce, 2015
"…Weagraff is marvelous in her portrayal of the pushy matron of the opera company." -- Yahoo Voices (IN) review of Lend Me a Tenor, 2014
"Gerri Weagraff and Tori Healy are absolutely hysterical as Florence Unger and Olive Madison. Gerri doesn't hold anything back with the craziness that is Florence." -- WDEL Delaware Theater Spotlight (DE) review of The Odd Couple (female version), 2014
"Pappas and Weagraff work superbly as a team turning the two murderesses into endearing and adorable, albeit slightly bemused, aunts." -- Gotta Go (IN) review of Arsenic and Old Lace, 2013
“Gerri Weagraff has the hardest part of all, as the affronted wife…She brings it off exceedingly well.”
-- Philadelphia Inquirer (PA) review of Any Wednesday, 2012
“Gerri Weagraff gives zip to her Golde, she plays the role with a scolding, snappish anger that lifts it from the put-upon wife that’s often seen.” -- Naples Daily News (FL) review of Fiddler on the Roof national tour, 2012
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Read full reviews here