Ann Arvia is a New York city-based actress. On Broadway, she originated the role of Miss Lark in Mary Poppins and was later seen as both the iconic Bird Woman as well as Miss Andrew. She appeared in Beauty & the Beast & in the original run of Les Miserables as Mme. Thenardier. Off- Broadway, she originated the role of Gail in the New York premiere of John Kander & Greg Pierce's musical, Kid Victory at the Vineyard Theater, appeared in the Manhattan Theater Club production of Time and Again as well as Children & Art, the gala concert celebrating Stephen Sondheim's 75th birthday. She has also toured extensively across the United States with both Les Miserables & Ragtime.
Most recently, Ann returned to the Geva Theatre Center in director Shelley Butler’s acclaimed production of Cinderella as crazy Marie & got to enjoy the Spring in Rochester!
In Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s world premiere of Catherine Trieschmann’s The Nativity Variations, Ann returned to her Midwestern roots & created the role of Peggy Pffannaensteil. She appeared at Playmakers Repertory Company in A Wrinkle in Time (Mrs. Who) and in Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s 2021/2022 season in Cinderella (Marie) & Macbeth (Witch). Their 2018/19 season saw her in Romeo & Juliet (Nurse), Our Town (Mrs. Soames) & in The Sound of Music (her seventh Mother Abbess). The 2018 season also included the critically acclaimed Geva Theatre Center & Arizona Theater Company's co-production of The Diary of Anne Frank as Mrs. Van Daan.
Other regional appearances include Arena Stage in Washington, DC (Golde in Molly Smith's Fiddler on the Roof starring Jonathan Hadary & received a Helen Hayes nomination for her portrayal of Nettie Fowler in Carousel ), Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam Connecticut (Marie in The Most Happy Fella and a Connecticut Critics Circle Award nomination for Meg in Damn Yankees,) the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia (Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music and a Barrymore Award nomination for Carlotta in Phantom,) Maine State Music Theater (Mother in Ragtime, Alice Beane in Titanic,) American Music Theater of San Jose (Phantom,) and Florida Repertory Theater (Sarah in Company.)
Film credits include: Man on a Ledge, 3 Backyards (Sundance 2010) and Let It Snow (Sundance 2000). Television: City on a Hill, The Blacklist, The Affair, Nurse Jackie, The Big C, Rescue Me, Made in Jersey & several Law & Order:SVU.
Originally from Chicago, Ann appeared across the Tri State area in over 60 productions at such venues as the Court Theater (Joseph Jefferson nomination for Happy End), Marriott Lincolnshire Theater (Joseph Jefferson nominations for The King & I and The Sound of Music), Candlelight Dinner Playhouse (Joseph Jefferson nomination for Rags), the Forum Theater, Drury Lane Oakbrook Theater, Drury Lane Evergreen Park Theater, the Illinois Theater Center & Milwaukee's Melody Top Theater.
Ann is also a busy voice teacher, working with established stars, emerging performers and mid-career actors and dancers who are seeking to improve, maintain and challenge their vocal skills. She has taught master classes across the U.S. and abroad.