{{short description|American actress}} {{good article}} {{Infobox person | image = | name = Marcia Mitzman Gaven | birth_name = Marcia Mitzman | birth_place = New York City, U.S. | other_names = | occupation = Actress, [[Voice acting|voice artist]] | years_active = 1979{{endash}}2020 | spouse = {{marriage|Seth Gaven|1996}} | children = 2 | website = | education = [[State University of New York at Purchase]] }}
'''Marcia Mitzman Gaven''' is an American actress from New York. Since studying at the [[High School of Performing Arts]] and the [[State University of New York at Purchase]], she has appeared in many musicals during her career singing in both [[mezzo-soprano]] and [[soprano]] roles. Her [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] debut came in 1979 when she played Betty Rizzo in ''[[Grease (musical)|Grease]]'', serving as the replacement for the original actress of the Role, [[Adrienne Barbeau]]. In the 1980s she appeared in the musicals ''[[The Rocky Horror Show]]'', ''[[Oliver!]]'', ''[[Zorba (musical)|Zorba]]'', ''[[Nine (musical)|Nine]]'', ''[[Anything Goes]]'', ''[[Chess (musical)|Chess]]'', and ''[[Welcome to the Club (musical)|Welcome to the Club]]'', and in the operas ''[[Brigadoon]]'', ''[[South Pacific (musical)|South Pacific]]'', and ''[[Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street|Sweeney Todd]]''.
In 1992, Gaven played the character Mrs. Walker in a new production called ''[[The Who's Tommy]]'' at [[La Jolla Playhouse]]. The musical was a success, resulting in its move to Broadway in 1993. Gaven was praised by critics for her performance and received a [[Tony Award]] nomination in the "[[Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical#1990s|Best Featured Actress in a Musical]]" category. She eventually had to leave ''The Who's Tommy'' before its Broadway run ended because of an allergic reaction to a smoke effect used in the show. In 1995, she won an [[Ovation Award]] and a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for her portrayal of Florence Vassy in ''Chess'' at [[Hudson Theatre]]. She was also awarded an Ovation Award for the role of Mother in the staging of the musical ''[[Ragtime (musical)|Ragtime]]'' at [[Century City, Los Angeles, California|Shubert Theatre]] in 1997. Gaven's latest role in a musical was in a 2001 production of ''[[1776 (musical)|1776]]'' by [[UCLA]]'s Freud Playhouse. Since then she has appeared in concerts and fundraisers.
Gaven has also made guest star appearances in numerous television shows and films, playing both live-action and animated roles. She voiced several characters in the animated series ''[[The Simpsons]]'' from 1999 until 2002, including [[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Maude Flanders|Maude Flanders]], [[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Helen Lovejoy|Helen Lovejoy]], [[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Elizabeth Hoover|Miss Hoover]], and others. She was hired after [[Maggie Roswell]] departed from the show, due to a pay dispute. She has not been heard on the show since Roswell's return in 2002. Gaven has also lent her voice to television and radio advertisements. She is currently married to Seth Gaven owner of AV Squad, a film marketing company. They have two children, Michael and Katherine.
==Early life== Gaven was born as Marcia Mitzman on February 28, 1959, in New York City.<ref name=Benjamin>{{cite book|last=Benjamin|first=Ruth|title=Who Sang What On Broadway, 1866-1996: The Singers (L-Z)|year=2006|publisher=McFarland & Co., Publishers|isbn=978-0-7864-2190-9|page=542|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oCoKAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Marcia+Mitzman%22+chess+1988+svetlana}}</ref> She was raised with her two siblings in the village of [[Hastings-on-Hudson, New York]], by their mother Patricia Mitzman, who had previously had a career in art. Newt Mitzman, their father, directed television specials and commercials for a living.<ref name=Miller/> Gaven went to Hackley Elementary School in [[Tarrytown, New York]], when she was young. At that time she was certain that she wanted to work in show business.<ref name=KleinNYT1987>{{cite news|last=Klein|first=Alvin|title=Theater; from country roots to enchanted evenings|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/12/nyregion/theater-from-country-roots-to-enchanted-evenings.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=1987-04-12|access-date=2011-08-09}}</ref> As the result of a lie, she was able to study at the [[High School of Performing Arts]] even though the school was only open to inhabitants of New York City.<ref name=Miller/> She then became a drama major at the [[State University of New York at Purchase]], though she did not get a degree. She said in a 1987 interview with ''[[The New York Times]]'' that "they kicked me out because I missed a major rehearsal", and she never applied for readmission since she had already made her first appearance on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in ''[[Grease (musical)|Grease]]'' by then.<ref name=KleinNYT1987/> While at Purchase, Gaven performed in student productions such as ''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]'' and ''[[Trumpets and Drums]]''.<ref name=KleinNYT1987/>
==Career in theatre== Gaven has had a prominent career in musical theatre and has appeared in many [[rock musicals]]. She told ''[[TheaterWeek]]'' in 1993 that she thinks those kinds of musicals are harder to sing in compared to standard musicals, and that "the nature of rock and roll is that it's on the edge. It's written to be done dangerously. You can't be careful and do it at the same time. If you don't do it dangerously, you run the risk of losing the impact."<ref name="Grode">{{cite news|last=Grode|first=Eric|title=Tommy's Mommy: Marcia Mitzman on the highs and lows of starring in a rock opera|date=August 9–13, 1993|work=[[TheaterWeek]]}}</ref> During her career, Gaven has sung in both [[mezzo-soprano]] and [[soprano]] roles,<ref name=Dolen/><ref name=TOCR-4july>{{cite news|title=Irvine celebrates the Fourth of July|newspaper=[[The Orange County Register]]|date=1999-07-01|page=5}}</ref><ref name="Johnson199305">{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Malcolm|title=Euphoric crowd responds to pinball wizard; 'Brothers' seems dated - 'Tommy' splendid yet preposterous; 'Brothers' drags|newspaper=[[The Hartford Courant]]|date=1993-05-02|page=G1}}</ref> and has been cited for her [[Belt (music)|belting]].<ref name=Miller/><ref name="tuckerjuly1993"/> According to [[Alvin Klein]], theatre critic for ''The New York Times'', she "is categorically a mezzo soprano."<ref name=KleinNYT1987/> Gaven has also been noted for her strong voice, and was once told by a sound technician at An Evening Dinner Theater in [[Elmsford, New York]], that "We always turn off the mikes when you sing" because she did not need amplification.<ref name=KleinNYT1987/>
===1979–1989=== [[File:Warner Theatre.jpg|thumb|In 1980, Gaven starred in one of her first big productions: ''[[The Rocky Horror Show]]'' at [[Warner Theatre (Washington, D.C.)|Warner Theatre]]]] In March 1979, when Gaven was twenty years old, she served as the replacement actress for the character Betty Rizzo in the original Broadway production of ''Grease''.<ref name=Benjamin/><ref name=KleinNYT1987/><ref name=IBDB/> This was her Broadway debut.<ref name=Miller/> In late 1980, she was cast in the lead role of Janet in the musical ''[[The Rocky Horror Show]]'' that ran for six nights at [[Warner Theatre (Washington, D.C.)|Warner Theatre]].<ref name=Harrington/> It tells the story of a couple, Brad and Janet, who find themselves lost one night and end up in the laboratory of an alien doctor.<ref name=Harrington>{{cite news|last=Harrington|first=Richard|title='Rocky' Start|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=1980-11-26|page=B1}}</ref> The cast, including Gaven, was praised by critics.<ref name="Harrington"/> In 1984, she played a Londoner in the revival of ''[[Oliver!]]'' at Broadway and was the [[understudy]] to [[Patti LuPone]]'s [[Nancy (Oliver Twist)|Nancy]].<ref name=IBDB/> That same year, in the Broadway revival of ''[[Zorba (musical)|Zorba]]'', Gaven played the role of The Widow who is eventually stoned to death by the townspeople after being held responsible for the suicide of a young boy who fell in love with her.<ref name="zorba">{{cite news|last=Richards|first=David|title='Zorba': Quintessential Quinn|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=1984-09-10|page=B1}}</ref> She then portrayed the character Luisa, the wife of an Italian film director, in a production of ''[[Nine (musical)|Nine]]'' at An Evening Dinner Theater in 1985.<ref name=Kleinnine>{{cite news|last=Klein|first=Alvin|title=Theater; Another look at 'Nine' and the Tonys|url=http://theater.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9501EFDC1739F931A35755C0A963948260|access-date=2011-08-09|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=1985-06-02}}</ref>
Gaven starred in the [[New York City Opera]]'s Broadway revival of ''[[Brigadoon]]'', in which she played Meg Brockie, at [[New York State Theater]] in 1986.<ref name=Benjamin/><ref>{{cite news|last=Wynne|first=Peter|title=Brigadoon: Riches of American opera|newspaper=[[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]]|date=1986-03-07|page=9}}</ref> The story is about a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every hundred years, and Meg is one of the villagers. According to Sy Syna of the magazine ''[[The World & I]]'', Gaven was "a huge crowd pleaser" in the role.<ref name="syna">{{cite news|last=Syna|first=Sy|title=Brigadoon done in|newspaper=[[The World & I]]|date=May 1986}}</ref> She was also cast in the New York City Opera's spring 1987 revival of ''[[South Pacific (musical)|South Pacific]]'' as the female lead character Nellie Forbush, a [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] nurse who works on a [[Oceania|South Pacific]] island during [[World War II]].<ref name=RTD>{{cite news|title='A Wireless Christmas' opens friday|newspaper=[[Richmond Times-Dispatch]]|date=1986-11-29|page=A-35}}</ref> This nine-week run of ''South Pacific'' had an alternating cast and Nellie was also portrayed by Susan Bigelow.<ref name=Nemy>{{cite news|last=Nemy|first=Enid|title=Theater buff adds something positive|newspaper=[[Daily Breeze]]|date=1987-01-27|page=C4}}</ref> Later that year in July during the New York City Opera's regular season, she appeared in the opera company's ''[[Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street|Sweeney Todd]]'' as [[Mrs. Lovett]], who makes and sells meat pies made from the victims of serial killer [[Sweeney Todd]].<ref name=KleinNYT1987/>
In [[Pioneer Theatre Company]]'s fall 1988 production of ''[[Anything Goes]]'', Gaven played the lead role of [[nightclub singer]] Reno Sweeney. It is set on an ocean liner on which Reno helps the character Billy Crocker win the heart of the engaged Hope Harcourt who he has fallen in love with. While reviewing the musical for the ''[[Deseret News]]'', Joseph Walker commented that Gaven "is sensational as Reno Sweeney, the saucy, sassy hoofer-with-a-heart-of-gold. She has an arresting presence and a golden voice; the whole show always seems better when she's on stage."<ref name="renosweeney">{{cite news|last=Walker|first=Joseph|title=PTC's 'Anything Goes' -- a show you just can't say 'nyet' to|newspaper=[[Deseret News]]|date=1988-09-15|page=C7}}</ref> At the end of 1988, Gaven returned to the musical ''Oliver!'' in a [[Theatre Under The Stars (Houston)|Theatre Under The Stars]] production in [[Houston]], starring as Nancy.<ref name=Evans/> A critic for the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' commended her performance, writing that she "acts the compassionate Nancy with warmth and spirit, and sings in a strong voice full of character."<ref name=Evans>{{cite news|last=Evans|first=Everett|title=Fun with a little Dickens - 'Oliver!' songs carry scenes|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=1988-12-10|page=1}}</ref>
Also in 1988, Gaven played the part of the Russian chess player's wife Svetlana in the short-lived Broadway production of the musical ''[[Chess (musical)|Chess]]'',<ref name="svetlana">{{cite book|last=Guernsey|first=Otis|title=The Best Plays of 1987-1988|year=1989|publisher=Applause Theatre Book Publishers|isbn=978-1-55783-040-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kvZkAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Marcia+Mitzman%22+chess+1988+svetlana|page=356}}</ref> for which she was praised by critics.<ref>{{cite news|last=Richards|first=David|title=N.Y.'s 'Chess,' heavily checkered|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=1988-04-29|page=G1}}</ref> The following year she appeared as Carol Bates in the Broadway musical ''[[Welcome to the Club (musical)|Welcome to the Club]]''.<ref name=IBDB>{{cite web|title=Marcia Mitzman|url=http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=53324|publisher=[[Internet Broadway Database]]|access-date=2011-08-06}}</ref> It revolves around four men who have been put in jail for not paying [[alimony]]. The musical shows why they ended up divorcing their wives, one of which is played by Gaven.<ref name=Kuchwara/> Both ''Chess'' and ''Welcome to the Club'' were unsuccessful.<ref name=Miller/> John Simon criticized the latter musical in a ''[[New York Magazine]]'' review but praised Gaven's performance, writing: "The cast ranges from the charmless to the hopeless [...] in this mess. Only Marcia Mitzman manages to stand out from the crowd, and when she gets the right part in the right show, she'll do just fine."<ref>{{cite news|last=Simon|first=John|title=The Way We Don't Live Now|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d-gCAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Marcia+Mitzman%22&pg=PA140|newspaper=[[New York Magazine]]|date=1989-04-24|page=140}}</ref> [[Associated Press]] drama critic [[Michael Kuchwara]] also wrote negatively about ''Welcome to the Club'' while giving praise to Gaven for projecting "a sympathy [to her character] that isn't apparent in the [[Musical theatre#Book musicals|book]]."<ref name=Kuchwara>{{cite news|last=Kuchwara|first=Michael ([[Associated Press]])|title='Welcome to the Club' masquerades as a musical|newspaper=[[Deseret News]]|date=1989-04-19|page=C7}}</ref>
===1990–1995=== In December 1990, Gaven once again appeared as Nancy in a revival of ''Oliver!''—this time in a production at [[5th Avenue Theatre]] in [[Seattle, Washington]]. A theatre critic for the ''[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]'' noted that she "has the voice to anchor anything you'd care to name, even the 5th Avenue Theatre. 5th Avenue performers often sound as if they were speaking and singing through a football stadium public address system. But Mitzman overpowers malevolent acoustics."<ref name=Adcock>{{cite news|last=Adcock|first=Joe|title=In 'Oliver!' squalor means fun|newspaper=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]|date=1990-12-08|page=C4}}</ref> After ''Oliver!'', she appeared as Countess Charlotte Malcolm in [[Ahmanson Theatre]]'s production of ''[[A Little Night Music]]'' that was performed from April 18 to June 30, 1991, at James A. Doolittle Theatre in [[Los Angeles, California]].<ref name="littlenightmusic">{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Daryl H.|title=Stage news & notes - Plans under way to scale down Ahmanson's size|newspaper=[[Daily News of Los Angeles]]|date=1991-03-15|page=L27}}</ref> Gaven worked at 5th Avenue Theatre again in December 1991 in the musical ''[[Here's Love]]''. She portrayed the divorced Doris Walker, a single-working mother of a girl who doubts the existence of [[Santa Claus]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Wayne|title=No classics here|newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]]|date=1991-12-31|page=24}}</ref><ref name=Evans2/> During spring 1992, she played the love interest of a male songwriter and his best friend in the musical ''The Tin Pan Man'' (set in 1905) at [[La Mirada, California|La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts]].<ref name=Kreiswirth>{{cite news|last=Kreiswirth|first=Sandra|title=Steppling's 'Sea of Cortez' premieres tonight|newspaper=[[Daily Breeze]]|date=1992-04-24|page=E18}}</ref>
Starting at the beginning of July 1992, Gaven appeared in a new musical called ''[[The Who's Tommy]]'' at [[La Jolla Playhouse]] in [[San Diego]]. It was based on the rock opera album ''[[Tommy (The Who album)|Tommy]]'' by [[The Who]].<ref name=Jones/> Gaven starred as Mrs. Walker, the mother of the boy Tommy who is traumatized when he sees his father murder Mrs. Walker's new boyfriend. Tommy ultimately becomes non-responsive, leading people to believe that he is deaf, mute, and blind, and his parents try to find a cure for his condition.<ref name=Jones>{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Welton|title=A new 'Tommy' is dazzling Rock opera blooms with rare freshness|newspaper=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]|date=1992-07-10|page=C-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Daryl H.|title=Sense-stimulating 'Tommy' has sobering message for the '90s|newspaper=[[Daily News of Los Angeles]]|date=1992-02-11|page=L18}}</ref> Gaven later told ''TheaterWeek'' that she initially did not want to do the musical, since she "had no idea how this could be staged as a theatrical piece. I hoped my agents wouldn't call me and ask me to audition."<ref name="Grode"/> However, they did, and she was cast as Mrs. Walker after an audition in which she sang the song "Heaven Help My Heart" that she performed in ''Chess'', also a rock musical.<ref name="Grode"/> ''The Who's Tommy'' was La Jolla Playhouse's biggest success yet and as a result its run was lengthened by several weeks.<ref name="Grode"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Michael|title='Tommy' extended a week Commercial future is seen|newspaper=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]|date=1992-07-14|page=C-4}}</ref> Later that year, Gaven once again played Doris in ''Here's Love''—this time in a Theatre Under The Stars production.<ref name=Evans2>{{cite news|last=Evans|first=Everett|title="Here's Love" is a wobbly but pleasant musical|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=1992-12-12|page=1}}</ref>
In late 1992 it was announced that because of the success of ''The Who's Tommy'', it would be produced for Broadway and open in April 1993.<ref>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Michael|title=Theater: 'Tommy' was a wizard|newspaper=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]|date=1992-12-27|page=E-6}}</ref> The production cost eight million dollars and it broke the box office record for the biggest non-opening day with US$494,897 earned on April 23, 1993, at [[St. James Theatre]] (where the musical opened on April 22), beating ''[[Guys and Dolls]]''{{'}} 1992 record.<ref>{{cite news|last=Harrington|first=Richard|title=The Who sell out - 'Tommy' gets a razzle-dazzle update|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=1993-05-09|page=g3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Stearns|first=David Patrick|title='Tommy' box-office wizard|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=1993-04-27|page=1D}}</ref> [[Des McAnuff]], who directed the musical at both La Jolla Playhouse and on Broadway, decided to bring many actors from the original cast with him despite weeks of auditions with thousands of actors trying out for the roles in front of him.<ref name=Jones3>{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Welton|title=McAnuff finds the best cast for 'Tommy' is right at home|newspaper=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]|date=1993-02-04|page=E-3}}</ref> The Broadway production featured some changes to the musical, such as a new song devoted to Tommy's parents that Gaven thought "helps show their side of the story."<ref name="moneyearned"/> However, as she told ''The San Diego Union-Tribune'', the biggest difference was the increased amount of money she earned.<ref name="moneyearned">{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Welton|title=Musicians, first nighters revel in rock opera's fame|newspaper=[[San Diego Union-Tribune]]|date=1993-04-23|page=E-7}}</ref> Gaven was praised by critics for her portrayal of Mrs. Walker in the Broadway production,<ref name="Grode"/><ref name="tuckerjuly1993">{{cite news|last=Tucker|first=Ken|title='Tommy' all grown up, groomed to fit '90s mold|newspaper=[[The Plain Dealer]] (originally published in [[The New York Times]])|date=1993-07-18|page=2H}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=[[William A. Raidy]]|title='Tommy' arrives on Broadway - Dazzling show has something for everyone|newspaper=[[Staten Island Advance]]|date=1993-04-23|page=D4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rich|authorlink=Frank Rich|first=Frank|title='Tommy' rocks Broadway|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]] (originally published in [[The New York Times]])|date=1993-04-23|page=5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Zink|first=Jack|title=New 'Tommy' rocks steady on Broadway - Show information|newspaper=[[Sun-Sentinel]]|date=1993-04-29|page=1E}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Evett|first=Marianne|title=For two Tony nominees, the eyes have it|newspaper=[[The Plain Dealer]]|date=1993-05-16|page=1H}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The long search is over - The 'real' Tommy is found|newspaper=[[Sun-Sentinel]]|date=1993-10-24|page=4F}}</ref> with one critic from ''[[The Miami Herald]]'' writing that her "alluring [[alto]] voice makes you wish Tommy's mother had even more to sing."<ref name=Dolen>{{cite news|last=Dolen|first=Christine|title=Tommy succeeds where other rock musicals failed|newspaper=[[The Miami Herald]]|date=1993-05-02|page=4I}}</ref>
It was announced on May 10, 1993, that ''The Who's Tommy'' had received eleven [[Tony Award]] nominations, tying with ''[[Kiss of the Spider Woman (musical)|Kiss of the Spider Woman]]'' for the most nominations that year. Gaven received a nomination in the "[[Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical#1990s|Best Featured Actress in a Musical]]" category.<ref name=Erstein>{{cite news|last=Erstein|first=Hap|title='Spider Woman,' 'Tommy' lead in Tony nominations|newspaper=[[The Washington Times]]|date=1993-05-11|page=A6}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Search Past Winners |url=http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/archive/pastwinners/index.html |publisher=[[Tony Awards]] |access-date=2011-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204062042/http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/archive/pastwinners/index.html |archive-date=2012-02-04 }}</ref> However, as the result of an allergic reaction, she could not perform in the musical some nights.<ref name=Miller/> When Daryl Miller interviewed Gaven in the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' in 1997, he noted that "this was one of the biggest disappointments of her life, and clouds cross her face for the first time in the conversation. She glances across the room at the Tony citation—recognizing her nomination for best featured actress in a musical—as she describes how her throat became infected due to a reaction to the oil in a haze-making compound that designers pump onstage to enhance lighting effects. She missed a lot of performances, and an untold number of Tony voters missed her performance. She can't help but wonder how that affected the outcome."<ref name=Miller/> At one point, Gaven's understudy [[Alice Ripley]] took her place for eight consecutive weeks while Gaven recovered.<ref name=Batzjan1995>{{cite news|last=Batz|first=Bob|title=Gone Broadway - West Carrollton grad shares sunset boulevard stage with Glenn Close in hit musical|newspaper=[[Dayton Daily News]]|date=1995-01-15|page=1C}}</ref> Gaven eventually had to leave ''The Who's Tommy'' some months after it opened because of her allergy.<ref name=Miller/> She also disliked the idea of performing in one musical for more than a year.<ref name="Grode"/>
[[File:Hudson Theatre NYC 2003.jpg|thumb|Gaven won awards for her 1995 role in ''[[Chess (musical)|Chess]]'' at [[Hudson Theatre]]]] In late 1993, she was cast in [[Pasadena Playhouse]]'s musical ''Sweet, Smart, Rodgers & Hart'' that featured music and lyrics previously written by [[Richard Rodgers]] and [[Lorenz Hart]]. It originally played from the middle of November to December 17, 1993,<ref name="Kreiswirth1993">{{cite news|last=Kreiswirth|first=Sandra|title='Sweet, Smart'? Not 'Rodgers & Hart'|newspaper=[[Daily Breeze]]|date=1993-11-16|page=C1}}</ref> but was then extended for another run between January 6 and January 23, 1994.<ref name=Phillipsjan1994>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Michael|title=Just Rodgers & Hart, that's all -- and that's a lot Revue creator lets the material be the big star|newspaper=[[San Diego Union-Tribune]]|date=1994-01-06|page=Night & Day–33}}</ref> In July 1994, Gaven played the role of the partly African-American [[showboat]] actress [[Julie Dozier]] in [[California Musical Theatre|Music Circus]]' adaptation of ''[[Show Boat]]'' in California.<ref name=Haugenjuly1994>{{cite news|last=Haugen|first=Peter|title=The season in the tent|newspaper=[[Sacramento Bee]]|date=1994-07-10|page=EN17}}</ref> In the spring of the following year, she reprised her part as the Countess in a production of ''A Little Night Music'', also by Music Circus.<ref name=Haugenmarch1995>{{cite news|last=Haugen|first=Peter|title=Talented cast soars in Sondheim's sophisticated farce|newspaper=[[Sacramento Bee]]|date=1995-03-20|page=G1}}</ref> Gaven returned to ''Chess'' in the summer of 1995 in small-scale production at [[Hudson Theatre]], this time as the lead character Florence Vassy.<ref name=Millermay1995>{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Daryl H.|title='Chess' makes dramatic moves|newspaper=[[Daily News of Los Angeles]]|date=1995-05-26|page=L18}}</ref> The story involves a romantic triangle between the two top players, an American and a Russian, in a world chess championship, and the woman Florence who manages one and falls in love with the other.<ref>{{cite news|title=What's happening|newspaper=[[Daily News of Los Angeles]]|date=1995-06-02|page=L3}}</ref> Gaven received an [[Ovation Awards|Ovation Award]] (Best Lead Actress in a Musical) and a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award (Best Lead Performance) for her work in the musical.<ref name=Miller/><ref>{{cite news|title=That George Costanza knows his obscure Broadway shows|url=http://artsblog.ocregister.com/2008/04/23/that-george-costanza-knows-his-obscure-broadway-shows/1994/|access-date=2011-08-06|newspaper=[[The Orange County Register]]|date=2008-04-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316005050/http://artsblog.ocregister.com/2008/04/23/that-george-costanza-knows-his-obscure-broadway-shows/1994/|archive-date=2012-03-16|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===1996=== On May 21, 1996, Gaven and seventeen other well-known musical theatre artists appeared in the show ''Say It With Music'' at [[Carpenter Performing Arts Center]]. It was staged to raise proceeds for the Musical Theatre Group, which was described by John Woolard of the ''[[Press-Telegram]]'' as "a new organization formed to help rejuvenate musical theater in Southern California."<ref name=Woolardmay1996/> The show was made up of singing and dancing numbers that had previously appeared in different Broadway musicals.<ref name=Woolardmay1996>{{cite news|last=Woolard|first=John|title=Calrep benefit: Sondheim, more|newspaper=[[Press-Telegram]]|date=1996-05-17|page=W10}}</ref> From June to September 1997, Gaven played the role of Mother in the Los Angeles production (pre-Broadway) of the musical ''[[Ragtime (musical)|Ragtime]]'' at [[Century City, Los Angeles, California|Shubert Theatre]].<ref name=Farberjune1997/> She received her second [[Ovation Awards|Ovation Award]] (Best Lead Actress in a Musical) for this performance.<ref name=Miller>{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Daryl H.|title=More Than Just a Stage Mother|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-dec-14-ca-63929-story.html|access-date=2011-08-06|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=1997-12-14}}</ref> The musical tells the story of three ethnic groups in the United States: [[White Anglo-Saxon Protestant]]s, African-Americans in [[Harlem]], and European immigrants. Gaven played the mother and matriarch of the Protestant family.<ref name=Farberjune1997>{{cite news|last=Farber|first=Jim|title='Ragtime': Story of a Nation - Cast makes American original sing|newspaper=[[Daily Breeze]]|date=1997-06-17|page=F1}}</ref> ''Ragtime'' director [[Frank Galati]] praised her in the ''Los Angeles Times'' for her "grace and beauty and magnificent voice" and her "extraordinarily keen intelligence—she's a very deep reader of text," and commented that "she seizes the stage with energy."<ref name=Miller/> Many critics praised Gaven as well,<ref>{{cite news|last=Arrington|first=Debbie|title='Rag' to riches|newspaper=[[Press-Telegram]]|date=1997-06-17|page=B1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Foreman|first=T.E.|title='Ragtime' flies byg|newspaper=[[The Press-Enterprise]]|date=1997-06-17|page=A11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Michael|title=Lovely 'Ragtime' keeps its focus|newspaper=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]|date=1997-06-17|page=E-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Moran|first=Rita|title='Ragtime' musical never misses a beat|newspaper=[[Ventura County Star]]|date=1997-06-20|page=T12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=de la Vina|first=Mark|title='Ragtime' makes an entertaining, vibrant musical|newspaper=[[San Jose Mercury News]]|date=1997-07-31|page=1E}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Curtright|first=Bob|title='Ragtime' full of show-stoppers|newspaper=[[The Wichita Eagle]]|date=1997-08-31|page=1D}}</ref> though Laurie Winer of the ''Los Angeles Times'' wrote that she played Mother "valiantly but with a shade too much effort."<ref>{{cite news|last=Winer|first=Laura|title='Ragtime' musical carries message for the millenium|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]] (originally published in [[Los Angeles Times]])|date=1997-06-25|page=8C}}</ref> David Littlejohn of ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' cited her as "the best single performance in this production."<ref>{{cite news|last=Littlejohn|first=David|title=Rhythm and race|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB868395923834346500|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=1997-07-09|access-date=2011-08-09}}</ref>
In May of the following year, she appeared in [[California Musical Theatre]]'s production of ''[[Triumph of Love (musical)|Triumph of Love]]'', a musical that had previously been staged on Broadway and is set in [[Sparta]]. It ran for six days at the [[Community Center Theater]] in [[Sacramento, California]], and featured Gaven in the role of the philosopher Hesione.<ref name=Reid2000>{{cite news|last=Reid|first=Dixie|title=Taking a chance - Leland Ball brings little-known 'Triumph of Love' to SLOA|newspaper=[[The Sacramento Bee]]|date=2000-05-14|page=EN4}}</ref> In 2001, Gaven reappeared as Julie Dozier in another adaptation of ''Show Boat'' by Music Circus. ''[[Davis Enterprise]]'' critic Bev Sykes wrote positively about her voice but criticized her performance for not being credible, writing: "Marcia Mitzman Gaven gives an uneven performance as Julie, a singer of mixed race who passes for white until she's betrayed by a spurned suitor. She is re-discovered in Act 2, having fallen into decline. Though obviously under the influence of the liquor in the bottle she carries around before and after her delivery of the song '[[Bill (Show Boat)|He's Just My Bill]],' the song itself is performed straight, with no hint of the ravages that alcohol have taken on her body and voice."<ref name=Sykes>{{cite news|last=Sykes|first=Bev|title=Show Boat|newspaper=[[Davis Enterprise]]|date=2001-08-24}}</ref> Later that same year she played the role of [[Abigail Adams]] in a production of ''[[1776 (musical)|1776]]'' by [[UCLA]]'s Freud Playhouse.<ref name="1776dailynews">{{cite news|title=Best of the weekend|newspaper=[[Daily News of Los Angeles]]|date=2001-09-14|page=L2}}</ref>
Gaven performed in a cabaret, called ''The Girly Show'', at a fundraising gala for the [[Blank Theatre Company]] on August 15, 2005. It consisted of an all-female cast singing songs by [[Michael John LaChiusa]], with LaChiusa playing the piano.<ref name="girlyshow">{{cite web|title=LaChiusa appears at Blank's gala for Girly Show, Aug. 15|url=http://broadwayworld.com/article/LaChiusa_Appears_at_Blanks_Gala_for_Girly_Show_Aug_15_20050809|date=2005-08-09|access-date=2011-08-09|website=BroadwayWorld.com}}</ref> On December 15, 2008, celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of ''The Who's Tommy'', Gaven and the rest of the original Broadway cast reunited for a concert at [[August Wilson Theatre]] in New York City. This performance was a benefit for [[Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS]], the Broadway Dreams Foundation, and the Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia & Parkinson Foundation.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Who's Tommy: 15th anniversary benefit concert 'rocks' tonight 12/15|url=http://broadwayworld.com/article/The_Whos_TOMMY_15th_Anniversary_Benefit_Concert_20081215|date=2005-12-15|access-date=2011-08-09|website=BroadwayWorld.com}}</ref>
==Career in television and film== Gaven has done much voice acting in her career, lending her voice to television and radio advertisements<ref name=Miller/><ref name="Basile"/> and playing animated characters in ''[[The Pink Panther (1993 TV series)|The Pink Panther]]'' (1993), ''[[Red Planet (miniseries)|Red Planet]]'' (1994), and ''[[Small Soldiers]]'' (1998).<ref name="Basile"/> Working with advertisements earned Gaven more money than playing theatre. "I can make in an hour what I make in a week doing theater," she said in 1997.<ref name=Miller/> Gaven has also made guest star appearances in live-action television series such as ''[[The George Carlin Show]]'' (1994), ''[[Ellen (TV series)|Ellen]]'' (1995), ''[[Get Smart (1995 TV series)|Get Smart]]'' (1995), ''[[The Drew Carey Show]]'' (1996),<ref name=yahoo>{{cite web|title=Marcia Mitzman Gaven|url=https://tv.yahoo.com/marcia-mitzman-gaven/contributor/732968/credits|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]|access-date=2011-08-06}}</ref> ''[[Hangin' with Mr. Cooper]]'' (1997), ''[[Frasier]]'' (1998),<ref name=tvguidecredits>{{cite magazine|title=Marcia Mitzman Gaven: Credits|url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/marcia-mitzman-gaven/credits/254812|magazine=[[TV Guide]]|access-date=2011-08-06}}</ref> and ''[[Beverly Hills, 90210]]'' (1998).<ref name=yahoo/> In addition, she had a minor role in the 2002 film ''[[Moonlight Mile (film)|Moonlight Mile]]''.<ref name=tvguidecredits/>
When [[Maggie Roswell]] left the animated series ''[[The Simpsons]]'' in spring 1999 after a pay dispute with [[Fox Broadcasting Company]],<ref name="TC">{{cite news|title=Voice Of 'Maude' Disputes Report|newspaper=[[The Columbian]]|date=2000-02-05|page=E6}}</ref><ref name="cartwright">{{cite book|title= My Life as a 10-Year-Old Boy|last= Cartwright|first= Nancy|authorlink= Nancy Cartwright|chapter= Lady, That Ain't No Gutterball!|page= [https://archive.org/details/mylifeastenyearo00nanc/page/96 96]|year= 2000|publisher= [[Hyperion (publisher)|Hyperion]]|location= New York City|isbn= 0-7868-8600-5|title-link= My Life as a 10-Year-Old Boy}}</ref> Gaven was hired to fill in for Roswell's characters.<ref>{{cite news|title=Maude Flanders will likely leave Simpsons|newspaper=[[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]|date=2000-02-05|page=F04}}</ref> These characters included [[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Maude Flanders|Maude Flanders]], [[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Helen Lovejoy|Helen Lovejoy]], [[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Elizabeth Hoover|Miss Hoover]], and others.<ref name="Basile"/> However, Maude Flanders was killed off in the 2000 episode "[[Alone Again, Natura-Diddily]]" to open up new storylines for the show.<ref>{{cite news|title=Will corporate greed kill Maude of 'Simpsons'?|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=2000-02-07|page=D8}}</ref><ref name="FoxHusted">{{cite news|last=Husted|first=Bill|title=D'oh! Denver voice gets killed on "The Simpsons"|newspaper=[[The Denver Post]]|date=2000-01-27|page=A-02}}</ref><ref name="Koha">{{cite news|last=Koha|first=Nui Te|title=Ned faces life alone|newspaper=[[Sunday Herald Sun]]|date=2000-02-06|page=025}}</ref><ref name="TC"/><ref name="McDaniel">{{cite news|last=McDaniel|first=Mike|title=Not true, 'Maude' says |newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=2000-02-11}}</ref><ref name="Brownfield">{{cite news|last=Brownfield |first=Paul |title=Actress: Greed Killed Simpsons Character|newspaper=[[Lexington Herald-Leader]]|date=2000-02-05|page=17}}</ref> Maggie Roswell returned to ''The Simpsons'' in 2002<ref name="Basile">{{cite web|last=Basile|first=Nancy|title=There's a New Maude in Town|url=http://animatedtv.about.com/od/maggieroswell/a/roswellreturn.htm|publisher=[[About.com]]|access-date=2010-08-06|archive-date=2016-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231740/http://animatedtv.about.com/od/maggieroswell/a/roswellreturn.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> after reaching a deal with Fox to record her lines from her home,<ref name="2003Husted">{{cite news|last=Husted|first=Bill|title=Maggie's back |newspaper=[[The Denver Post]]|date=2003-06-01|page=F-02}}</ref> and Gaven has not worked for the show since that year.<ref name=yahoo/>
==Personal life== Gaven resided in Los Angeles from 1991 to 1993, when she had to move to New York City to act in ''The Who's Tommy''.<ref name=Miller/> However, her stay in the city was short because of the allergic reaction and she moved back to Los Angeles.<ref name=Miller/> While performing in musicals, Gaven had to be protective of her vocal cords and this affected her personal life. She told Miller in 1997 that "you have to give up so much of your life", and gave the example that when "somebody coughs behind me [at the cinema] I immediately say to my husband, 'We may have to move.'"<ref name=Miller/> She also had to avoid shouting.<ref name=Miller/> Gaven is currently married to Seth Gaven who owns AV Squad, a film marketing company.<ref name=Miller/>
==Acting credits== ===Theatre=== {| class="wikitable sortable" font-size: 95%;" |- ! style="background: #B0C4DE;"| Year ! style="background: #B0C4DE;"| Title ! style="background: #B0C4DE;"| Role(s) ! style="background: #B0C4DE;" class="unsortable" | Ref. |- | 1979 | ''[[Grease (musical)|Grease]]'' | Betty Rizzo (replacement) | <ref name=Miller/> |- | 1980 | ''[[The Rocky Horror Show]]'' | Janet | <ref name=Harrington/> |- | 1984 | ''[[Oliver!]]'' | Londoner, [[Nancy (Oliver Twist)|Nancy]] (understudy) | <ref name=IBDB/> |- | 1984 | ''[[Zorba (musical)|Zorba]]'' | The Widow | <ref name="zorba"/> |- | 1985 | ''[[Nine (musical)|Nine]]'' | Luisa | <ref name=Kleinnine/> |- | 1986 | ''[[Brigadoon]]'' | Meg Brockie | <ref name=Benjamin/> |- | 1987 | ''[[South Pacific (musical)|South Pacific]]'' | Nellie Forbush | <ref name=RTD/> |- | 1987 | ''[[Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street|Sweeney Todd]]'' | [[Mrs. Lovett]] | <ref name=KleinNYT1987/> |- | 1988 | ''[[Anything Goes]]'' | Reno Sweeney | <ref name="renosweeney"/> |- | 1988 | ''[[Oliver!]]'' | [[Nancy (Oliver Twist)|Nancy]] | <ref name=Evans/> |- | 1988 | ''[[Chess (musical)|Chess]]'' | Svetlana | <ref name="svetlana"/> |- | 1989 | ''[[Welcome to the Club (musical)|Welcome to the Club]]'' | Carol Bates | <ref name=IBDB/> |- | 1990 | ''[[Oliver!]]'' | Nancy | <ref name=Adcock/> |- | 1991 | ''[[A Little Night Music]]'' | Countess Charlotte Malcolm | <ref name="littlenightmusic"/> |- | 1991 | ''[[Here's Love]]'' | Doris Walker | <ref name=Evans2/> |- | 1992 | ''The Tin Pan Man'' | Margie | <ref name=Kreiswirth/> |- | 1992 | ''[[The Who's Tommy]]'' | Mrs. Walker | <ref name=Jones/> |- | 1992 | ''[[Here's Love]]'' | Doris Walker | <ref name=Evans2/> |- | 1993 | ''[[The Who's Tommy]]'' | Mrs. Walker | <ref name=Jones3/> |- | 1993 | ''Sweet, Smart, Rodgers & Hart'' | Lead singer | <ref name="Kreiswirth1993"/> |- | 1994 | ''[[Show Boat]]'' | [[Julie Dozier]] | <ref name=Haugenjuly1994/> |- | 1995 | ''[[A Little Night Music]]'' | Countess Charlotte Malcolm | <ref name=Haugenmarch1995/> |- | 1995 | ''[[Chess (musical)|Chess]]'' | Florence Vassy | <ref name=Millermay1995/> |- | 1997 | ''[[Ragtime (musical)|Ragtime]]'' | Mother | <ref name=Farberjune1997/> |- | 2000 | ''[[Triumph of Love (musical)|Triumph of Love]]'' | Hesione | <ref name=Reid2000/> |- | 2001 | ''[[Show Boat]]'' | [[Julie Dozier]] | <ref name=Sykes/> |- | 2001 | ''[[1776 (musical)|1776]]'' | [[Abigail Adams]] | <ref name="1776dailynews"/> |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" font-size: 95%;" |- ! style="background: #B0C4DE;"| Year(s) ! style="background: #B0C4DE;"| Title ! style="background: #B0C4DE;"| Role(s) ! style="background: #B0C4DE;" class="unsortable" | Notes ! style="background: #B0C4DE;" class="unsortable" | Ref. |- | 1993 | ''[[The Pink Panther (1993 TV series)|The Pink Panther]]'' | Additional voices | Several episodes | <ref name="Basile"/> |- | 1994 | ''[[Red Planet (miniseries)|Red Planet]]'' | Voice of Dr. Jane Marlowe | Miniseries | <ref name="Basile"/> |- | 1994 | ''[[The George Carlin Show]]'' | Ellen | Episode: "George Really Does It This Time" | <ref name=yahoo/> |- | 1995 | ''[[Ellen (TV series)|Ellen]]'' | Debby | Episode: "[[List of Ellen episodes (season 2)|The Apartment Hunt]]" | <ref name=yahoo/> |- | 1995 | ''[[Get Smart (1995 TV series)|Get Smart]]'' | KAOS chairwoman | Several episodes | <ref name=yahoo/> |- | 1996 | ''[[The Drew Carey Show]]'' | Kim | Episode: "Drew's New Assistant" | <ref name=yahoo/> |- | 1997 | ''[[Babylon 5]]'' | Commander Sandra Levitt | Episode: "[[No Surrender, No Retreat (Babylon 5)|No Surrender, No Retreat]]" | |- | 1997 | ''[[Hangin' with Mr. Cooper]]'' | Clerk | Episode: "The Ring" | <ref name=tvguidecredits/> |- | 1998 | ''[[Frasier]]'' | Allison | Episode: "[[Frasier (season 5)|Party, Party]]" | <ref name=tvguidecredits/> |- | 1998 | ''[[Beverly Hills, 90210]]'' | Judge | Episode: "[[List of Beverly Hills, 90210 episodes|Don't Ask, Don't Tell]]" | <ref name=yahoo/> |- | 1999–2002 | ''[[The Simpsons]]'' | Voice of [[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Maude Flanders|Maude Flanders]], [[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Helen Lovejoy|Helen Lovejoy]],<br> [[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Elizabeth Hoover|Miss Hoover]], and others | Several episodes | <ref name=yahoo/> |}
===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" font-size: 95%;" |- ! style="background: #B0C4DE;"| Year ! style="background: #B0C4DE;"| Title ! style="background: #B0C4DE;"| Role(s) ! style="background: #B0C4DE;" class="unsortable" | Ref. |- | 1998 | ''[[Small Soldiers]]'' | Voice of Globotech Announcer | <ref name="Basile"/> |- | 2002 | ''[[Moonlight Mile (film)|Moonlight Mile]]'' | Fashion Plate | <ref name=tvguidecredits/> |}
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0594217}} * {{IBDB name|53324}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaven, Marcia Mitzman}} [[Category:1959 births]] [[Category:American film actresses]] [[Category:American soap opera actresses]] [[Category:American stage actresses]] [[Category:American television actresses]] [[Category:American voice actresses]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Actresses from New York City]] [[Category:People from Hastings-on-Hudson, New York]] [[Category:21st-century American women]]