About Mary

A member of Musical Theatre Guild for over 25 years and with more than 20 MTG projects under her belt, Mary has been a life-long theatre enthusiast. She reached the pinnacle of theatre success when she was cast in the Broadway production…..that never was! REBECCA. However, having originated the principal role of The Bird Woman in the First National Tour of MARY POPPINS, Mary was undaunted and went on to originate the principal role of Miss Shingle in the First National Tour of the Tony® Award-winning Best Musical, A GENTLEMAN’s GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER. During her career she has won 3 Drama-Logue Awards, 1 LA Drama Circle Award, and several Honorable Mentions and nominations for other awards. She has performed everything from Shakespeare to Punk Rock and Opera, as well as commercials, TV and Film. Audiences have seen her regionally at Hartford Stage (HEARTBREAK HOUSE), Ogunquit Playhouse (MARY POPPINS), TUTS Houston (THE MUSIC MAN), The Hollywood Bowl (CAMELOT and Bernstein’s MASS) and many others. Some of her favorite past roles – Mama Rose in GYPSY, Carlotta in the Yeston/Kopit PHANTOM, Lily Byrne in A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, Cunegonda in CANDIDE, and Kate in KISS ME KATE. She is also widely known as originating the role of Jetta in the premiere production of ANGRY HOUSEWIVES in Seattle. Mary made her feature film debut in the Clint Eastwood-starring IN THE LINE OF FIRE, and her TV debut as Arnie’s new secretary in the final season of LA LAW. She has guested on PRODIGAL SON, BOARDWALK EMPIRE, MIRACLES, GILMORE GIRLS, MELROSE PLACE, and many others. She most recently appeared in the new independent film, ADOPTING AUDREY. Her solo CD, WHEN AT NIGHT I GO TO SLEEP, as well as the S.T.A.G.E. cast albums saluting Kurt Weil and Jerry Herman, in which she is featured, are available on LMLmusic.com, as well as all other music platforms. She loves dogs, travel and history, which led her to graduate Magna Cum Laude in American History from Bowdoin College in Maine. Mary is the daughter of the late Dr. Paul P. Van Arsdel, Jr., a founding physician with the U. of Washington School of Medicine, and the late Dr. Rosemary T. Van Arsdel, a professor of Victorian and Edwardian literature and periodicals. Mary lives in Los Angeles, but still frequently visits New York City and her hometown of Seattle.