Laurence Olivier Award in London for the Best Actress

by Jo Louise and Marion Winters

Jane Krakowski of Parsippany, New Jersey and New York recently received a Laurence Olivier Award in London for the Best Actress in a musical for her role as Adelaide in "Guys and Dolls" at the Piccadilly in England.

Quoting from the Polish American Journal, "The Laurence Olivier are Awards which are presented annually as the UK's most prestigious theatre awards... The awards were established in 1976 to recognize excellence in London theatre. Ms. Krakowski faced stiff competition, which made the winning of he award very special to her."

Her mother, Barbara Krajkowski has been the leader of the Women's Theater Company which is located in Parsippany, N.J. and had the benefit of her daughter's performance in a benefit revue called "Better When Its Banned."

Ms. Krakowski comes from a theatrical family where both her mother Barbara and father Ed did Community Theatre in Montville and other places. She has performed in such roles as Rebecca in "Search for Tomorrow", Elaine in "Ally McBeal" and the sultry mistress in the Broadway revival of "Nine" for which she won a Tony Award.

Her recognition and appreciation of her parents' guiding role is best expressed by her when she commented," I could not have done this by myself... every single day I remember that my parents are the ones who've made my success happen."

From: Polish Cultural Club of Greater Hartford, 2006