Karen Ziemba Proves to Be Quick Study at Acting Out Diverse Roles

Growing up in Michigan, Karen Ziemba was torn between the worlds of song and dance.

She inherited her musical talent from her grandmother, a leading mezzo-soprano for the New York City Opera. But Ziemba, currently reprising her award-winning performance in “The World Goes ‘Round: The Kander & Ebb Musical” at the Henry Fonda Theatre, also wanted to be a ballet dancer.

“I think my mother encouraged me to be a dancer, because she wanted to be a dancer,” Ziemba says. “My mother was an avid film buff. She loved Ginger Rogers and Cyd Charisse. I really loved dancing and she pushed me in that direction.”

But no sooner did Ziemba step into her toe shoes than she realized she wanted to expand her horizons. “It was like I wanted to sing. I wanted to talk. I wanted to do comedy. I wanted to do drama. I wanted to play an ugly character, which you can’t do as a ballet dancer.”

Ziemba began her Broadway career in the chorus (“just like Shirley MacLaine”) appearing in “A Chorus Line.”

“I was fortunate because in that show you just don’t dance,” she says. “I played four different roles in that show. Then I moved on to ‘42nd Street.’ I (played) Peggy Sawyer, which is a leading role.”

Over the years, Ziemba has built up a reputation as someone who can do it all. “(Producers say) ‘Ziemba: She can kick her legs, but she can also hit a high G. We need someone who can do everything.’ ”

Two years ago, Ziemba appeared locally in “Jerome Robbins’ Broadway,” in which she played five different roles. This summer, she followed in her grandmother’s footsteps and made her debut at the New York City Opera as Lizzie in “110 in the Shade,” the 1963 musical version of “The Rainmaker.”

“It is kind of neat,” Ziemba says. “I am like the third generation coming in taking over her position.”