Robert Petkoff


Robert Petkoff is an American stage actor known for his work in Shakespearean productions and more recently on the New York City musical theater stage. Petkoff has performed on Broadway, the West End, regional theatre, and done work in film and television. Petkoff was featured as "Perchik" in the Tony award-nominated 2004 revival cast of Fiddler on the Roof but is perhaps best known for his role as "Tateh" in the 2009 revival of "Ragtime" on Broadway. Petkoff has also provided the voices for over two dozen audiobooks, winning awards for his reading of Michael Koryta's So Cold the River. Married to actress Susan Wands, Petkoff has lived in New York City for the last twenty years, and often performs in benefit concerts for theater-district-related charities.

Early life and career

Robert Petkoff is the son of Carolyn and Peter Petkoff, the fifth of seven children, and was born in Sacramento, California. His father was an officer in the Air Force and Robert grew up living all over the United States. He graduated from Princeton High School and attended Illinois State University, studying theater. After finishing college, he began acting with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, then continued his career in Chicago, working with the Oak Park Festival Theatre and Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
While in Chicago Robert was cast in the TV pilot “Mona”, a spin-off from “Who's The Boss”. He moved to Los Angeles and lived there for five years, where along with television work, he also worked in local theaters.
Petkoff performed in Los Angeles-area stage productions including "Julius Caesar" at the Mark Taper Forum directed by a young Oskar Eustis, and "The School for Husbands" at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California. In 1993, Petkoff was cast by Michael Kahn as the Duke of Aumerle in Kahn's production of Richard II at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C., performing twice more for the company in 1994.
After returning to Chicago to perform under Barbara Gaines at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater as Troilus in "Troilus and Cressida" and as Hamlet in "Hamlet", Petkoff worked with director Mark Lamos, who cast him as Romeo in "Romeo and Juliet" at the Hartford Stage Company, with Calista Flockhart as Juliet.

Stage career

Petkoff first appeared on Broadway in Epic Proportions starring Kristin Chenoweth, and shortly after he was cast in Sir Peter Hall's production of "Tantalus", which was a co-production of The Denver Center for The Performing Arts and the Royal Shakespeare Company. The production opened in Denver and then toured in the UK, with a final performance at the Barbican Theatre in London. The production of "Tantalus" was the subject of a TV documentary, which examined the turbulent collaboration with John Barton and Sir Peter Hall.
Petkoff would go on to work with Sir Peter Hall in two other productions: as Perry Stewart in The Royal Family with Judi Dench, Toby Stevens and Emily Blunt in London's Theater Royal Haymarket, and as Algernon in "The Importance of Being Earnest" with Lynn Redgrave in a national tour.
Petkoff's first professional musical role was with the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, when he starred as George in Sunday in the Park with George, directed by Gary Griffin in 2002. Although not trained as a musical theater singer, he had been trained as a stage actor at Illinois State University, this was the first of his musical theater roles. Petkoff's first Broadway musical was as Perchik in the Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof starring Alfred Molina and Harvey Fierstein.
Petkoff was cast as Sir Robin in the National Tour of Spamalot in 2007 replacing David Turner in the role. After a year on tour he was invited to join the Broadway company and in 2008 replaced Martin Moran in the role until Clay Aiken took over. Petkoff reclaimed the role again after Clay's first departure.
Petkoff returned to Broadway in Ragtime, as Tateh, in the 2009 revival directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, which opened at the Neil Simon Theater in November 2009 and closed January 10, 2010. The revival was nominated for seven 2010 Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival; and was also nominated for nine 2010 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Revival of a Musical.
Pekoff performed the role of Buddy in Follies, with the Chicago Shakespeare Festival, directed by Gary Griffin in October 2011.
In 2012 Petkoff starred in the Roundabout Theatre production of Anything Goes, as Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, love interest for Reno Sweeney, played by Stephanie J. Block, at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.
In 2014 he starred on Broadway as Hubert Humphrey in All the Way opposite Bryan Cranston as LBJ.
In 2015 Robert appeared as Richard Hanny in "39 Steps" at the Union Square Theater in New York City. He then went on to play the title role in Sweeney Todd at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.
At the end of 2016 and throughout 2017 Robert played the role of Bruce Bechdel in the first national tour of the Tony award-winning musical Fun Home.

Musical theater

Petkoff's first musical was with the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, when he starred as George in Sunday in the Park with George, directed by Gary Griffin in 2002.
Petkoff's first appearance on Broadway in a musical was as Perchik in the 2004 production of Fiddler on the Roof, starring Alfred Molina. Directed by David Leveaux, the revival was nominated for the 2004 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical.
In 2007, he joined the national tour of Spamalot as Sir Robin for a year, and then played the role on Broadway, replacing Martin Moran in the role before Clay Aiken took over and then returned when Clay departed.
In 2009 Petkoff appeared in "Happiness" at Lincoln Center Theater, directed by Susan Stroman, playing the part of Neil.
Petkoff has also worked with several musical theater workshops, including a reading of new musical version of Enchanted April in the role of Mr. Briggs in March 2010.
Petkoff also appeared as Guy Fawkes in the New York Stage & Film's Powerhouse Theater production of Bonfire Night, directed by Alex Timbers.
Petkoff appeared in the "Like Water for Chocolate" musical workshop with Tony Award winner Chita Rivera at the Sundance Institute's 2011 Theatre Lab in Alberta, Canada, in April 2011. In addition to Chita Rivera, and Robert Petkoff, the cast included Nicholas Rodriguez.

Selected works

Recordings

DateTitleAuthorTypePublisher
6/8/2004Fiddler on the RoofJerry Bock
Sheldon Harnick		Cast recordingPS Classics
10/14/2008'Russell FreedmanAudiobookListening Library
1/7/2009Beat the ReaperJosh BazellAudiobookHachette Audio
4/14/2009BoneMan's DaughtersTed DekkerAudiobookHachette Audio
5/6/2009The Link: Uncovering Our Earliest AncestorColin TudgeAudiobookHachette Audio
8/10/2009Michael Jackson: The Final YearsJ. Randy TaraborrelliAudiobookHachette Audio
8/25/2009The Secret Life of Marilyn MonroeJ. Randy TaraborrelliAudiobookHachette Audio
9/1/2009This Book Is Not Good for YouPseudonymous BoschAudiobookHachette Audio
5/6/2010Westward the TideLouis L'AmourAudiobookRandom House Audio
5/26/2010So Cold the RiverMichael KorytaAudiobookHachette Audio
6/1/2010The Broom of the SystemDavid Foster WallaceAudiobookHachette Audio
6/1/2010Pleading GuiltyScott TurowAudiobookHachette Audio
9/3/2010RoomEmma DonoghueAudiobookPan Macmillan
9/21/2010This Isn't What It Looks LikePseudonymous BoschAudiobookHachette Audio
12/3/2010Girl with Curious HairDavid Foster WallaceAudiobookHachette Audio
1/24/2011The Cypress HouseMichael KorytaAudiobookHachette Audio
2/2/2011The Evolution of Bruno LittlemoreBenjamin HaleAudiobookHachette Audio
2/15/2011A Heartbeat AwayMichael PalmerAudiobookMacmillan Audio
7/15/2009RavensGeorge Dawes GreenAudiobookHachette Audio
3/29/2011The School of NightLouis BayardAudiobookMacmillan Audio
4/15/2010The Pale KingDavid Foster WallaceAudiobookHachette Audio
4/19/2011Go, Mutants!Larry DoyleAudiobookHarper Audio
6/8/2011The RidgeMichael KorytaAudiobookHachette Audio
10/11/2011A Hunger Like No Other: Immortals After Dark, Book 2Kresley ColeAudiobookSimon and Schuster Audio
01/10/2012Lothaire: Immortals After Dark, Book 12Kresley ColeAudiobookSimon and Schuster Audio
03/20/2012No Rest For The Wicked: Immortals After, Dark Book 3Kresley ColeAudiobookSimon and Schuster Audio
06/05/2012Wicked Deeds On A Winter's Nigh: Immortal's After Dark, Book 4Kresley ColeAudiobookSimon and Schuster Audio
11/01/2012Dark Needs At Night's Edge: Immortals After Dark, Book 5Kresley ColeAudiobookSimon and Schuster Audio
11/27/2012Shadow's Claim: Immortals After Dark, Book 13: The Declans Book 13Kresley ColeAudiobookSimon and Schuster Audio
02/05/2013Dark Desires After Dusk: Immortals After Dark, Book 6Kresley ColeAudiobookSimon and Schuster Audio
05/07/2013Kiss Of The Demon King: Immortals After Dark, Book 7Kresley ColeAudiobookSimon and Schuster Audio
07/02/2013Macrieve: Immortals After Dark, Book 14Kresley ColeAudiobookSimon and Schuster Audio
09/13/2013Untouchable: Immortals After Dark, Book 8Kresley ColeAudiobookSimon and Schuster Audio
12/03/2013Pleasure Of A Dark Prince: Immortals After Dark, Book 9Kresley ColeAudiobookSimon and Schuster Audio
03/04/2014Demon From The Dark: Immortals After Dark, Book 10Kresley ColeAudiobookSimon and Schuster Audio
05/06/2014Dreams Of A Dark Warrior: Immortals After Dark, Book 11Kresley ColeAudiobookSimon and Schuster Audio
08/06/2014Dark Skye: Immortals After Dark, Book 15Kresley ColeAudiobookSimon and Schuster Audio
6/01/2015Those Who Wish Me DeadMichael KorytaAudiobookHachette Audio
2017Headlong Flight - Star Trek: The Next GenerationDayton WardAudiobookSimon and Schuster Audio
08/29/2017Bernie Sanders Guide to Political RevolutionBernie SandersAudiobookMacmillan Audio
06/05/2018Star Trek: Discovery: Fear ItselfJames SwallowAudiobookSimon and Schuster Audio
09/11/2018'Bob WoodwardAudiobookSimon and Schuster Audio
06/23/2020John BoltonAudiobookSimon and Schuster Audio

Theater

Filmography

Film and television