Delrae Knutson
Delrae Knutson is a stage actress and singer from Minnesota, USA specializing in musical comedy. She started her career in 1981 and has performed in theaters throughout the United States and Canada, though most of her work has been in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota, USA.
Career highlights
From 1981 to 1997 Delrae performed leading lady roles at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, the largest dinner theater in the USA, and in 1989 she was named Chanhassen Dinner Theaters’ top actress of the decade in the national theatrical publication Backstage.While Delrae was performing the part of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady in 1987, the Governor of Minnesota, Rudy Perpich who was also a friend of Delrae's father, signed a new State Proclamation. Referencing that the character Eliza Doolittle was visiting the Twin Cities, he proclaimed that May 20 would henceforth be "Eliza Doolittle Day" in recognition that "...educational training in speech, diction and grammar is a valued asset in achieving a successful and happy future...".
In 1997 Delrae performed in The Odd Couple during a six-month tour of North America with Troupe America Inc. She played the part of 'Gwendolyn Pigeon' alongside M*A*S*H stars Jamie Farr and William Christopher.
Formative years
Delrae was born and raised in northern Minnesota with one older brother. Her mother was of Swedish ancestry and was a grade school teacher while her father, of Norwegian heritage, was very active in civic matters and state politics and was mayor of her home town for many years.Originally, Delrae had planned to study to become a music teacher, but she discovered her penchant for acting and singing when an unexpected opportunity arose to take the lead role in an amateur production at her University. She gained her Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude in Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft from Minnesota State University and then went on to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in the UK.
Acting roles
Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, Minnesota:She Loves Me
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Guys and Dolls
The Music Man
Camelot
My Fair Lady
42nd Street
42nd Street
South Pacific
The Sound of Music
Brigadoon
Annie
I Do! I Do!
Brighton Beach Memoirs
Lend Me a Tenor
The Foreigner
Chapter Two
Groucho: A Life in Revue
Troupe America Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota:
Performed in the 1997 six-month tour of The Odd Couple in over 95 theaters throughout the US and Canada, with M*A*S*H stars Jamie Farr and William Christopher.
Arizona Theatre Company, Tucson, Arizona:
The Importance of Being Earnest
The Boys Next Door
Quilters
My Fair Lady
Ruby’s Cabaret, Minneapolis, Minnesota:
Sing Me No Love Songs
Carousel Dinner Theatre, Ravenna, Ohio:
Oliver
Show Boat