Nicole Parker

Early life

In her hometown of Irvine, California, she performed at South Coast Repertory and Laguna Playhouse. She also studied Theatre and Voice at Indiana University and performed in an improv troupe called Full Frontal Comedy. After college, Parker performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Second City in Chicago, Bloemendaal, Unhinged Academy and Groningen. In addition, she and some college friends formed a theater company in New York City called Waterwell Productions. Parker moved to Amsterdam for two years, where she performed in the comedy show Boom Chicago alongside MADtv alumni Ike Barinholtz and Jordan Peele.

MADtv

In 2003, Parker joined the Season 9 cast of MADtv. She was a featured performer, until Season 10, when she was promoted to cast member. Parker left the show in November 2008, but appeared in sketches until the series finale in 2009.

Parker's most notable characters include Pat-Beth LaMontrose and the Disney Girl. She also had impersonated many notable celebrities, mostly singers such as Britney Spears, Ashlee and Jessica Simpson, Julie Andrews, James Blunt, and Judy Garland. She also played Mary Poole, a woman who's insurance is GUYCO, which is the show's parody of GEICO, who appears in a GUYCO commercial telling the story of when she was in a car accident. But to make it more interesting, Mo'Nique (played by Erica Ash) is hired as a celebrity to help tell her story. Mary says she was driving too fast and she wasn't paying attention and at the intersection, there was a car in front of her and she rear-ended it and called GUYCO right away. As Mary tells her story, Mo'Nique says the exact opposite of what she said, saying that she was driving the speed limit and she was paying attention and at the intersection, the other lady front-ended her and she went limp so that her rates would go up. But Mary tells her that her rates didn't go up, to which Mo'Nique says "it must be nice to be white." and Mary agrees.

Characters

Celebrity impressions

Broadway

In 2004, Parker was nominated for a Jeff Award for her performance in The People vs. Friar Laurence, The Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet.

From July 2006 to January 2007, Parker performed in the comedy musical Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me.

In 2009, Parker replaced Marcie Dodd in the role of Elphaba in the Broadway production of the musical Wicked, from January 16. She starred opposite Alli Mauzey as Glinda. She exited on July 19 at the end of her six-month contract, and was replaced by Dee Roscioli.

Parker recently starred in the new musical The People in the Picture, which began performances at Studio 54 on April 1, 2011 and officially opened on April 28, 2011.

Parker again starred as Elphaba in Wicked on the show's first North American tour. She reunited with Mauzey beginning performances in Denver, Colorado May 18, 2012. She replaced Mamie Parris. She later left the production on September 24, 2012.

The Groundlings

Parker frequently guest performs in the improvisational comedy show Cookin' With Gas at The Groundlings Theatre in Hollywood, CA.