# Abby Mueller
**Abby Mueller** is an American stage actress and singer known for originating the role of [Jane Seymour](https://www.edgepedia.org/jane-seymour) in the musical *Six* and for playing the title role of [Carole King](https://www.edgepedia.org/carole-king) in *Beautiful: The Carole King Musical*, first on the show's national tour and later on Broadway. She comes from a Chicago acting family that includes her sister, Tony Award winner [Jessie Mueller](https://www.edgepedia.org/jessie-mueller).[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/abby-mueller-495889)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Broadway debut | Swing and understudy (Pat, Trish, Milan Stage Manager) in the original Broadway production of *Kinky Boots*, joining December 23, 2013[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/abby-mueller-495889) |
| Signature role | Carole King in *Beautiful: The Carole King Musical*: originated the role on the First National Tour (2015) and played it on Broadway as a replacement in 2017 and 2018[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/abby-mueller-495889) |
| *Six* | Original Jane Seymour in the Chicago Shakespeare Theater production (2019) and on Broadway (February 13, 2020 to August 7, 2022)[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/abby-mueller-495889) |
| Award | Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Ensemble, 2022, for *Six*[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/abby-mueller-495889) |
| Family | Twin sister of Matt Mueller; sister of Jessie Mueller; daughter of actors Roger Mueller and Jill Shellabarger[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/abby-mueller-495889) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4548083/bio/) |
| Education | Theater degree from Indiana University; graduate of Evanston High School[3](https://chicago.suntimes.com/2015/11/24/18395884/another-mueller-sister-steps-into-beautiful-role) |
| Screen work | Television credits include *The Equalizer* (Francine Baker, 2025), *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (Helene Brooks, 2026), and *Evil* (Female Soloist, 2024)[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4548083/) |
## Background and family
Mueller grew up in [Evanston, Illinois](https://www.edgepedia.org/evanston-illinois), in a family of performers. Her parents, Roger Mueller and Jill Shellabarger, are longtime Chicago theater actors, and all three of her siblings work in the profession: her sister Jessie, who won the 2014 [Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-award-for-best-actress-in-a-musical) for originating Carole King in *Beautiful*, and her brothers Andrew and Matt, Matt being Abby's twin.[3](https://chicago.suntimes.com/2015/11/24/18395884/another-mueller-sister-steps-into-beautiful-role) • [5](https://playbill.com/article/meet-the-muellers-jessie-matthew-abby-and-andrew-on-sibling-rivalry-and-show-biz-com-347839) She has said that none of the siblings performed as children and that their parents encouraged them to try many activities; a high school production of *Hamlet*, in which she played Ophelia, changed her mind about pursuing theater.[5](https://playbill.com/article/meet-the-muellers-jessie-matthew-abby-and-andrew-on-sibling-rivalry-and-show-biz-com-347839)
She graduated from Evanston High School and earned a degree in theater at [Indiana University](https://www.edgepedia.org/indiana-university), with summer stock at Rocky Mountain Repertory during college.[3](https://chicago.suntimes.com/2015/11/24/18395884/another-mueller-sister-steps-into-beautiful-role) • [5](https://playbill.com/article/meet-the-muellers-jessie-matthew-abby-and-andrew-on-sibling-rivalry-and-show-biz-com-347839)
## Chicago and regional work
**Early career.** Mueller built her resume in Chicago-area musical theater, with roughly half a dozen credits at the Marriott Theatre, including [Cinderella](https://www.edgepedia.org/cinderella) in *Into the Woods*, Fiona in *Brigadoon*, and Georgie in *The Full Monty*, along with Constance in *The Three Musketeers* at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Milly in *Seven Brides for Seven Brothers* at Drury Lane Oakbrook.[3](https://chicago.suntimes.com/2015/11/24/18395884/another-mueller-sister-steps-into-beautiful-role) • [6](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Abby-Mueller/) Other regional roles include Fantine in *Les Misérables*, Ellen in *Miss Saigon*, the Narrator in *Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat*, Catherine in *Pippin* at the Utah Shakespearean Festival, and [Abigail Adams](https://www.edgepedia.org/abigail-adams) in *1776* at the [American Conservatory Theater](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-conservatory-theater) and Asolo Rep.[6](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Abby-Mueller/)
## Broadway
**Kinky Boots.** Mueller made her Broadway debut in the original production of *Kinky Boots* in December 2013 as a swing, also covering the roles of Pat, Trish, and the Milan Stage Manager.[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/abby-mueller-495889) She has described the run as the longest she had done anything at that point in her career.[5](https://playbill.com/article/meet-the-muellers-jessie-matthew-abby-and-andrew-on-sibling-rivalry-and-show-biz-com-347839)
**Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.** In 2015 she originated the role of Carole King in the show's first national tour, taking over a role her younger sister Jessie had originated on Broadway and for which Jessie won the 2014 Tony Award.[3](https://chicago.suntimes.com/2015/11/24/18395884/another-mueller-sister-steps-into-beautiful-role) • [7](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/181930/beautiful-tour-star-abby-mueller-on-her-sister-jessies-advice-performing-with-carole-king/) She returned to the Broadway production as a replacement from March 7 to September 10, 2017, and again from August 7 to December 30, 2018.[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/abby-mueller-495889) During the 2018 stint she and the company performed a medley of "On Broadway," "[(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman](https://www.edgepedia.org/you-make-me-feel-like-a-natural-woman)," and "I Feel the Earth Move" on *America's Got Talent* in August 2018.[8](https://playbill.com/article/watch-broadways-abby-mueller-and-the-cast-of-beautiful-perform-on-americas-got-talent) In interviews she described the challenge of playing a living legend, saying she tried to tell King's story "with the love and honesty that she's infused into her music."[9](https://www.theatermania.com/news/5-questions-with-beautiful-the-carole-king-musical-star-abby-mueller_87065/)
**Six.** Mueller played Jane Seymour in the Chicago Shakespeare Theater production of *Six*, the Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss musical about the six wives of [Henry VIII](https://www.edgepedia.org/henry-viii), in 2019, and carried the role to Broadway when the show began performances at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on February 13, 2020.[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/abby-mueller-495889) • [10](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/198230/yas-queen-six-star-abby-mueller-is-broadwaycoms-next-vlogger/) The production was shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic weeks after opening and reopened in 2021; during the shutdown Mueller spoke with Weill Cornell Medicine experts about pandemic developments in a public webcast.[11](https://weillcornell.org/news/broadway-musical-star-abby-mueller-talks-with-weill-cornell-medicine-experts-about-the-latest) She played the role on Broadway through August 7, 2022, and shared the 2022 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble with the show's cast.[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/abby-mueller-495889) Ahead of the Broadway opening she led "Yas, Queen!", a Broadway.com backstage vlog that ran weekly for eight weeks.[10](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/198230/yas-queen-six-star-abby-mueller-is-broadwaycoms-next-vlogger/)
## Other work
Her [Off-Broadway](https://www.edgepedia.org/off-broadway) credits include *A Minister's Wife* at Lincoln Center Theater and the pre-Broadway workshop of *School of Rock* at the Gramercy Theatre.[6](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Abby-Mueller/) On television she has appeared on NBC's *America's Got Talent* and ABC's *The Today Show* with *Beautiful* company members, and she voiced the short film *When You Need Them* in 2011.[6](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Abby-Mueller/) • [12](https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/bww-flashback-how-abby-mueller-got-her-crown-in-six-20200312) Her screen credits include guest roles as Francine Baker in *The Equalizer*, Helene Brooks in *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*, and a Female Soloist in *Evil*.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4548083/) In April 2024 she made her New York solo concert debut at 54 Below, performing April 26 and 27.[6](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Abby-Mueller/) She also works as a voiceover artist and offers one-on-one coaching sessions and meet-and-greets through artist platforms.[13](https://reflectandrejoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/gala_2024_catalog_digi-pages.pdf) • [14](https://thebroadwayvlogs.com/work-with-artists)
## References
1. [Abby Mueller – Broadway Cast & Staff, IBDB](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/abby-mueller-495889)
2. [Abby Mueller – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4548083/bio/)
3. [Another Mueller sister steps into 'Beautiful' role, Chicago Sun-Times](https://chicago.suntimes.com/2015/11/24/18395884/another-mueller-sister-steps-into-beautiful-role)
4. [Abby Mueller (I), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4548083/)
5. [Meet the Muellers! Jessie, Matthew, Abby and Andrew on Sibling Rivalry and Show Biz, Playbill](https://playbill.com/article/meet-the-muellers-jessie-matthew-abby-and-andrew-on-sibling-rivalry-and-show-biz-com-347839)
6. [Abby Mueller (Actor) – Broadway & Theatre Credits, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Abby-Mueller/)
7. [Beautiful Tour Star Abby Mueller on Her Sister Jessie's Advice & Performing with Carole King, Broadway.com](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/181930/beautiful-tour-star-abby-mueller-on-her-sister-jessies-advice-performing-with-carole-king/)
8. [Watch Broadway's Abby Mueller and the Cast of Beautiful Perform on America's Got Talent, Playbill](https://playbill.com/article/watch-broadways-abby-mueller-and-the-cast-of-beautiful-perform-on-americas-got-talent)
9. [5 Questions With Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Star Abby Mueller, TheaterMania](https://www.theatermania.com/news/5-questions-with-beautiful-the-carole-king-musical-star-abby-mueller_87065/)
10. [Yas, Queen! Six Star Abby Mueller Is Broadway.com's Next Vlogger, Broadway.com](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/198230/yas-queen-six-star-abby-mueller-is-broadwaycoms-next-vlogger/)
11. [Broadway musical star Abby Mueller talks with Weill Cornell Medicine experts about the latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic, Weill Cornell Medicine](https://weillcornell.org/news/broadway-musical-star-abby-mueller-talks-with-weill-cornell-medicine-experts-about-the-latest)
12. [BWW Flashback: How Abby Mueller Got Her Crown in SIX, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/bww-flashback-how-abby-mueller-got-her-crown-in-six-20200312)
13. [Gala 2024 catalog, Reflect and Rejoice](https://reflectandrejoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/gala_2024_catalog_digi-pages.pdf)
14. [Work With Artists – The Broadway Vlogs](https://thebroadwayvlogs.com/work-with-artists)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Theater and dance › Stage practitioners and craft › Acting: theory, technique, and teachers › Acting coaches and training biographies › Acting coaches to the profession and celebrity coaching*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license