Becky arrived in NYC September 1987. Her first week, she booked KISMET at the infamous Equity Library Theater. Within her first year, she did PROMISES PROMISES with “Greg Brady,” the National Tour of DROOD, Laurey in OKLAHOMA! at Minnesota Opera (with Merwin Foard, J.K. Simmons, Alix Korey, Lara Teeter, and Bruce Adler,) and was Hope in the 1st National Tour of ANYTHING GOES (fave review: “[…] in the bland role of HH, Rebecca Baxter is anything but bland.”) starring Leslie Uggams. The following year (1989) brought her first Broadway show offer MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, the beautiful role of Magnolia in SHOW BOAT produced by Paper Mill Playhouse for PBS’ Great Performances, Lucy in Jekyll & Hyde starring John Cullum (NY Times: “[…] the performances are on a generally high professional level with Rebecca Baxter giving an effecting dimension to Lucy.”) and the National Tour of Ken Hill’s THE PHANTOM of the OPERA.

Favorite roles include the Beggar Woman (also Johanna with George Hearn/Judy Kaye), Jean Stapleton’s step-daughter Cinderella (NYCO), Cunegonde (Helen Hayes nomination) “The role demands a voice that blends musical theatre and opera technique into an extraordinary range. Baxter is nigh on to perfect. She sings, she dances, and she acts — and does all very well, indeed. She is particularly effective in the Turkish Palace […] when she makes the difficult aria, “Glitter and Be Gay” seem a breeze to perform. It’s not.”, THE MUSIC MAN at Chautauqua Opera with her daughters living in River City, too, Joe Piscopo’s Muriel in SCOUNDRELS (nice NY Times mention), and a very cool singing Greek Chorus member in ION at Shakespeare Theatre Co. (“[…] but the play truly comes alive at the entrance of the Chorus. These 5 women navigate with seeming ease both the interplay between the Chorus and the other characters […] Each woman has created a distinct character within the unity of the Chorus, and it is a pure delight to watch them perform.”).

The New York Times said of her, “Rebecca Baxter’s Laurey isn’t just another pretty voice. No simple ingenue, Miss Baxter gives a real performance, but don’t discount vocal prettiness and purity. The ethereal pianissimi Miss Baxter floats during “Out of My Dreams” is worth all of Curly’s worldly possessions.”

No longer the ingenue, Becky is having the time of her life as a character actress/leading lady. She is so grateful to Avalon Artists Group for recognizing her versatility, adores her family and friends who’ve never stopped encouraging her to use her gifts, and is finally listening to her mom.