Sophie Hayden

Sophie Hayden
Born (1954-02-23) February 23, 1954 (age 70)
Miami, Florida[1]
EducationNorthwestern University
OccupationActress

Sophie Hayden (born February 23, 1954, as Sophie Ann Schwab)[2][1] is an American actress. She received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical and a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for her role as Rosabella in the Broadway theatre revival production of The Most Happy Fella in 1992.[1][3]

Life and career

Hayden was born on February 23, 1954, in Miami, Florida, to Sophie Schwab.[1][4] She grew up in North Java, New York,[5] and attended Attica Central High School.[2] Hayden was crowned as world champion baton twirler in 1971.[5] She attended Northwestern University and majored in acting.[6] She moved back to New York in 1976.[6]

In 1979, she performed in The King of Schnorrers on Broadway.[1] She was an original cast member of Barnum on Broadway in 1980, and appeared in a production of The Comedy of Errors at Vivian Beaumont Theater in 1987.[2][1] In 1991, she joined the revival production of The Most Happy Fella during its run in East Haddam, Connecticut, as Rosabella.[2] The show delayed its transfer to Broadway until after Hayden, who was pregnant while it was staged in Connecticut, gave birth.[2] It opened in January 1992,[1] and closed in August 1992.[7] For her performance, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical.[1][3] In 1997, Hayden portrayed Edith Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank, a stage adaptation of Diary of a Young Girl, at Music Box Theatre.[8]

Personal

Hayden married in 1980 and they have one child together.[1] Shortly before starring in The Comedy of Errors, she changed her stage name to Sophie Hayden in honor of ballerina Melissa Hayden.[4]

Theatre credits

Broadway

Year Title Role Theater Ref.
1979 The King of Schnorrers [1]
1980 Barnum [1]
1987 The Comedy of Errors Adriana Vivian Beaumont Theater [1]
1992 The Most Happy Fella Rosabella [2]
1992 The Show-Off Amy Criterion Center Stage Right [9]
1997 The Diary of Anne Frank Edith Frank Music Box Theatre [8]

Off-Broadway

Year Title Role Theater Ref.
1986 Lies My Father Told Me Annie Jewish Repertory Theater [10]
1996 Nine Armenians Aunt Louise City Center Stage I [11]
2002 In the Absence of Spring Mama/Woman McGinn/Cazale Theater [12]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
1992 Tony Awards Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical The Most Happy Fella Nominated [1]
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical Nominated [3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Brady, James (August 2, 1992). "In Step With: Sophie Hayden". Newsday. Retrieved May 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Herko, Carl (March 29, 1992). "Star-struck on Broadway". The Buffalo News. Retrieved May 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c Feldberg, Robert (April 28, 1992). "'Jelly' tops the Drama Desk list". The Record. Retrieved May 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b Robertson, Nan (June 20, 1987). "A Twist on Shakespeare By a Twirling Champ". The New York Times. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Hurley, Joseph (June 16, 1987). "An Adriana Who Juggles and Twirls". Newsday. Retrieved May 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b Albrecht, Ernest (May 17, 1987). "Childhood talent clinches 'Barnum' role". The Central New Jersey Home News. Retrieved May 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "'Most Happy Fella' to Close". The New York Times. August 20, 1992. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  8. ^ a b le Sourd, Jacques (December 5, 1997). "'Anne Frank' without rose-colored glasses". The Journal News. Retrieved May 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Gussow, Mel (November 6, 1992). "Review/Theater; A Lout, but a Lout Who Means Well". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  10. ^ "Play is charming story about boy, grandfather". The Sentinel. June 20, 1986. Retrieved May 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Brantley, Ben (November 13, 1996). "When a Legacy of Massacre Rises Up to Haunt a Family". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  12. ^ Bruckner, D. J. R. (May 25, 2002). "Theater Review; Fleeing a Disaster While Waiting for One". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2023.