Sophia Anne Caruso (born July 11, 2001) is an American actress and singer best known for originating the role of Lydia Deetz in the Broadway musical Beetlejuice, a role for which she won a Theatre World Award. She also portrays Sophie in The School for Good and Evil, in 2022. Other theatre credits include Girl in Lazarus (2015-17) and Iris in The Nether (2015).
Sophia Anne Caruso | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 11, 2001 Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer, dancer |
| Years active | 2011–present |
Early life
editCaruso was born on July 11, 2001[1] in Spokane, Washington, to Steve Caruso, a former “club pro” golf professional, and Deena Caruso, who owned several clothing and jewelry stores. She is the youngest of three children.[2] Caruso was involved in the local Spokane Children's Theatre, starting at age 7, before transitioning to theatre at Spokane Civic Theatre and Interplayers Professional Theatre.[3][2] Caruso made her professional debut in 2011 at age nine when she played Helen Keller in the Interplayers Professional Theatre production of The Miracle Worker in Spokane.[4]
Caruso’s final role in Spokane was as Tina Denmark in Ruthless! The Musical at Interplayers in June 2012. However, it never opened because actor David Gigler collapsed on stage during rehearsal just days before opening and died.[3]
In 2012, she and her family relocated to New York so that Caruso could pursue acting professionally.[3]
Career
editTheatre
editIn 2014, Caruso was able to reprise her role as Tina Denmark in Ruthless! The Musical for a limited run at the Triad Theatre. The next month, she originated the role of Charlotte van Gotheem in Little Dancer at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.[5]
In 2015, Caruso appeared in the off-Broadway play The Nether at the MCC Theater, for which she received a Lucille Lortel nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play.[6][7] Later that year, Caruso originated the role of "Girl" in David Bowie's musical Lazarus at New York Theatre Workshop in Manhattan.[8]
She then made her Broadway debut as The Girl in Blackbird at the Belasco Theatre.[9] Later that year, she appeared in the ensemble of the Encores! staged concert production of Runaways at New York City Center.[10] In October 2016, she reprised her role as "Girl" in London in the King's Cross Theatre production of Lazarus for which she received a WhatsOnStage Award nomination for "Best Supporting Actress in a Musical".[11][12]
In 2017, Caruso originated the role of Lydia Deetz in a workshop of the musical Beetlejuice, reprising the role in the musical's tryout at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C., before starring in the Broadway production beginning in March 2019.[13] She won a Theatre World Award for the role.[14] Caruso left the show abruptly on February 19, 2020, using her contractual out in order to pursue work in film and television.[15]
Music
editCaruso's debut single "Toys" was released on May 22, 2020. The song was produced by Henry Hey, who worked with Caruso as the musical director of Lazarus, and Nick Littlemore of Empire of the Sun.[16] She plans to release an EP.[17] In July 2022, Caruso released another single, "Snow & Ice".[18]
Film
editCaruso was cast to star alongside Sofia Wylie as Sophie in the Netflix fantasy film The School for Good and Evil, an adaptation of the book series by Soman Chainani.[19][20]
Acting credits
editTheatre
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | The Miracle Worker | Helen Keller | Interplayers Theatre, Spokane |
| 2013 | Secondhand Lions: A New Musical | Jane | 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle |
| 2014 | Little Dancer | Charlotte Van Goethem | Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. |
| 2014 | Ruthless! | Tina Denmark | Triad Theatre, New York |
| 2015 | The Nether | Iris | MCC Theater, New York City |
| 2015–16 | Lazarus | Newton's Muse | New York Theatre Workshop |
| 2016 | Runaways | Ensemble | New York City Center |
| 2016 | Blackbird | The Girl | Belasco Theatre, Broadway |
| 2016–17 | Lazarus | Newton's Muse | King's Cross Theatre, London |
| 2018 | Beetlejuice | Lydia Deetz | National Theatre, Washington, D.C. |
| 2019–2020 | Winter Garden Theatre, Broadway | ||
| 2023 | Grey House | Marlow | Lyceum Theatre, Broadway |
Film
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Jack of the Red Hearts | Coke |
| 2016 | 37 | Lisa[21] |
| 2022 | The School for Good and Evil | Sophie |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Sound of Music Live! | Brigitta von Trapp | Television special |
| Celebrity Ghost Stories | Young Jillian Barberie | Episode: "Jillian Barberie/Dan Cortese/Bruce Boxleitner"[22] | |
| Smash | Young Norma Jean | Episode: "The Phenomenon" | |
| 2018 | Strangers | Lily | Episode: "The Big (Gr)apple" |
| 2019 | Evil | Emma | Episode: "7 Swans a Singin" |
Discography
edit- Singles
- Theatre albums
- Lazarus Original Cast Recording (2016)[24]
- Beetlejuice Original Broadway Cast Recording (2019)[25]
- The Liz Swados Project (2020)[26]
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Lucille Lortel Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | The Nether | Nominated |
| 2016 | Lucille Lortel Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical | Lazarus | Nominated |
| 2016 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical | Nominated | |
| 2016 | WhatsOnStage Award | Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | Nominated | |
| 2019 | Theatre World Award | Outstanding New York City Stage Debut Performance | Beetlejuice | Won |
| 2020 | Clive Barnes Award | Theater Artist Award | Nominated [27] | |
| 2024 | Broadway.com Audience Award | Favorite Featured Actress in a Play | Grey House | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ "Sophia Anne Caruso". Playbill.
- ^ a b Soloski, Alexis (October 12, 2018). "She's 17, Sardonic and Ready to Sing in 'Beetlejuice'". The New York Times. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
- ^ a b c Lamberson, Carolyn (April 21, 2019). "It's showtime! Sophia Anne Caruso brings 'Beetlejuice' to Broadway". The Spokesman-Review.
- ^ "TWI-NY Talk: Sophia Anne Caruso". This Week in New York. April 25, 2016.
- ^ "Karen Ziemba, Tiler Peck & More to Join Rebecca Luker & Boyd Gaines in LITTLE DANCER at Kennedy Center; Full Cast Announced". BroadwayWorld. August 26, 2014.
- ^ "2015 Nominees". Lucille Lortel Awards. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
- ^ Levitt, Hayley (March 18, 2015). "No More Kiddie Stuff for The Nether's Young Star Sophia Anne Caruso". TheaterMania.
- ^ "Sophie Anne Caruso". lazarusmusical.com.
- ^ "Blackbird". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
- ^ Clement, Olivia (July 6, 2016). "Runaways Begins Tonight at Encores!". Playbill.
- ^ Simoes, Monica (October 31, 2016). "First Look at London Premiere of David Bowie's Lazarus". Playbill. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ Bowie-Sell, Daisy (1 December 2016). "Shortlist for the 17th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards announced". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ McPhee, Ryan (16 August 2018). "Alex Brightman and Sophia Anne Caruso to Star in Beetlejuice Musical World Premiere". Playbill.
- ^ Papadatos, Markos (May 5, 2019). "Sophia Anne Caruso wins Theatre World Award for 'Beetlejuice'". Digital Journal.
- ^ Haring, Bruce (February 22, 2020). "Broadway's 'Beetlejuice' Sees Sophia Anne Caruso Abruptly Exit Production". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
- ^ a b @sophiaannecaruso (May 7, 2020). "Toys coming to your ears on May 22nd. Made with my pals @nick_littlemore and @heyness". Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2020 – via Instagram.
- ^ Milton, Hailee (May 22, 2020). "V PREMIERE: Sophia Anne Caruso Makes a Daring Debut". V Magazine. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
- ^ a b Brunner, Raven (July 7, 2022). "Listen to Sophia Anne Caruso's New Single 'Snow & Ice'". Playbill. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ "Sophia Anne Caruso to Star in Netflix's THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL". Broadway World. December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
- ^ Meyer, Dan (December 21, 2020). "Sophia Anne Caruso and Sofia Wylie Cast in The School for Good and Evil". Playbill. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
- ^ "37 (2016)". IMDb.com. Internet Movie Database.
- ^ "Celebrity Ghost Stories Season 5, episode 1; October 19, 2013". IMDb.com. Internet Movie Database.
- ^ Wild, Stephi (February 12, 2021). "LISTEN: Sophia Anne Caruso Releases New Single 'Goodbye'". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ Greene, Andy (October 20, 2016). "David Bowie's Parting Gift: Inside New 'Lazarus' Soundtrack". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ Clarke, David (June 19, 2019). "BWW Album Review: BEETLEJUICE (Original Broadway Cast Recording) is a Rib-Tickling Treat". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 22, 2020). "Amber Gray, Michael R. Jackson, Sophia Anne Caruso, More Sing on Elizabeth Swados Tribute Album, Out May 22". Playbill. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ Meyer, Dan (February 25, 2020). "Celia Rose Gooding, Sophia Anne Caruso, More Named Finalists for the Clive Barnes Awards". Playbill. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
