From Stage to Screen and Back Again, Sarah Hyland's Musical Moments
By: Matt Tamanini Oct. 10, 2015
The majority of Americans know Sarah Hyland as Haley, the super-hot oldest daughter of Phil and Claire Dunphy on ABC's hit comedy MODERN FAMILY. But, we theatre fans remember her as young Jackie Bouvier (who would grow to become a Kennedy) in the Tony-winning Original Broadway production of GREY GARDENS. Of course, the most astute amongst us will point out that she played Molly, the littlest orphan, in the 1999 TV movie version of ANNIE that starred Victor Garber, Audra McDonald, Kathy Bates, Alan Cumming, Kristin Chenoweth, and more.
While in the subsequent years she has gone on to win multiple Screen Actors Guild Awards as part of MODERN FAMILY's fast, she has never strayed too far from her musical theatre roots, singing in concerts, at benefits, as well as in Los Angeles based musicals.
So to save you from having to go down the "sarah hyland singing" rabbit hole all by yourself, I've put together some of this talented stars greatest hits. And, while we hope that MODERN FAMILY runs for many more years, here's to hoping Sarah finds her way back to Broadway soon. After watching all of the videos, tell us what musical theatre role you would like to see Sarah tackle on the Great White Way by using #HylandOnBroadway on Twitter.
GREY GARDENS 2006-2007
As I mentioned before, Sarah made her Broadway debut in the original cast of Grey Gardens as "Jackie," a role she stuck with from reading to Off-Broadway to Broadway. While there doesn't seem to be any readily available (non-bootlegged) video of her in the role, there are a few pictures:
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus
While she doesn't sing in this clip, you can see Sarah make a brief appearance along with the rest of the GREY GARDENS cast at a CD signing at the now extinct Virgin Megastore.
ANNIE 1999
Ok, now for the singing; the ANNIE TV movie came out when Sarah was just nine years old, and even with the unkempt hair and the tattered orphan dress, her big eyes and bigger smile are unmistakable. Here she is with her orphan castmates singing and dancing to "You're Never Fully Dressed without a Smile:"
Is that not enough ANNIE for you? Check out Sarah and the rest of the kids singing "It's a Hard Knock Life."
MODERN FAMILY 2009-present
After ANNIE and GREY GARDENS, Sarah of course found fame on MODERN FAMILY, and while it doesn't happen often, they do occasionally let her sing on the show. For example, here she is singing a bit from "Midnight Train to Georgia."
KERRIGAN-LOWDERMILK Concert 2013
While her musical projects slowed down during the early years of MODERN FAMILY, Sarah has slowly started singing more recently. In 2013, she took part in a concert of songs written by musical theatre team Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk. In the song "Freedom" from THE UNAUTHORIZED AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SAMANTHA BROWN, Sarah duets with Melissa Benoist (GLEE, SUPERGIRL) about a roadtrip for two unlikely best-friends. Coincidently, Sarah also sang the song at her Professional Performing Arts School's senior showcase five years earlier.
Sarah has some other great moments from the Kerrigan and Lowdermilk show, including her rendition of the song "Say the Word," also from SAMANTHA BROWN, and everyone's favorite Youtube celebrity, Miranda Sings, gives Sarah and Melissa one of her famous singing lessons.
HAIR 2014
While California might not have Broadway, they do have a pretty incredible musical theatre tradition at the Hollywood Bowl. Every summer for over a decade, big name stars assemble to put on a staged concert of a beloved musical; from Jessica Biel as Sarah Brown in GUYS AND DOLLS to Vanessa Hudgens as Mimi in RENT to Christian Slater in this summer's SPAMALOT.
Last summer Sarah joined Kristen Bell, Ben Walker, Jonah Platt, Hunter Parrish, Amber Riley, Jenna Ushkowitz, Kevin Chamberlin, and Sheila from the HAIR movie Beverly D'Angelo in the three-night run.
Check out Sarah adorably singing "Frank Mills," in which her character, the not too bright Chrissy, recounts missing her chance at love:
There are a ton of other videos online from this concert, and all of them are worth watching, so check them out.
THE UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL PARODY OF SCREAM 2014
With her musical juices flowing again, Sarah got back on stage a few months after HAIR to show off her vocal chops by playing Sidney in THE UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL PARODY OF SCREAM at the Rockwell Table and Stage. Again opposite Jonah Platt, she belts out a number of classic rock favorites, including "Knock, Knock, Knockin' on Heaven's Door:"
After you've finished watching all of Sarah's videos on my list, you really should check out the full SCREAM playlist. It's really funny, and has some great vocalists, including one of my earliest crushes Christine Lakin from the TV show STEP BY STEP.
Kindred Foundation for Adoption Fundraiser 2015
We will finish our look at Sarah Hyland musical performances with one from earlier this year. At a fundraiser for the Kindred Foundation for Adoption, Sarah and her HAIR co-star Jenna Ushkowitz (THE KING & I, SPRING AWAKENING, GLEE) cover The Beatles classic "Let it Be," or at least until Sarah forgets the words. Don't worry though, after a brief, profane outburst, she recovers very nicely:
So, which performance is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below, or on Twitter @BWWMatt. Also, and don't forget to let us know what musical theatre role you would want to see Sarah play on Broadway by using the Twitter hashtag #HylandOnBroadway. You never know, perhaps the Musical Theatre Gods (or producers) will be listening.
If you want to follow along with my "366 in 366" articles, you can check out #BWW366in366 on Twitter. Also, don't forget to follow @BWWTVWorld on Twitter and Like us on Facebook for all of the latest TV news, reviews, and recaps.
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