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Saycon Sengbloh

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BIO

Sengbloh has starred in a number of Broadway musicals, including Aida, Wicked (as a standby for Elphaba), The Color Purple, Hair, Fela!, Motown: The Musical, and Holler If Ya Hear Me. Her breakthrough came in 2015, when Danai Gurira cast Sengbloh in Eclipsed, a play about five Liberian women and their tale of survival near the end of the Second Liberian Civil War. It became the first play with an all-black and female creative cast and team to premiere on Broadway. Eclipsed opened Off-Broadway at The Public Theater in October 2015 with positive reviews and ran until November 2015. The following year, it transferred to Broadway, premiering at the John Golden Theatre with an opening on March 6, 2016. Her performance received positive reviews from critics. She won Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for original Off-Broadway production, and Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play nomination for Broadway production.



Sengbloh made her screen debut playing opposite Kimberly Elise in the 1997 television film The Ditchdigger's Daughters. In 1999, she made her big screen debut appearing in the independent drama film Funny Valentines starring Alfre Woodard. She later played small parts in films Across the Universe and American Gangster. She also made guest appearances on television series including Law & Order and The Good Wife.

In 2017, Sengbloh was cast in a recurring role as Angela Webster for the sixth season of Shonda Rhimes' political drama Scandal. She played the role of Roberta in the 2018 historical drama film Ask for Jane. In 2021, she starred opposite Jennifer Hudson in the biographical drama film Respect playing Erma Franklin, the elder sister of Aretha Franklin. In 2021, it was announced that she would play the mother in the reboot of the TV series, "The Wonder Years."

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

The Secret Life of Bees The Secret Life of Bees
[Off-Broadway]
Atlantic Theatre Company Off-Broadway World Premiere, 2019
Rosaleen
The Red Letter Plays: In the Blood The Red Letter Plays: In the Blood
[Off-Broadway]
Signature Theatre Production, 2017
Performer
Merrily We Roll Along Merrily We Roll Along
[Los Angeles]
Wallis Annenberg Center Production, 2016
Gussie Carnegie
Eclipsed Eclipsed
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2016
Helena
Eclipsed Eclipsed
[Off-Broadway]
Public Theatre Original Off-Broadway Production, 2015
Helena
Holler If Ya Hear Me Holler If Ya Hear Me
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2014
Corinne
Motown the Musical Motown the Musical
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2013
Ensemble
Hurt Village Hurt Village
[Off-Broadway]
Signature Theatre Production, 2012
Performer
Fela! Fela!
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2009
Sandra
Hair Hair
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2009
Abraham Lincoln
Member of the Tribe
Dionne (Understudy)
Hair Hair
[Off-Broadway]
Shakespeare In The Park Revival, 2008
Tribe
White Boys Trio
The Color Purple The Color Purple
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2005
Nettie (Understudy) [Replacement]
Celie (Understudy) [Replacement]
Nettie (Understudy) [Replacement]
Celie (Understudy) [Replacement]
Wicked Wicked
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2003
Elphaba (Standby) [Replacement]
Aida Aida
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2000
Aida [Replacement]
Aida [Replacement]
Aida (Standby) [Replacement]

Movies

Funny Valentines
[ 1999 ] Young Dearie B.
Across the Universe
[ 2007 ] Sadie's Singer
American Gangster
[ 2007 ] Tango's Woman
Double Play
[ 2017 ] Nora
Ask for Jane
[ 2018 ] Roberta
A Shot Through the Wall
[ 2020 ] Community Organizer
Respect
[ 2021 ] Erma Franklin

TV Shows

In the Dark
Jules Becker
The Wonder Years
Lillian Williams

Awards and Nominations

Drama Desk Awards - 2020 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Saycon Sengbloh, The Secret Life of Bees


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2020 - Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical

Saycon Sengbloh, The Secret Life of Bees


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2016 - Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play

Saycon Sengbloh, Eclipsed

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2016 - Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play

Saycon Sengbloh, Eclipsed

Tony Awards - 2016 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Saycon Sengbloh, Eclipsed

Videos

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News


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Photos: First Look at Theatre Aspen's Star-Studded LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE

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Sandy Duncan, Andrea McArdle, Krysta Rodriguez & More to Star in LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT Photo
Sandy Duncan, Andrea McArdle, Krysta Rodriguez & More to Star in LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE at Theatre Aspen

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Photos: On the Red Carpet for WICKED's 20th Anniversary Photo
Photos: On the Red Carpet for WICKED's 20th Anniversary

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Sheryl Lee Ralph Sets Partial Lineup for ¿DIVAS Simply Singing! With Wayne Brady, Cynthia Erivo & More

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Photos: Taraji P. Henson, Noah Centineo & More Arrive on the Red Carpet for JAJA's AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING

Check out photos from the opening night red carpet of Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, written by Jocelyn Bioh.
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THE GREEN ROOM 42 will present Liz McCartney, the celebrated stage veteran currently appearing in the Broadway revival of Funny Girl, for two performances on Sunday, June 25 at 9:30 PM and Sunday, July 2 at 7:00 PM.
Lady Bunny's DON'T BRING THE KIDS Extended at The Green Room 42 Photo
Lady Bunny's DON'T BRING THE KIDS Extended at The Green Room 42

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Lisa Vroman to Present ON INGENUE... INGE-NOT-SO-NEW! at The Green Room 42 in May

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Saycon Sengbloh been in?

Saycon Sengbloh has appeared on Broadway in 8 shows.

How many West End shows has Saycon Sengbloh been in?

Saycon Sengbloh has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Saycon Sengbloh been nominated for?

Saycon Sengbloh has received several nominations for her performances. She was nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for The Secret Life of Bees. Additionally, she received nominations for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for The Secret Life of Bees. In the category of Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, she was nominated at both the Drama Desk Awards and the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Eclipsed. Furthermore, she was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play at the Tony Awards for her role in Eclipsed.

What awards has Saycon Sengbloh won?

Saycon Sengbloh has won the Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical award at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for The Secret Life of Bees, as well as the Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play award at the Drama Desk Awards for Eclipsed.

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