Solea Pfeiffer
Born (1994-09-22) September 22, 1994 (age 29)
Zimbabwe
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active2016–present

Solea Pfeiffer is a Zimbabwe-born American actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Eliza Hamilton in the first national tour of Hamilton, which she landed after performing as Maria in West Side Story at the Hollywood Bowl.[1] Two years later, she starred in the New York City Center's production of Evita. In 2023, she joined the Broadway cast of Hadestown as Eurydice.[2]

Life and career

Pfeiffer was born in Zimbabwe and grew up in Seattle, Washington.[3] Her mother is African-American, and was adopted and raised in Boston, while her father is white. Her maternal grandfather was former congressman Ron Dellums; she and her mother were able to connect with him a year before he died.[4] Her parents are anthropologists at the University of Washington.[3] Pfeiffer graduated from University of Michigan with a BFA and attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.[5]

Pfeiffer began her interest in music by taking violin lessons at four years old.[3] She attended theater camps and performed in her middle and high school productions.[3]

At 21 years old, Pfeiffer was selected by Gustavo Dudamel to perform as Maria in West Side Story at the Hollywood Bowl after the Los Angeles Philharmonic's artistic team showed him YouTube videos of her performing.[3]

A year later, she made her national tour debut as Eliza Hamilton in the Angelica Company of Hamilton, earning positive reviews.[6][7][8]

In 2019, Pfeiffer shared the role of Eva Perón with Maia Reficco in the New York City Center's production of Evita, Pfeiffer playing Perón from age 20–33.[9] Pfeiffer earned positive reviews for her performance.[10][11]

Credits

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2017 Curb Your Enthusiasm Eliza Hamilton Episode: "The Shucker"
2018 Scandal Meghan Seeley Episode: "The List"
2019 The Good Fight Enid Blyton Episode: "The One Inspired by Roy Cohn"
2022 A Jazzman's Blues[12] Leanne Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture

Stage

Year(s) Production Role Location Category
2016 Guys and Dolls Sarah Brown Power Center for the Performing Arts Ann Arbor, Michigan[13]
West Side Story Maria Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles[3]
Sunday in the Park with George Celeste #1 / A Waitress New York City Center Off-Broadway[14]
2017 Hamilton Eliza Hamilton - US Tour[6]
Sondheim on Sondheim Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles[15]
2018 Songs for a New World New York City Center Off-Broadway[16]
2019 Camelot Guenevere Lincoln Center Theater Benefit Concert[17]
Almost Famous Penny Lane The Old Globe San Diego[18]
The Light in the Piazza Clara Johnson Civic Opera House Chicago[19]
Evita Eva Perón, age 20-33 New York City Center Off-Broadway[10]
2020 Gun & Powder Mary Clarke Signature Theatre Arlington, VA[20]
2021 Simply Sondheim Signature Theatre online[21]
2022–2023 Almost Famous Penny Lane Bernard B. Jacobs Theater Broadway[22]
2022 Chess Svetlana Sergievsky Broadhurst Theatre Benefit Concert[23]
2023 Hamlet Ophelia Delacorte Theater Shakespeare in the Park
2023-2024 Hadestown Eurydice Walter Kerr Theater Broadway
2024 Galileo Virginia Berkeley Repertory Theatre Regional

References

  1. ^ "Solea Pfeiffer Biography on BroadwayWorld". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  2. ^ "Solea Pfeiffer theatre profile". www.abouttheartists.com. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Womack, Catherine (2016-07-07). "Q&A: Her first job out of college: the lead in 'West Side Story' at the Hollywood Bowl". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  4. ^ McClintok, Pamela (September 17, 2022). "Next Big Thing: Solea Pfeiffer on 'A Jazzman's Blues' and "Getting To Represent Who I Am" on Screen". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  5. ^ "Solea Pfeiffer". Lincoln Center Theater. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  6. ^ a b Snetiker, Marc (2017-08-17). "'Hamilton' in Los Angeles Showcases New Knockout Performances". EW.com. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
  7. ^ McNulty, Charles (2017-08-17). "Review: 'Hamilton' brings its tale of American idealism to L.A. at a moment when it's needed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
  8. ^ D'Souza, Karen (2017-03-24). "Review: 'Hamilton' marches into San Francisco — What's the verdict?". The Mercury News. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
  9. ^ McPhee, Ryan (2019-09-04). "Solea Pfeiffer and Maia Reficco to Split Title Role in New York City Center's Evita". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  10. ^ a b Smith, Kyle (2019-11-20). "A Triumphant New Evita". National Review. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
  11. ^ Green, Jesse (2019-11-15). "Review: An 'Evita' Newly Tailored for Our Time". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
  12. ^ Glen, Kenny (2022-09-23). "A Jazzman's Blues, movie review". Playbill. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  13. ^ Guys and Dolls Michigan
  14. ^ Gans, Andrew (2016-10-04). "All-Star Supporting Cast Joins Jake Gyllenhaal-Annaleigh Ashford Sunday in the Park". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
  15. ^ Gans, Andrew (2017-07-23). "Star-Studded Sondheim on Sondheim Hollywood Bowl Concert Presented July 23". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
  16. ^ McPhee, Ryan (2018-05-22). "Shoshana Bean, Mykal Kilgore, and Solea Pfeiffer to Star in Encores! Off-Center Songs for a New World". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  17. ^ Camelot Stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Solea Pfeiffer, and More Have a Royal Celebration
  18. ^ Peikert, Mark (2019-09-26). "See Colin Donnell, Solea Pfeiffer, and More in the Almost Famous World Premiere". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
  19. ^ Jones, Chris. "Review: 'The Light in the Piazza' at Lyric Opera is exquisite, starring Renée Fleming". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
  20. ^ Franklin, Marc J. (2020-02-06). "A Look at Hamilton's Solea Pfeiffer, Emmy Raver-Lampman, and More in New Musical Gun & Powder". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
  21. ^ Gans, Andrew (2021-02-02). "Signature's Simply Sondheim, Starring Norm Lewis, Solea Pfeiffer, Conrad Ricamora, Emily Skinner, Begins February 2". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  22. ^ Evans, Greg (2022-06-02). "'Almost Famous' Musical Sets Broadway Opening, Announces Cast". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
  23. ^ Rabinowitz, Chloe. "Darren Criss, Lena Hall, Ramin Karimloo & Solea Pfeiffer to Star in CHESS Benefit Concert". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-12-15.

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