At 27, Sarah Pidgeon is nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Play at the 2024 Tony Awards for her role in Stereophonic, her debut in live theater. Stereophonic has received 13 nominations, including Best Play, setting a new record for the most nominations ever for a play. Previously, this record was held by Jeremy O. Harris's Slave Play, which had 10 nominations.
Featuring music composed by Arcade Fire's Will Butler, Stereophonic centers on a fictional rock band poised for their big break as they record a new album in late '70s Sausalito, California. The escalating tensions among the band members, both in the studio and in their personal lives, have led to comparisons with Fleetwood Mac during their Rumours era, as well as the fictional band Daisy Jones & The Six.
Pidgeon portrays the vocalist Diana, and although the story is set in a completely different decade, Pidgeon has discovered parallels between herself and her character.
"This woman is really at the crossroads of many decisions and new experiences. The one person who is supposed to support her inadvertently undermines her, making things even harder," she shared with Rolling Stone earlier this month. "At times, it feels like Diana has my skin and my voice, but not my heart. After a shower, it's over. But there are nights when it feels too real, and I just need my mom."
Viewing Diana's experience through a modern lens presented some challenges. "The hardest part was separating my 2024 perspective from that of a woman in the 1970s," Pidgeon told The Cut in May, stressing that the character "is not a Frankenstein of Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Nicks."
"There were moments when I questioned her choices, wondering why she stayed in this relationship," she continued. "But then my co-star Juliana [Canfield] and I had a conversation that really stuck with me. Diana wouldn't have known who Gloria Steinem was. It's not our place to judge these women for their decisions based on our own experiences. The audience can form their own opinions."
Before captivating audiences on Broadway, Sophia Pidgeon established herself on streaming platforms with starring roles in critically acclaimed series. She graced our screens in Prime Video's gripping survival drama "The Wilds" and Hulu's poignant "Tiny Beautiful Things."
Reflecting on the transition from screen to stage, Pidgeon highlighted the key differences in a recent interview with The Cut. "On set, filming a scene involves a couple of hours to capture numerous takes, followed by an editing process that shapes the final product," she explained. "Theater, however, offers a unique immediacy. There are nights where I finish a performance and think, 'That wasn't my best.' But the beauty lies in the chance to do it all again the very next night, constantly refining my portrayal."
She auditioned twice for 'Stereophonic'
Pidgeon first auditioned for her role before the COVID shutdown in 2020 and later had the chance to return to the project once restrictions eased.
Reflecting on the experience, she shared with Rolling Stone, "I watched my audition tape and was grateful for the opportunity to redo it because I was three years younger and had not yet experienced a global pandemic."
In another interview with Vogue, Pidgeon mentioned that this time allowed her to develop a deeper connection with her character. "There were aspects of her story that resonated more clearly with my own life," she elaborated.
Pidgeon is a commanding presence on stage, though her focus has never been solely on music. "I played classical piano when I was young. Around age 13, I idolized Norah Jones. But I never really advanced with piano," she explained to The Cut. "It's not that I haven't taken singing lessons. When I was 15, my mom and I would drive from Birmingham to Ann Arbor for lessons, and I was obsessed with Adele's 21."
Adele was a significant influence on Pidgeon during that time. "I was also learning to drive. I'd have my permit, and I'd sing 'Rolling in the Deep,' then my mom would hear me belt out a musical theater song for an hour," she remembered.