Beth Fowler

Elizabeth Fowler
Fowler at the Drama League Benefit Gala Honoring Angela Lansbury, February 8, 2010
Born	Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Alma mater	Caldwell University
Occupation(s)	Actress, singer
Years active	1970–present
Spouse	Jack Witham

Beth Fowler is an American actress and singer, best known for her performances on Broadway and for her role as Sister Ingalls, on Orange Is the New Black . She is a two-time Tony Award nominee, ^[1] as well as two-time winner for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for her role as Sister Ingalls in the ensemble cast of Orange is the New Black .

Life and career

Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, ^[2] Fowler attended Caldwell University in New Jersey and was a music teacher for several years, as well as performing in community theater. ^{[3] [4]} Fowler attended Catholic schools and planned to enter a convent before becoming a music teacher.^{[ citation needed ]}

She had a fondness for Broadway theatre when she decided to audition for Gantry in 1970. She was signed for the chorus and as understudy for the lead, but the show closed on opening night. ^[5] She had better luck with her next outing, Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music . Additional Broadway credits include 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue ; Peter Pan ; Baby ; Take Me Along ; Teddy & Alice ; the 1989 revival of Sweeney Todd , in which she portrayed Mrs. Lovett; Beauty and the Beast , in which she originated the role of Mrs. Potts; Bells Are Ringing ; and The Boy from Oz , where she portrayed Peter Allen's mother Marion. ^[6]

Fowler has been nominated for two Tony Awards: as Best Featured Actress in a Musical for The Boy From Oz and as Best Actress in a Musical for Sweeney Todd, which garnered her a Drama Desk Award nomination as well. ^[1]

During her career, Fowler appeared in a number of films, including Sister Act and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit , Friends & Family , Did You Hear About the Morgans? , I Don't Know How She Does It , and Mulan , in which she sang "Honor to Us All". On television, Fowler guest-starred on Law & Order , Law & Order: Criminal Intent , Ed , and Gossip Girl . In 2013, she began appearing in the recurring role as Sister Jane Ingalls in the comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black . Along with cast, Fowler received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. ^[7]

Personal

Since 2000, Fowler has been a resident of New Milford, New Jersey, having previously resided in Rutherford, Teaneck, Hawthorne, and Glen Rock. ^{[8] [9]}

Fowler married Jack Witham in 1976. ^{[3] [9]}

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1991	In the Line of Duty: Manhunt in the Dakotas	Joan Kahl	TV movie
1992	Sister Act	Choir Nun
1993	Law & Order	Mrs. Wrenn	Episode: "Virus"
1993	Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit	Choir Nun
1998	Mulan		Voice
2000	Ed	Molly's Mom	Episode: "The Whole Truth"
2001	Friends & Family	Mrs. Torcelli
2006	Law & Order: Criminal Intent	Margaret Collo	Episode: "On Fire"
2008	Back to Me	Beth	Short
2009	Did You Hear About the Morgans?	Ma Simmons
2010	The Extra Man	Ms. Marsh
2011	Silhouette	Paige
2011	I Don't Know How She Does It	Clark's Secretary
2007–2012	Gossip Girl	Mistress of Ceremonies	3 episodes
2013–2016	Orange Is the New Black	Sister Jane Ingalls	32 episodes Recurring role Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2015, 2016)

Stage credits

Year	Title	Role	Venue	Ref.
1970	Gantry	Deaf Man's Wife	Broadway, George Abbott Theatre
1973	A Little Night Music	Mrs. Segstrom	Broadway, Shubert Theatre
1976	1600 Pennsylvania Avenue	Ensemble	Broadway, Mark Hellinger Theatre
1979	Peter Pan	Mrs. Darling	Broadway, Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
1983	Baby	Arlene McNally	Broadway, Ethel Barrymore Theatre
1985	Take Me Along	Lily Miller	Broadway, Martin Beck Theatre
1987	Teddy & Alice	Edith Roosevelt	Broadway, Minskoff Theatre
1989	Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street	Mrs. Lovett	Broadway, Circle in the Square Theatre
1994	Beauty and the Beast	Mrs. Potts	Broadway, Palace Theatre
2001	Bells are Ringing	Sue	Broadway, Plymouth Theatre
2003	The Boy from Oz	Marion Woolnough	Broadway, Imperial Theatre
2007	Inherit the Wind	Mrs. Brady	Broadway, Lyceum Theatre

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result	Ref.
1989	Drama Desk Awards	Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical	Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street	Nominated	[10]
1990	Tony Awards	Best Actress in a Musical		Nominated
	Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding Actress in a Musical		Nominated
2004	Tony Awards	Best Featured Actress in a Musical	The Boy from Oz	Nominated
2015	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series	Orange is the New Black	Won	[11]
2016				Won	[12]

References

1. League, The Broadway. "Beth Fowler – Broadway Cast & Staff - IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
2. "'Orange Is the New Black' star talks about Jersey City roots in podcast". 8 August 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
3. Delhauer, Patricia. "Meet Beth Fowler" omagdigital.com, September 5, 2018
4. "Actress Beth Fowler Visits Her Alma Mater Caldwell University" caldwell.edu, March 24, 2015
5. "From parish to prison, N.J. actress Beth Fowler can't escape the convent". 27 July 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
6. "The Boy From Oz | IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information". www.ibdb.com. Archived from the original on 2009-11-07.
7. Michelle McCue (26 January 2015). "BIRDMAN, DOWNTON ABBEY Big Winners At 21st Screen Actors Guild Awards". We Are Movie Geeks. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
8. Beckerman, Jim. "Fowler draws on salon ties for role" Archived June 14, 2008, at the Wayback Machine , The Record (Bergen County) , March 12, 2008. Accessed March 12, 2008. "Born in Jersey City, raised in Rutherford (she cut her acting teeth with the Bergen County Players in Oradell), she lived in Teaneck, Hawthorne and Glen Rock before settling, eight years ago, in New Milford."
9. Klein, Alvin. "Theater; A Musical Powerhouse Returns to the Stage" The New York Times, November 26, 2000
10. "Beth Fowler – Performer". Playbill. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
11. "SAG Award Winners 2015: Screen Actors Guild Awards Winner List". TVLine. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
12. "SAG Awards 2016 Highlights & Winners". Variety. Retrieved 2025-08-06.

External links

• Beth Fowler at IMDb
• Beth Fowler at the Internet Broadway Database
• Beth Fowler at the Internet Off-Broadway Database (archived)