Steven Skybell

Last updated
Steven Skybell
Born
Amarillo, Texas, U.S.
Education Yale University (BA, MFA)
OccupationActor
Years active1988-present

Steven Skybell is a theater and television actor. He has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in regional theater productions, on television, and in film.

Contents

Biography

Early life and education

Skybell grew up in Lubbock, Texas, and performed in two productions of Fiddler on the Roof from an early age: First as a "chuppa boy" and then Tevye at the Interlochen Center for the Arts summer camp. He went on to attend the Yale School of Drama, performing alongside Jodie Foster in Getting Out, directed by Tina Landau. [1] [2] At Yale, Steven would reprise the role of Tevye again. [3]

On stage (2000s-2010s)

Skybell worked with Stephen Schwartz and Joe Mantello on the workshop for Wicked , [4] playing the character Doctor Dillamond. [5] He would later reprise this role in the Chicago [6] and Broadway [7] productions, as well as on the Wicked National Tour. [8] They held adjunct faculty positions at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts [9] and at Fordham University [10] in their theater departments. His credits in the 2000s and early 2010s would include productions by the Classic Stage Company [11] and Shakespeare in the Park. [12] During this time, Skybell yearned to play Tevye again when he was much closer to the character's age. [3]

Fiddler on the Roof and Fidler Afn Dakh (2015–2022)

In 2015, Skybell took over the role of Lazar Wolf in a Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof. He starred as Tevye in the all-Yiddish production, directed by Joel Grey, Fidler Afn Dakh at the Museum of Jewish Heritage by National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene. [3] The production was a critical success, [13] [14] leading to four separate extensions. In February 2019, the show transferred uptown to Stage 42 [15] where it played until January 5, 2020. [16] For his portrayal of Tevye, Skybell won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, [17] and was nominated for the Drama League Distinguished Performance Award, [18] Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, [19] and Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. [20] Skybell would reprise his role as Tevye at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, his first English performance in the role on a larger stage, [21] and again for a limited run of the Yiddish version at New World Stages [22] both in 2022.

Cabaret (2024)

In 2024, Skybell played Herr Schultz in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club , opposite Bebe Neuwirth as Fraulein Schneider. The two had previously worked together for a Classic Stage Company production of A Midsummer Night's Dream . [23] In this role, he received his first Tony Award nomination, for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. [24]

Stage credits

YearShowRoleProduction LevelNotesRef
2024 Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club Herr SchultzBroadway August Wilson Theater

April 21, 2024 - Present

 [23]
2023Amid Falling WallsPerformerRegional Museum of Jewish Heritage

November 20, 2023 - December 10, 2023

 [25]
2023 The Lehman Trilogy Henry Lehman Boston, MA Huntington Theatre Company

June 13 2023 - July 16, 2023

 [26]
2022 Fiddler on the Roof Tevye Chicago, IL Lyric Opera of Chicago

September 17, 2022 - October 7, 2022

 [21]
2022 Fidler Afn Dakh Off-Broadway New World Stages

November 21, 2022 - January 01, 2023

 [22]
2019Off-Broadway Stage 42

February 21, 2019 - January 05, 2020 (moved from Museum of Jewish Heritage production after 4 extensions)

 [15]
2018Off-Broadway Museum of Jewish Heritage

July 4, 2018 - December 30, 2018

 [27]
2015Fiddler on the Roof Lazar Wolf (understudy)Broadway Broadway Theater

December 20, 2015 - December 31, 2016

 [28]
2015 Cymbeline Gaoler, Pisanio, FrenchmanOff-Broadway Shakespeare in the Park

August 10, 2015 - August 23, 2015

 [12]
2014 A Man's a Man Jesse MahoneyClassic Stage Company

January 30, 2014 - February 16, 2014

 [29]
2012 A Midsummer Night's Dream BottomClassic Stage Company

April 29, 2012 - May 20, 2012

 [11]
2012GallileoPerformerClassic Stage Company

February 12, 2012 - March 18, 2012

 [30]
2011 Love's Labour's Lost Holofernes The Public Theater

October 31, 2011 - November 06, 2011

 [31]
2010 Wicked Doctor Dillamond National tourAugust 3, 2010 - April, 2011 [8]
2006Broadway Gershwin Theatre

August 8, 2006 - September 1, 2008

 [7] [32] [33]
2005Chicago, IL Nederlander Theatre (Chicago)

July 13, 2005 - Mar 27, 2006

 [34] [33]
2002WorkshopSings "As If By Magic", a song cut from the final score [5] [4]
2008 Pal Joey ErnestBroadway Studio 54

December 11, 2008 - March 01, 2009

 [35]
2005The Controversy Of ValladolidSepulveldaOff-BroadwayThe Public Theater

February 20, 2005 - March 13, 2005

 [36]
2004 The Bald Soprano And The Lesson The ProfessorOff-Broadway Atlantic Theater Company

September 19, 2004 - October 17, 2004

 [37]

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References

  1. ↑ "Tradition!". yalealumnimagazine.org. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  2. ↑ chad@tjpnews.com (2023-03-02). "'Tevye': a night of Yiddish tradition - Texas Jewish Post" . Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  3. 1 2 3 Fierberg, Ruthie (November 4, 2018). "After a Lifelong Quest to Play Tevye, Steven Skybell's Prayers Were Answered—But Not How He Thought". Playbill. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Schwartz, Stephen (December 8, 2024). "Stephen Schwartz Answers Questions About Wicked's Score" (PDF). StephenSchwartz.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Wicked México (2017-01-17). 3º As if By Magic - Wicked Workshop . Retrieved 2024-11-29– via YouTube.
  6. ↑ Gans, Andrew (June 24, 2005). "New Wicked Production Begins Performances in Chicago June 24". Playbill. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Annaleigh Ashford and Stephanie J. Block Set to Play Wicked's Witches". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  8. 1 2 Gans, Andrew (December 5, 2010). "National Tour of Wicked Gets a New Wizard Beginning Sept. 14". Playbill. Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Steven Skybell". tisch.nyu.edu. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  10. ↑ "Steven Skybell | Fordham". www.fordham.edu. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  11. 1 2 "A Midsummer Night's Dream (2011–2012) – Classic Stage Company" . Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  12. 1 2 "Actors (L-R) Steven Skybell, Lisa Gay Hamilton and Jack Ryland in a scene from the New York Shakespeare Festival production of the play "Two Gentlemen of Verona" at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. (New York)". NYPL Digital Collections. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  13. ↑ "REVIEW: Wonder of Wonders! Miracle of Miracles! "Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish"". Stage Left. 2018-09-04. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  14. ↑ Windman, Matt (2018-07-15). "'Fiddler on the Roof' review: Yiddish-language production triumphs at Museum of Jewish Heritage | amNewYork". www.amny.com. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  15. 1 2 JTA. "NY Yiddish 'Fiddler on the Roof' show extended". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  16. ↑ Goldblum, Robert (2020-01-02). "Last Chance To See Yiddish 'Fiddler' & More Tips Of What To Do In NYC This Week". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  17. ↑ "2019 Nominees : Lucille Lortel Awards". lortelaward.com. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  18. ↑ "Get Inside the Starry 2019 Drama League Awards with These Exclusive Portraits". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  19. ↑ Fierberg, Ruth (June 2, 2019). "Tootsie, Hadestown, and The Ferryman Lead 2019 Drama Desk Award Winners" . Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Hadestown Leads Winners of 2019 Outer Critics Circle Awards". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  21. 1 2 "Meet the cast of Fiddler on the Roof". www.lyricopera.org. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  22. 1 2 Gergely, Julia (2022-07-25). "Yiddish 'Fiddler on the Roof' returns to New York this fall". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  23. 1 2 Evans, Greg (2023-11-09). "Bebe Neuwirth & Steven Skybell Join Cast Of Broadway's Cabaret Revival". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  24. ↑ "The Tony Award Nominations". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  25. ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe. "Steven Skybell, Rachel Zatcoff & More to Star in AMID FALLING WALLS (TSVISHN FALNDIKE VENT)". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  26. ↑ Reedy, R. Scott. "Interview: Steven Skybell says THE LEHMAN TRILOGY has the scope of a great Shakespeare play". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  27. ↑ Dolsten, Josefin (2024-10-28). "'Fiddler' in Yiddish — what about tradition?". jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  28. ↑ Herman, Deb (2024-05-09). "A second fiddler no more". The Jewish Standard. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  29. ↑ "A Man's A Man (2013–2014) – Classic Stage Company" . Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  30. ↑ "Galileo (2011–2012) – Classic Stage Company" . Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  31. ↑ America, PLASA Media Inc-Lighting & Sound. "Theatre in Review: Love's Labor's Lost (The Public Theater) - Lighting&Sound America Online News". Lighting&Sound America Online News. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  32. ↑ Tribune, Chicago (2006-03-07). "His inner goat". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  33. 1 2 intern (2022-08-23). "Fiddler's Night at the Opera: Steven Skybell on his Return to Play Teyve at the Lyric Opera". Better Magazine. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  34. ↑ "Wicked - Chicago at The Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre 2005-2009". www.abouttheartists.com. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  35. ↑ "Pal Joey Bewitches at Star-Studded Opening". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  36. ↑ "The Controversy of Valladolid - TheaterMania.com". 2005-02-28. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  37. ↑ Hofler, Robert (2004-09-20). "The Bald Soprano & The Lesson". Variety. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
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