Sarah Rice was a stage actress and Theatre World Award winner who played the original Johanna in Stephen Sondheim’s (1930–2021) “Sweeney Todd.”
- Died: January 6, 2024 (Who else died on January 6?)
- Details of death: Died in New York City of cancer at the age of 68.
- We invite you to share condolences for Sarah Rice in our Guest Book.
Sarah Rice’s legacy
Born in Okinawa, Japan while her father served there in the U.S. Air Force, Rice moved to New York City at 18 to pursue work on the stage. Initially drawn to dance – ballet in particular – she later switched to singing and acting. Rice had early success with appearances in shows like “The Fantasticks,” in which she appeared in the original off-Broadway production. Her breakout came in 1979 when she was cast as Johanna in “Sweeney Todd,” the first to have the role. The show was a Broadway hit and earned her a Theatre World Award for her work.
Rice also appeared in Sondheim’s adaptation of “A Little Night Music,” and won acclaim for her performance in Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “The Phantom of the Opera.” She also had roles in productions of “Hamlet,” “The Sound of Music,” “The Tempest,” “The Music Man,” “The Merry Widow,” and many others.
Rice was also known for her cabaret work. She launched a solo show in 2011, “Screen Gems: Songs of Old Hollywood,” for which she won a Bistro Award and Mac Award. She was a fan favorite of readers of “Cabaret Hotline Online,” and played Jenny Lind in the HBO docudrama “P.T. Barnum and His Human Oddities.”
Tributes to Sarah Rice
Full obituary: Broadway World
