Give My Regards To Broadway

BORN AND RAISED in Pequannock Township, Sami Murphy loves the town she calls home.

“Pequannock is my home base between tours. It’s where I love spending time with family and friends as I recharge for my next job,” she says. “Most of my family lives in Pequannock Township. My grandparents, Sal and Ann Marie Carrubba, were previous owners of the Plains Pantry Deli and Luncheonette right here in Pompton Plains for 30 years,” Murphy fondly adds. Her roots in town run deep, and her joy is infectious.

FINDING THE SPOTLIGHT

A Pequannock Township High School class of 2017 graduate, you might be surprised to learn that Murphy never took part in the high school theater department, given her current star-studded theater career.

“I was in choir since grade school at both school and church, but pursued dance outside of school,” she says. Murphy was a PTHS cheerleader all four years and captain of the squad her senior year. She was a member of the National Honor Society and worked hard in school. But it was dancing that stole her heart and kept her on stage.

“Dancing is my first love,” says Murphy. She started dancing at just three years old at Performing Arts Academy (located in Pompton Plains at that time, now in Pompton Lakes) and then danced competitively from kindergarten through senior year of high school. By the age of 14, Murphy was teaching dance classes.

“I took every type of dance class and still perform all,” she says. Murphy credits dance instructor Dawn Laviola-Schaub (who owned the studio) as having a huge impact on her life.

Murphy is also passionate about singing. “I sang in Our Lady of Good Counsel church in kids’ choir, then teen, now adult choir, and I’m the cantor at OLGC when home from tours,” she says. Although she briefly took voice lessons when in elementary school at Linda Benanti’s Voice Studio, she learned the most from choir and church.

In 2007, she joined her older brother Steven for her first time in a town summer production under the direction of Tonianne Piccirillo and Julie and Adam Melchor.

Next up was community theater at the then Rhino Theatre in Pompton Lakes.

“I did a bunch of teen shows at Rhino,” says Murphy. Upon graduating PTHS in 2017, Murphy was prepared to attend Montclair State University to get a BFA degree in dance, but life had other plans in store.

“I got the call in July 2017 while in my final dance nationals for a contract offer as a dancer/vocalist on Ovation of the Seas with Royal Caribbean,” says Murphy. She couldn’t pass up the opportunity and put her college plans on hold to take an adventure of a lifetime.

“I performed while traveling to over 20 countries,” Murphy says. “Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Australia are a few of my favorite memories,” says Murphy. “The first cruise was 11 months, the second was a two-month replacement contract, and my third and last cruise lasted 9 months.”

Upon her return home to the States, Murphy began auditioning for shows in New York City.

“I performed in an off Broadway show at The Players Theatre, which is one of the oldest historic off Broadway theatres still running,” says Murphy.

She also acted in some off Broadway shows, such as “Little Mermaid” (not the Disney version) and realized this—the glitz and glam of theater—was the path she wanted to take. The trifecta of singing, acting, and dancing was a perfect fit.

NEXT STEPS

When COVID-19 hit, Murphy only performed 7 of 50 shows in “Little Mermaid” at The Players Theatre. Instead of looking at the glass half empty, she used lockdown time to improve her skills. When churches could open, she continued to sing at OLGC and played piano.

“Susan DePalma taught me music theory and basic piano lessons, and I learned how to read music. It was a such a blessing,” says Murphy. “Sue really helped me change the trajectory of my career and those skills I learned continuously help me in my work,” she says.

Murphy began sending out self-tapes (self-made video auditions) anywhere she could. She landed a job at The Rev Theatre in Finger Lakes for two months performing “42nd Street.”

“It was the first opening show after COVID,” says Murphy. While there, she was offered a job in Rhode Island at Theatre By The Sea for “Mamma Mia!” and soon after, worked in the sister theater (North Shore Music Theatre) for “Mamma Mia!” as well. “I love ‘Mamma Mia!’,” says Murphy.

The offers were continuing to come in. Murphy booked and originated the role of Mom in the “CoComelon” Live Tour, which opened at Madison Square Garden for a two-month gig. She has done extra work on the TV show “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” for half a year in Brooklyn while the program gained notoriety.

After, Murphy headed back to Theatre by The Sea for “Footloose” and “Cinderella” before embarking on “My Fair Lady,” a traveling national Broadway tour to 30 cities. “It was so exciting to book my first Broadway National tour,” says Murphy.

It was then Murphy started working with an agency (PMA in New York City), and while on tour for “My Fair Lady,” she booked “Funny Girl,” the Broadway National Tour and joined the union, (Actor’s Equity Association). This is a large feather in the cap of an actor.

Murphy enjoyed the “Funny Girl” tour, as it was such a different experience from “My Fair Lady.” “

For ‘Funny Girl,’ we were in each city for one to four weeks,” she says. “I had my own hotel room and was able to truly visit each destination.”

BY ANTONIETTA HENRY