Stephanie Pope Lofgren was born and raised in East Harlem, New York and is a musical theater veteran with a career that includes appearing in 11 Broadway shows.
Broadway and touring credits include the revival of Pippin, for which she received an Astaire Award nomination, an ACCA Award and the beloved Legacy Robe, Chicago (Velma Kelly),Thoroughly Modern Millie (Muzzy Van Hossmere), Fosse (Leading Player), Smokey Joe’s Cafe – Original London Company (Brenda), A Funny Thing… Forum (Gymnasia), Kiss of The Spider Woman (Stand-by for Ms. Chita Rivera), Jelly’s Last Jam (The Hunnies) and The Will Rogers Follies…just to name a few.
She is the recipient of a Dramalogue Award as well as Connecticut Critics Circle and Regional Theater Award nominations for her portrayals of Camila Rosario in Lin Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights at Playhouse On Park Theater and Tanya in North Carolina Theater’s Production of Mama Mia!
She has the distinct honor of having been hand-picked to work with the legendary director/choreographer, Bob Fosse, along with his wife and muse, Gwen Verdon on her first two Broadway shows, the revival of Sweet Charity starring Debbie Allen and Bebe Neuwirth and Bob Fosse’s Big Deal. She holds the distinct and treasured title of “Fosse Dancer” and is one of a handful of performers sanctioned to teach Fosse Master Classes on behalf of The Fosse Estate and The Verdon Fosse Legacy LLC©.
Stephanie currently serves on the nominating committee for the annual Chita Rivera Awards.
In addition to her work with Mr. Fosse and Ms. Verdon, Stephanie has shared the stage with such luminaries as Chita Rivera, Ben Vereen, Donna McKechnie, MariLu Henner, Gregory Hines, Brian “Stokes” Mitchell and Nathan Lane. She has worked with directors and choreographers such as Mollie Smith, Tommy Tune, Lester Wilson, Christopher Chadman, Chet Walker, Anne Reinking, Rob Marshall, Kathleen Marshall, Peter Gennaro, Michael Kidd, Michael Peters , Dianne McIntyre, Jerry Zaks, George C. Wolfe, Hal Prince, Alex Sanchez, Hope Clarke, George Faison, Diane Paulus, Jason Sparks and Regina Taylor, Robert O’Hara and Eric Woodall, to name a few.
She created staging for the pre-Broadway workshop of When Playwrights Kill, written by Matthew Lombardo which starred Jeremy Jordan and Harriet Harris and her original musical titled Grin and Bare It, was chosen to be developed at Montclair State University’s prestigious New Works Initiative.
Other directing credits include Forever Plaid for Theatre Raleigh, Smokey Joe’s Cafe for ACT in Ridgefield, CT and directing and choreographing for the Broadway League’s prestigious Jimmy Awards. She was the recipient of a 2022 BroadwayWorld Regional Theater Award for Best Direction of A Play for her production of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill at Playhouse on Park Theater.
As a writer and producer, Ms. Pope has several projects in development.
She has provided performance and audition coaching for both the Theater Resources Unlimited and Verdon Fosse Legacy© organizations, tailoring each coaching session to the specific needs of the performer, helping the performer recognize and tap into what is genuinely unique about them, including what will set them apart from anyone else who walks into the room or on the stage.
She is a certified Hot Yoga instructor, and in 2008, in an effort to give back to her Harlem community she opened Bikram Yoga East Harlem, which she operated for eight years and in 2011 was named one of the top 10 hot yoga studios in the country. She continues to teach hot yoga whenever her schedule permits incorporating her understanding of the human body learned through her years of dancing.
When Stephanie removes her multi-hyphenated hats, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Aarne Lofgren and their daughter, Mari. www.stephaniepope.com