Primetime Emmy winner Sarah Snook (“Succession”) chatted about her starring role in “The Picture of Dorian Gray” on Broadway.
This new adaptation, being performed at the Music Box Theatre, was written and directed by Kip Williams. It is based on the original book by Oscar Wilde.
In “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” Oscar Wilde’s timeless text is revolutionized by Kip Williams’ celebrated collision of form employing an explosive interplay of video and theater through an intricately choreographed collection of on-stage cameras bringing to life a dizzying 26 characters, each vividly portrayed by one actor.
Eleanor Roosevelt once said: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” This quote applies to Sarah Snook.
Sarah Snook’s accolades and recognition this theatre season
Snook just won the Drama Desk Award for “Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play” for playing 26 roles in “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” It also won for “Outstanding Projection and Video Design” and “Unique Theatrical Experience” at the Drama Desk Awards.
She was subsequently bestowed a Theatre World Award, which recognized her outstanding debut Broadway performance.
She was also honored with the 2025 Outer Critics Circle Award for “Outstanding Solo Performance.”
Next week, she is nominated for a 2025 Tony Award for “Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play,” where she is the frontrunner for the win.
Lessons learned from ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’
On the lessons learned from this play, Snook reflected, “There is a line in the play that says, ‘a human is a being, a creature with multiplicity,’ and I think that is something that I’ve learned about myself.”
“There are many different hats that one can wear, and many different characters that one can play, and I feel very grateful to be able to do that for two hours on stage every day,” she elaborated.
Return to the theatre
On her return to theatre (after doing the hit TV show ‘Succession’ for nearly five years), she noted that “it feels like a homecoming.”
“Theater has felt like a place that I’ve always been, especially when I was growing up. I also certainly pursued TV and film back in my 20s, but I grew up doing theater,” she acknowledged.
For Snook, it has been a full-circle moment, especially since theater is the place where she has always wanted to come back to. “Theater is very special to me,” she admitted.
On the use of digital technology, video projection, and design in this show
Regarding the use of digital technology, video projection, and design in this show, Snook remarked, “Kip [Williams] has been working with cameras and digital screens for over a decade, but this is the first show where he used pre-recorded elements and composite elements.”
Snook on the challenges of doing a one-woman show on Broadway, where she has to play 26 different characters
Snook also opened up about the challenges of doing this one-woman show as an actor, especially since there is a certain timespan between every line and cue where she has to act opposite her pre-recorded self, and if she were to lose her concentration or focus, she would miss her cue.
As a result, while this show may be extremely challenging and taxing, it’s a challenge that she really “relishes.”
Snook on how she handles being monologue-heavy
When asked how she handles being monologue-heavy (86 pages of script) in this show, Snook said with a sweet laugh, “Yeah, 60,000 words. A good vocal warmup and lots of water.”
Snook on her Theatre World Award win
On Monday, June 2nd, she accepted her 2025 Theatre World Award. These awards are presented annually at the end of the theatre season to six actors and six actresses for their significant, reviewable, debut performances in a Broadway or Off-Broadway production.
On her 2025 Theatre World Award win, Snook expressed, “It feels great.”
“I hope that I don’t do 26 characters again in one project, but I hope to do my 27th at some point. I really am so grateful for the Theatre World Award,” she noted.
“Thank you so much to the theater community; being a part of this community means a terrible amount to me. I love it! Thank you so much,” she said, effusively.
Stage of her life
On the title of the current chapter in her life, Snook revealed, “The Portrait in the Attic.”
Success
“This is really lovely, and it’s obviously and respectfully an honor to win any award (and it is lovely to also be nominated), but success for me is having the respect, love, and laughter of my friends and family around me.”
To learn more about Sarah Snook, follow her on Instagram.
For more information on “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” visit the show’s official homepage.
