BIOGRAPHY

In the New York Times , Ben Brantley wrote “SAYCON SENGBLOH shimmers. . .” Indeed this shimmering shining star has made the Broadway stage and  New York City her home! She hails from College Park, GA. And whether touring the United States, performing around the world, or on the New York stage this spring will be no different.  She will be showcased in  “Motown the Musical”, a story about Berry Gordy, Motown Records and its meteoric rise to the top of the American and world charts of Pop music and business.  “We want to make history!” She proudly exclaims in regards to her exciting turn portraying Motown legend Martha Reeves,  and one of the pillars of Mr. Gordy’s professional businesses, Edna Anderson. Eddie Murphy is not the only one to play multiple characters back to back! Portraying real life events is not strange for Sengbloh. Only recently she was featured  in the Original Cast of the hottest and only Afro-beat musical “Fela!” on Broadway. Saycon starred as the delicious Sandra Iszadore a real life former lover of the one and only Fela Kuti! Produced by Jay-Z, Will Smith, and Jada Pinkett Smith along with Steve and Ruth Hendel, Fela! is a magical retelling of a night in concert with Kuti as he traces the events of his life all the while performing his hits. The show which traveled to Kuti’s birthplace, Nigeria, was a cultural phenomenon influencing fashion and pop and hip-hop music. Being photographed along with stars, Sahr Ngaujah, Lillias White, Kevin Mambo, Music Director Aaron Johnson, and director Bill T. Jones the Fela! was named one of the hottest up and coming acts in the annual “Juice issue” of VIBE magazine. “Fela!” the musical won several Tony awards on Broadway and lauded the company live performances on numerous talk shows including the View and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and an exciting presentation on the Tony Awards.

Inspired by sound waves and sensual eclectic performance of pop, soul, and R&B music  throughout her life it was a given that Saycon would become a recording artist.  Saycon debuted her  “Southern Pin-Up EP” and “Southern Pin-Up: Special Edition“: an EP that features original music and cover songs as well. Her song, “Possible” appears on the soundtracks for the feature film Single Hills and the web series, “Mommy Uncensored.” And her modern rendition of “It Was a Very Good Year” has become a fan favorite during Saycon’s live show! Miss Sengbloh also makes notable appearances on the Grammy nominated soundtracks for “Fela!”, and the Broadway revival of “Hair”.

Being of Liberian and American heritage Saycon has used her talents performing at and encouraging fund raising for causes  and  organizations that spur the growth of the West African nation, Liberia. And you can also see her performing at numerous events for Broadway Cares organization as well. Inspired by her family who  always instilled in her an appreciation for the arts she began performing as a teen in plays and musicals at Tri-Cities School for Visual and Performing Arts and attended Agnes Scott College. “I’ve been entertaining people since I was a kid doing plays and musicals, then television, commercials, industrials, you name it!” Sengbloh appeared as Young Dearie B in “Funny Valentines” a movie based on the J. California Cooper’s short story of the same name, you can also see her in the blockbuster film, “American Gangster”.   After numerous productions with the Freddie Hendrick’s Youth Ensemble of Atlanta, she appeared in Tyler Perry’s first musical “I Know I’ve Been Changed.” She worked at the Tony Award winning Alliance Theater Company under artistic directors Kenny Leon & Susan Booth.

Saycon Sengbloh has the honored distinction of being the first woman of African descent to perform the role of Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) as standby in “Wicked” the musical. Regarding her audition process Sengbloh says: ”I was in Atlanta at the time and traveled to  New York for my Wicked audition. Later flying into town for a make-up test, I had this feeling that I would get to be a part of the show. . . It was amazing music to sing and I was excited to have that opportunity.”

Earlier in her career, after being cast by Bernie Telsey, she toured the US and traveled to Japan as the seductive Latin lead Mimi in “Rent“!  Saycon made her Broadway debut in “Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida,” so playing  Disney’s Nubian princess will always be near and dear to her heart. Other favorite roles include the female “Abe Lincoln” in the Broadway Revival of “Hair“, and also “Nettie” in the premiere Alliance Theatre presentation and eventually in the Oprah Winfrey’s Broadway production “The Color Purple-the Musical.”