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Cosmopolitan
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Fina Strazza's 2025 Tony Awards Getting Ready Diary With Cosmo
At just 19 years old, Fina Strazza is having the kind of moment most actors only dream about. Currently captivating audiences eight times a week in John Proctor Is the Villain, Fina's searing performance as Beth Powell landed her a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play, cementing her status as one of Broadway's brightest new stars. But theater insiders have had their eyes on her for a while. The provocative, modern coming-of-age play has racked up praise across the board—earning seven Tony nominations, along with nods from the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama League Awards. And not that we're keeping count (we are), but Fina also picked up a Dorian Theater Award win for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Broadway Play. Broadway is buzzing about Fina, but so is the silver screen. Most recently, she made waves as Tiffany Falconer in Fear Street: Prom Queen, a chilling addition to the cult-favorite horror franchise on Netflix. She also led Amazon Prime's time-traveling teen saga Paper Girls as KJ Brandman, instantly becoming a fan favorite. If it seems like she was born to be on stage, it's because she practically was. Fina made her Broadway debut at the age of 8, stepping into the iconic title role in Matilda the Musical. Whether she's battling monsters, time-hopping through alternate realities, or tearing up the stage with raw, emotional firepower, one thing is clear: Fina Strazza isn't just one to watch—she's one to remember. We caught up with the actor as she got ready at the Mandarin Oriental for her first-ever Tony Awards. It's a lot. But before I answer that, though, I'd like to first confirm with everyone in this room that I have indeed remained grounded. *laughs* I was just having this conversation with my mom the other day. How I feel like I'm in this dream world right now where I'm not in charge of what's happening to me and everything is so much bigger than me. It's almost like I can't possibly even claim these fortunes in a way. You know? I am, I am. *laughs* I mean, it's not like I don't think I deserve them or something. It just feels like I've been given these gifts, and I don't take that for granted. Everything I'm getting to do is so fun. It's like being on a playground. If you're on a playground, you don't act highfalutin and better than everyone else. I'm just playing! All the time. And I love it. Well, it was a little delayed, because I was trying to watch the broadcast, but something was going on with my WiFi. And my computer kept stalling. My category hadn't even come up on my screen yet, but my phone just started blowing up. I got a ton of calls all at once. I picked up my mom's call and she yelled that I was nominated. It immediately felt like the world rushed past me. All in one second. I just kept repeating, 'Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god.' Nothing else was coming to mind and nothing else would come out of my mouth. That's just kind of where I was for the rest of the day. None! I haven't had the time. Well, Eureka Day and English closed before my show opened so I didn't get to see either of those. I know that Purpose has a Sunday evening show, which I've been meaning to catch. But I've been able to get to know some of my fellow nominees a little bit through all the Tonys press, and everyone is so grounded and welcoming. Tala and Sanaz invited me over to teach me how to do a proper curly hair routine and get chicken and rice bowls uptown. I saw Oh, Mary! and I am obsessed. Loved it. So funny, so fun. And I saw Maybe Happy Ending when it was in a workshop years ago. I'm cheering them on. Not that I have favorites or anything, but I have friends in that show and I'd love to see them win something. I first read this play when I was 17 for a workshop of it with Sadie [Sink] and the director Donna Taymor and the playwright Kimberly Belflower. I remember walking out of that presentation and feeling such electricity leaving the room. The performance was still vibrating in my body. The way Kimberly writes is so authentic and real, and it sets this blazing fire throughout the whole show that just doesn't go out until the blackout at the end. I felt how special it was in my bones. It was a feeling that stuck with me for two years, because I didn't hear anything after doing the reading. So for two years, I thought about that show. Every single day. I would ask my team for constant updates. 'Is there anything new with John Proctor? Anything happening with John Proctor?' And the thing is, I've done tons of readings before so have kind of learned to not get attached to them. Especially as a child, because I'd grow out of the role before it got to production. But there was something about this show where I couldn't see a world in which I wasn't in it. I had to be in it. I can't explain it. Because I don't think Beth and I are super similar, but I do feel a kinship with her. There's a certain energy, you know? We understand each other. No, no, no. *laughs* Tiffany and I are not connected. She was like playing my opposite, which was fun in a different way. I felt very free with Tiffany because I was able to be as absurd as I wanted. She's a whole different beast. I feel like so often when you watch shows or any kind of media with teenagers, specifically high schoolers, whoever is the smartest one is usually the most unlikable. And it's like, why are these intelligent girls always these unlikable human beings? That's not the case in real life. At least I don't think so. I love that about this show. Beth is the person in the room with all the answers, but she also has the most questions. She's often the smartest person in the room, but she is so open to new ideas. She doesn't ever feel like she is done learning. She's intelligent but also very tenderhearted. I think that's very admirable. Yes. We were just talking about this last night! We had this kind of pre Tony Awards seance and stayed in the theater very late last night to share our gratitude with one another and talk about the show. Our entire cast, including our understudies, consists of 15 people. Do you know how rare it is to find a group of 15 people where nobody is an issue and no one has a problem with anyone else? We joke that it's pretty boring sometimes because there's no one to gossip about, but it's really just a very supportive, loving environment where we all have a lot of respect for each other's tracks, which is so important in a show with such emotional weight. It can be very easy to walk off stage and keep yourself in that headspace. If we didn't have someone to lean on, it would be really hard. But luckily that's not the case. We have each other. And the second I walk off stage, I know there's someone there who I can laugh with. We'll be crying on stage one minute and then giggling about someone in the audience who had a weird laugh the next. I feel very lucky that we all enjoy one another. And the head of our social media, Austin Spero, is so great at capturing that. He's also open to any ideas we have. I love that he collaborates with us. I still feel like I'm waiting for it to feel like I'm actually in the show. It all still feels so unreal in a way. I'm kind of waiting for it to kick in, which has me worried that I'm gonna leave the show still in this dream world. I want to make sure I lock in before it's over and feel truly grounded. Because we really have such a cool job. My costar Amalia Yoo reminded me of that the other night. She was washing her face and turned to me with her makeup still smudged on her face and was like, 'Our job is really, really cool.' And I was like, 'Yeah. It really is.' I'm wearing Michael Fausto. He's a New York designer, which I love because I'm a born and raised New Yorker. I told my stylist, Sarah Slutsky, that I've always wanted to wear a ballgown. Tonight felt like the one night where I could get away with it without anyone thinking, Who does she think she is? I told Sarah I wanted to try and nod to the show in some way as well. So there is this slight Puritan aspect to the look where it feels like it could potentially be something in the realm of 1666. There's something a little bit vintage about it. It feels like an elevated version of what the girls wear at the end of the show. I wanted the glam to be like this [Fina feigns an innocent doe-eyed expression caught between surprise and delight] *laughs* I don't know how to put that into words. But my hairstylist Corey Tuttle and makeup artist Amanda Thesen have figured it out. We have the entire family in the room. My boyfriend and my mom and my dad and my sister are all coming. My mom is my official plus-one. Everyone else bought tickets. I haven't seen what my mom is wearing yet, but no one is coordinating. My boyfriend looks like a penguin though! I'm excited to see Jonathan Groff again. I've really enjoyed talking to him through the season at all of our different events. I think Lizzy McAlpine might be at some parties later tonight, and I'm excited to see her again. I've known Sadie for a long time because I was in Matilda with her brother when I was younger. She and her brother both have this incredible nonchalance about them, which helps me find my center. She's very like, 'Whatever happens, happens.' Fated. It all feels like fate. The Tony went to Kara Young for 'Purpose' in what ultimately felt like a wide-open category. Congratulations to Kara, Fina, and all the nominees!
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Maybe Happy Ending' dominates the 2025 Drama Desk Awards with 6 wins, ‘Boop!' and ‘Gypsy' stage upsets
Winners of the 2025 Drama Desk Awards were announced at a ceremony on June 1, hosted by Debra Messing and Tituss Burgess. These awards are unique in that Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off Broadway compete together in the same categories. Maybe Happy Ending was a clear favorite with Drama Desk voters, claiming six awards to become the winningest production of the ceremony. The show's victories include the coveted Outstanding Musical prize and Outstanding Director for Michael Arden. Writers Will Aronson and Hue Park pulled off a clean sweep with wins for Music, Lyrics, and Book of a Musical. More from GoldDerby Ready for her close-up: Nicole Scherzinger takes the lead in Tony odds for Best Actress in a Musical Inside the Drama Desk Awards: Sarah Snook, Nicole Scherzinger, Jasmine Amy Rogers and more on theater's big night Kate Hudson and Mindy Kaling shoot for Emmys recognition for 'Running Point' at the Lakers training facility The Drama Desks employ combined gender acting categories, with an expanded number of nominees. As such, they've decided to present two winners by default in each acting race. Tony Award frontrunner Sarah Snook claimed Lead Performance in a Play for The Picture of Dorian Gray, alongside fellow Tony nominee Laura Donnelly for The Hill of California. Tony favorite Kara Young (Purpose) won Featured Performance in a Play alongside Amalia Yoo for John Proctor Is the Villain. The Tonys nominated Yoo's John Proctor costar Fina Strazza instead. A tie in voting resulted in a trio of winners for Featured Performance in a Musical: Tony nominees Brooks Ashmanskas (Smash) and Jak Malone (Operation Mincemeat), plus a flamboyant comedic turn from Michael Urie (Once Upon a Mattress). Broadway fans have long predicted a Tonys showdown between Audra McDonald and Nicole Scherzinger for their respective performances in Gypsy and Sunset Boulevard So most pundits assumed that these two leading ladies would share the win for Lead Performance in a Musical. But Drama Desk voters feted McDonald and Jasmine Amy Rogers (Boop! The Musical) instead. It was a tough night for Sunset Boulevard, which also lost the Revival of a Musical race to Gypsy. The acting win for Rogers complicates what is already the most competitive Tony race of the season, as there is clear passion for the young actress within the industry. It might be tempting to shrug off this result since Boop! was the most nominated show at the Drama Desks, but not so fast. Individual tastes can appear within Drama Desk nominations because the nominating committee is just seven people strong. But the entire 100-person membership votes for the winners, indicating that Rogers is capable of mustering support within a wider voting body. The good news for Boop! didn't stop there, as the bubbly show picked up two more wins. Gregg Barnes won Costume Design of a Musical over Paul Tazewell for Death Becomes Her. Then Jerry Mitchell won Choreography. Though Mitchell didn't face his toughest Tony competition, since Justin Peck and Patricia Delgado were not eligible at the Drama Desks for Buena Vista Social Club. Nevertheless, Boop! has now picked up this same trio of wins for its lead actress, choreography, and costume design at both the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards. These also happen to be the same categories where the show earned Tony nominations. Can Betty Boop stage a massive upset at Sunday's Tony Awards ceremony? The full list of 2025 Drama Desk winners is below: Outstanding Play Blood of the Lamb, by Arlene Hutton Deep Blue Sound, by Abe Koogler Grangeville, by Samuel D. Hunter John Proctor Is the Villain, by Kimberly Belflower Liberation, by Bess Wohl **, by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Outstanding Musical Boop! The Musical Death Becomes Her Just in Time **Maybe Happy Ending Music City Outstanding Revival of a Play ** Garside's Career Home Wine in the Wilderness Yellow Face Outstanding Revival of a Musical Cats: 'The Jellicle Ball' Floyd Collins **Gypsy Once Upon a Mattress See What I Wanna See Sunset Blvd. Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play Betsy Aidem, The Ask **Laura Donnelly, Patsy Ferran, A Streetcar Named Desire Danny J. Gomez, All of Me Doug Harris, Redeemed Patrick Keleher, Fatherland Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow Lily Rabe, Ghosts Jay O. Sanders, Henry IV (Theatre for a New Audience) **Sarah Snook, Paul Sparks, Grangeville Olivia Washington, Wine in the Wilderness Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical Tatianna Córdoba, Real Women Have Curves Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending Sutton Foster, Once Upon a Mattress Tom Francis, Sunset Boulevard Jonathan Groff, Just in Time Grey Henson, Elf Jeremy Jordan, Floyd Collins **Audra McDonald, **Jasmine Amy Rogers, Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Boulevard Helen J Shen, Maybe Happy Ending Jennifer Simard, Death Becomes Her Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play Greg Keller, Pre-Existing Condition Julia Lester, All Nighter Adrienne C. Moore, The Blood Quilt Deirdre O'Connell, Glass. Kill. What If If Only. Imp. Maria-Christina Oliveras, Cymbeline Maryann Plunkett, Deep Blue Sound Michael Rishawn, Table 17 Jude Tibeau, Bad Kreyòl Anjana Vasan, A Streetcar Named Desire Frank Wood, Hold On to Me Darling **Amalia Yoo, **Kara Young, Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical **Brooks Ashmanskas, Nicholas Barasch, Pirates! The Penzance Musical André De Shields, Cats: 'The Jellicle Ball' John El-Jor, We Live in Cairo Jason Gotay, Floyd Collins Gracie Lawrence, Just in Time **Jak Malone, Lesli Margherita, Gypsy Zachary Noah Piser, See What I Wanna See Jenny Lee Stern, Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song **Michael Urie, Natalie Walker, The Big Gay Jamboree Outstanding Solo Performance David Greenspan, I'm Assuming You Know David Greenspan Ryan J. Haddad, Hold Me in the Water Sam Kissajukian, 300 Paintings Mark Povinelli, The Return of Benjamin Lay **Andrew Scott, Outstanding Direction of a Play David Cromer and Caitlin Sullivan, The Antiquities Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, Stranger Things: The First Shadow Tyne Rafaeli, Becoming Eve Jack Serio, Grangeville **Danya Taymor, Whitney White, Liberation Kip Williams, The Picture of Dorian Gray Outstanding Direction of a Musical **Michael Arden, Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, Cats: 'The Jellicle Ball' Jamie Lloyd, Sunset Boulevard Jerry Mitchell, Boop! The Musical Alex Timbers, Just in Time George C. Wolfe, Gypsy Outstanding Choreography Camille A. Brown, Gypsy Warren Carlyle, Pirates! The Penzance Musical Jakob Karr, Ain't Done Bad Arturo Lyons and Omari Wiles, Cats: 'The Jellicle Ball' **Jerry Mitchell, Sergio Trujillo, Real Women Have Curves Outstanding Music **Will Aronson and Hue Park, David Foster, Boop! The Musical Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez, Real Women Have Curves Zoe Sarnak, The Lonely Few The Lazours, We Live in Cairo Outstanding Lyrics Gerard Alessandrini, Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song **Will Aronson and Hue Park, David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts, Operation Mincemeat Adam Gwon, All the World's a Stage Marla Mindelle and Philip Drennen, The Big Gay Jamboree Luis Quintero, Medea: Re-Versed Outstanding Book of a Musical **Will Aronson and Hue Park, David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts, Operation Mincemeat Warren Leight and Isaac Oliver, Just in Time Bob Martin, Boop! The Musical Marla Mindelle and Jonathan Parks-Ramage, The Big Gay Jamboree Marco Pennette, Death Becomes Her Outstanding Orchestrations Will Aronson, Maybe Happy Ending Doug Besterman, Boop! The Musical Joseph Joubert and Daryl Waters, Pirates! The Penzance Musical **Andrew Resnick and Michael Thurber, Michael Starobin, All the World's a Stage Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play Miriam Buether, Glass. Kill. What If If Only. Imp. **Miriam Buether, and Jamie Harrison and Chris Fisher (illusions and visual effects), Gabriel Hainer Evansohn and Grace Laubacher, Life and Trust Rob Howell, The Hills of California Johan Kølkjær, Dark Noon Matt Saunders, Walden Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical Clifton Chadick, Music City Rachel Hauck, Swept Away **Dane Laffrey and George Reeve, (includes video design) Derek McLane, Just in Time David Rockwell and Finn Ross (projections), Boop! The Musical Outstanding Costume Design of a Play Brenda Abbandandolo, The Antiquities **Dede Ayite, Christopher Ford, The Beastiary Camilla Lind, Dark Noon Karl Ruckdeschel, Twelfth Night Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical **Gregg Barnes, Sarah Cubbage, The Big Gay Jamboree Toni-Leslie James, Gypsy Qween Jean, Cats: 'The Jellicle Ball' Paul Tazewell, Death Becomes Her Catherine Zuber, Just in Time Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play Isabella Byrd, Glass. Kill. What If If Only. Imp. **Jon Clark, Natasha Katz, John Proctor Is the Villain Tyler Micoleau, The Antiquities Paul Whitaker, Sumo Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical Kevin Adams, Swept Away Adam Honoré, Cats: 'The Jellicle Ball' **Jack Knowles, Philip S. Rosenberg, Boop! The Musical Scott Zielinski and Ruey Horng Sun (projections), Floyd Collins Outstanding Sound Design of a Play **Paul Arditti, Johnny Gasper, Two Sisters Find a Box of Lesbian Erotica in the Woods Matt Otto, All of Me Bray Poor, Glass. Kill. What If If Only. Imp. Clemence Williams, The Picture of Dorian Gray Fan Zhang, Good Bones Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical Adam Fisher, Sunset Boulevard **Peter Hylenski, Scott Lehrer, Gypsy Mick Potter, Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends Dan Moses Schreier, Floyd Collins Outstanding Projection and Video Design Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom, Sunset Boulevard Jake Barton, McNeal **David Bergman, Jesse Garrison, The 7th Voyage of Egon Tichy [redux] Hana S. Kim, Redwood Outstanding Wig and Hair Alberto 'Albee' Alvarado, Sumo **Charles G. LaPointe, Sabana Majeed, Boop! The Musical Nikiya Mathis, Cats: 'The Jellicle Ball' Nikiya Mathis, Liberation Outstanding Puppetry Dorothy James, Bill's 44th Tom Lee, See What I Wanna See Simple Mischief Studio, Small Acts of Daring Invention **Amanda Villalobos, Kirjan Waage, Dead as a Dodo Outstanding Fight Choreography Drew Leary, Romeo + Juliet Chelsea Pace and James Yaegashi, Sumo **Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet, Bret Yount, King Lear Outstanding Adaptation Becoming Eve, by Emil Weinstein Cymbeline, by Andrea Thome Medea: Re-Versed, by Luis Quintero **, by Rupert Holmes The Devil's Disciple, by David Staller Outstanding Revue ** Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now! The Jonathan Larson Project The World According to Micki Grant Unique Theatrical Experience Odd Man Out The 7th Voyage of Egon Tichy [redux] **The Picture of Dorian Gray The Voices in Your Head The Wind and the Rain: A Story About Sunny's Bar Show with Multiple Awards 6 Wins Maybe Happy Ending 3 Wins Boop! The Musical Stranger Things: The First Shadow The Picture of Dorian Gray 2 Wins Danger and Opportunity (2 Special Awards) Gypsy John Proctor Is the Villain Just in Time Pirates! The Penzance Musical Purpose SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby 'Maybe Happy Ending' star Darren Criss on his Tony nomination for playing a robot: 'Getting to do this is the true win' Who Needs a Tony to Reach EGOT? Sadie Sink on her character's 'emotional rage' in 'John Proctor Is the Villain' and her reaction to 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow' Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tom Hanks to Star in ‘This World of Tomorrow' Play, Which He Wrote, This Fall
Tom Hanks will wear many hats this fall when he stars in a new off-Broadway play, This World of Tomorrow, based on his own short stories via a script he co-wrote with playwright James Glossman. Kenny Leon, who directed the production of Othello starring Denzel Washington and a recent revival of Our Town, will also direct. The plot centers on Bert Allenberry (Hanks' character), a time-traveling scientist from the future visiting the 1939 World's Fair in Queens in search of true love. Allenberry makes the trip through time again and again in the play, which will get its world premiere at the New York City venue, the Shed. Previews begin Oct. 30 and the production will run through Dec. 21. Tickets go on sale July 24. More from Rolling Stone Chet Hanks Reenacts 'Forrest Gump' Alongside Tom Hanks In New Music Video How to Watch the Tom Hanks-Narrated Wildlife Series 'The Americas' Online Brandi Carlile Premieres Nature-Inspired Track 'Wandering' 'To explore the themes of love and yearning, and the struggles of Today as we carry with us the eternal memories of the Past, in such a place as The Shed, strikes me as a one-of-a-kind experience, not unlike the World's Fair of 1939,' Hanks said in a statement. 'It will be a joy to experience Tom leading the cast on stage in this time-traveling adventure of the limitless power of love and the distance one is willing to go for it,' Leon said. 'This story explores a fascinating tale of the echoes of past generations, the often-surprising collisions between them, and what is carried forward with an authentic humor I can't wait to bring to life in the [Shed's] Griffin Theater.' Hanks last took the stage a little over a decade ago in Lucky Guy, a play written by Nora Ephron (who directed Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail). Hanks' performance in that play garnered Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, and Tony Award nominations. Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Best 'Saturday Night Live' Characters of All Time Denzel Washington's Movies Ranked, From Worst to Best 70 Greatest Comedies of the 21st Century
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Jill Sobule's final cryptic Instagram post haunts fans after tragic house fire fatality
The trailblazing singer-songwriter Jill Sobule passed away in a house fire in Minneapolis. Known for her iconic 1995 singles I Kissed a Girl and Supermodel , the singer's death was confirmed in a publication by her manager, John Porter. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Pakistan reopens Attari-Wagah border to allow stranded citizens in India to return Key Jammu & Kashmir reservoirs' flushing to begin soon Air India sees Pakistan airspace ban costing it $600 mn over 12 months Porter told the Minnesota Star Tribune that Sobule passed away early on Thursday in a house fire in Woodbury. She was 66. Meanwhile, the authorities are currently probing the cause of the fire. As per the reports, Sobule was due to perform at her native Denver on Friday and showcase material from her autobiographical stage musical Fck 7 th Grade . The musical had won a Drama Desk nomination in 2023. Jill Sobule's last post goes viral The singer, days before her tragic death, made a cryptic post on Instagram. She had shared a black-and-white cartoon created by artist Jason Adam Katzenstein. It showed three siren-like figures, of which two are playing guitars and one is on the drums. One of the three figures in the cartoon laments that all gigs are about luring sailors to their deaths, 'remember when it used to be about the music'. Live Events She captioned it by stating that it has been hard being on tour and that it has led to health issues. She sought advice, doctor, and physiotherapist recommendations in Los Angeles. 'I'll be there for a few weeks,' she added. Fans of the singer speculated whether Sobule was struggling, given the exhausted tone of her caption coupled with the cartoon's message, stated a Pinkvilla report. Since her passing, many have been posting their heartfelt tributes in the comments section of the post. A user thanked the songwriter for her music while another one said they were deeply saddened. 'What a life force,' the user added. Also Read : Is Gen Z struggling with mental health and happiness? Harvard study uncovers alarming truths A music legacy that broke barriers Sobule's career spanned over three decades, during which she released 12 albums. Jill was celebrated not just for her musical talent but also for tackling sensitive issues through her lyrics. She has addressed things like anorexia nervosa, capital punishment, and queer identities in her music. Her song I Kissed a Girl was one of the first openly queer-themed tracks to reach Billboard Top 20. This paved the way for queer representation in mainstream pop. Although her song is often confused with Katy Perry's 2008 track with the same name, the deceased singer's version carried a much more personal and political tone. FAQs Q: How did Jill Sobule die? A: Jill Sobule passed away in a Woodbury, Minnesota, house fire. The cause is under investigation by authorities. Q: What was Jill Sobule's most recent Instagram post? A: She posted a cartoon of musicians turning into "sirens," with a caption explaining physical suffering and fatigue from touring. Fans have since interpreted it as potentially symbolic or emotional in retrospect.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Singer Jill Sobule, known for 'I Kissed a Girl,' dies in house fire
Singer Jill Sobule, known for the 1995 song 'I Kissed a Girl,' died in a Minnesota house fire Thursday morning, her representatives said. She was 66. The fire occurred in Woodbury, a city around 16 miles east of Minneapolis, they said. Officials there said firefighters discovered a dead woman after a house fire that was reported around 5:30 a.m. Thursday. 'Jill Sobule was a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture,' manager John Porter said in a statement. "I Kissed a Girl' reached No. 20 on Billboard's modern rock chart, the first openly queer-themed record to do so. Sobule's song 'Supermodel' from the 'Clueless' soundtrack was also a pop success. Sobule most recently created a coming-of-age musical, "F--- 7th Grade," an off-Broadway show that debuted in 2022. It was a Drama Desk nominee for "outstanding musical" the next year and was named a New York Times Critic Pick. Sobule had been scheduled to perform Friday in Denver at Swallow Hill, where an informal gathering will now be held to remember her, instead, her reps said. In 2008, Katy Perry released 'I Kissed a Girl,' which was not a cover of Sobule's song. After Sobule made comments that she said were deliberately over the top and ironic, she was targeted by Perry fans who took the comments seriously. 'I may be a touch cynical about the business, but I have never really been angry or had ill feelings towards Katy herself,' Sobule wrote on what was then known as The Huffington Post. 'I was actually in a small way happy to not be the 'Kissed a Girl' girl anymore.' She said she hoped Perry fans were 'okay with the title of my brand new song, 'I Kissed a Girl ...First,'' she wrote, adding 'Wink.' Sobule is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, James and Mary Ellen Sobule, and her nephews, Ian Matthew and Robert, and Robert's wife, Irina, her reps said. This article was originally published on
