Artist Profile: Sophie Garrigus ’25 on Laughter, Levity, and Love

Sophie M. Garrigus ’25, a true multi-hyphenate with talents spanning acting, singing, writing, comedy, composition, and more, has crafted her artistic journey with a delightful blend of silly fearlessness and an unwavering passion for discovering the light and levity in life.

Growing up in Los Angeles, a city of creativity, Garrigus was immersed in the world of performance from an early age. In an interview with The Harvard Crimson, Garrigus reflected on her roots.

“My family is really important to me, and their sense of care through music and laughter and silliness. I try to replicate that approach to community and to the world that they have.”

Garrigus has contributed to many artistic communities herself, cultivating a vast interdisciplinary family and performing everywhere from overseas at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Mira Rose Kingsbury-Lee ’24’s musical “Atalanta” to on-campus improv shows.

Recently, she has been working with the Hasty Pudding Theatricals in an exciting new capacity as a co-writer of their upcoming 2024 comedy musical. Drawing inspiration from acclaimed playwrights Clare Barron and Sarah Ruhl, Garrigus navigates the realm of theater as both a writer and an actor.

For Garrigus, the theater is a magical and embodied art form that begins as a “grounded physical practice,” allowing actors to explore “physical and vocal extremes.”

“I love getting to play silly characters or characters who are really different from me, like in the Hasty Pudding, where it's just completely larger than life, kind of cartoon-y people,” she said.

Even when delving into more dramatic roles, like her exploration of ethical dilemmas as Dr. Lorna James in a 2022 production of “The Effect,” Garrigus employs an acting process led by a blend of repetition and spontaneity based on deep character development.

In this approach, she ensures that even in the most intense moments, there remains a “thread of lightness.” This commitment to authenticity defines her artistic philosophy.

Garrigus shared that part of her creative process involves overcoming the fear of failure, a universal struggle in the performing arts. Confronting the unknown head-on, she embraces the unpredictable nature of live performance.

“I try to tamp down my instinct to be terrified of messing up,” Garrigus said. “I try to make a conscious effort to just throw stuff at the wall and hope that something will stick.”

In the broad range of Sophie M. Garrigus's artistic journey, the common thread running throughout is her fearless pursuit of joy, authenticity, and celebration of life. Whether she's co-writing a theatrical production or embodying diverse characters on stage, Garrigus’s commitment to finding humor in the human experience shines through, making her a dynamic force in the world of performing arts.