Actor, dancer, singer, choreographer and director Nancye Hayes AM began her career in JC Williamson's production of My Fair Lady in 1961. However it was the title role in Sweet Charity in 1967 that established her name. Some of her musical successes include A Little Night Music, Pippin, Irene, Annie, Chicago, Sweeny Todd and Nine. She won a Victorian Green Room Award, the Norman Kessell Memorial Award and the Sydney Theatre Critics' Circle Award for Best Actress for her performance in Guys and Dolls and a MO Award for 42nd Street.
Her other stage credits include Grey Gardens, Turns, Murderers, Metro Street, Broadway Bound, Showboat, Same Time Next Year, The Glass Menagerie, Steel Magnolias, Stepping Out, Follies in Concert, The Music Man, The Snow Queen, Eureka and Oklahoma and the Sydney Theatre Company's revival production of Summer Rain. During 2006/2007 Nancye was on tour with the enormously successful production of Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks (Ensemble Theatre/Christine Dunstan Productions) which co-starred Todd McKenney and delighted audiences throughout Australia.
In 2008, Nancye wowed audiences in Opera Australia's My Fair Lady playing the role of Mrs Higgins for which she won the 2009 Helpmann Award for best female actor in a supporting role in a musical.
Melbourne Review on SWEET CHARITY
As a director, Nancye's credits include The Boy from Oz (The Production Co.), Crazy for You and The World Goes Round (Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts), Australia's Leading Ladies Concert (Brisbane Festival), The Wizard of Oz (GFO/SEL/Macks Entertainment), The 3 Divas (Christine Dunstan Productions), Annie (The Frost Organisation) and Gypsy starring Judi Connelli (part of the Encore Series for The Production Company). Nancye also worked as associate director alongside Judy Davis on Barrymore for Sydney Theatre Company.
Nancye's choreographic credits include My Fair Lady for Victorian State Opera (Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane seasons), Falsettos for Sydney Theatre Company and Guys and Dolls for NIDA.
Nancye has also made numerous television appearances including guest roles in Home & Away, Blue Heelers, The Dismissal, The Last Bastion, The Sullivans, Carson's Law, Rafferty's Rules and GP and hosted the ABC's Once In A Blue Moon featuring songs for Australian musicals. Her life story and career have also been honoured by This is Your Life and Talking Heads. Nancye recently completed filming the role of Jean Sledge in the Hanks/Spielberg production of The Pacific.
Nancye's first cabaret show Nancye with An E, written and directed by Tony Sheldon, has played throughout Australia and is available on CD.
The Sydney Morning Herald on JERRY'S GIRLS
Nancye is honoured to have received three Lifetime Achievement awards – from the Variety Club in 1997, from the Green Room Awards Association in 2003 and from the Sydney Theatre Awards in 2009.
In 2011 Nancye was honoured to be a recipient of the JC Williamson award that recognises an outstanding contribution to the Australian Live Performance Industry. During 2012, Nancye received her second Helpmann for best supporting actress for her performance as Big Edie in Grey Gardens (The Production Co) and toured nationally in the role of Miss Hannigan in Annie for GFO.
In 2013 Nancye directed and choreographed 'Noel and Gertie' (CDP Productions) which toured N.S.W., Victoria and South Australia and performed dual roles in Stephen Sondheim's 'Sunday in the Park with George' for Victoria State Opera. In 2014 Nancye was awarded an A.M.in the Australia Day Honours for services to the performing arts as an actor,choreographer and director and played the role of Lady Bracknell in 'The Importance of being Earnest'.
In 2016, Nancye returned Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks in Sydney and Wollongong, played the role of Hattie in Follies in Concert at the Melbourne Recital Centre and Mrs Brice in Funny Girl for The Production Company.
For significant service to the performing arts,
particularly musical theatre, as an actor,
choreographer and director
For Best Actress in a Supporting Role
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
Best Female Actor
GREY GARDENS
JCW Lifetime Achivement Award
Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
MY FAIR LADY
Lifetime Achievement Award
Best Female Artist in a Featured Role
MY FAIR LADY
Best Female Performance
SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS
Lifetime Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
Best Supporting Female Musical Theatrical Performer
42ND STREET
GUYS AND DOLLS
STEPPING OUT
Norman Kessell Memorial Award
GUYS AND DOLLS
Best Actress
GUYS AND DOLLS
GUYS AND DOLLS
STEPPING OUT
For significant service to the performing arts,
particularly musical theatre, as an actor, choreographer and director.
