Pia Douwes (born 5 August 1964) is a Dutch actress in

musical theatre Musical theatre is a form of theatre, theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, ...

in Europe. She is best known for having created the title role in the German-language musical '' Elisabeth''.

Biography

Douwes was born in

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...

North Holland North Holland (, ) is a Provinces of the Netherlands, province of the Netherlands in the northwestern part of the country. It is located on the North Sea, north of South Holland and Utrecht (province), Utrecht, and west of Friesland and Flevola ...

, The Netherlands, as ''Petronella Irene Allegonda Douwes'', to an arts dealer and a social worker, and is the grandniece of

Doris Day Doris Day (born Doris Mary Kappelhoff; April 3, 1922 – May 13, 2019) was an American actress and singer. She began her career as a big band singer in 1937, achieving commercial success in 1945 with two No. 1 recordings, "Sentimental Journey ...

. Initially Douwes wanted to become a nurse for mentally handicapped children, then she danced in a disco when she was 19 years old and realised that she wanted to dance. She went to

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

and searched for a dance school in the ''Yellow Pages''. She chose the ''Brooking School of Ballet''. Without any prior dance education, she auditioned (with a sprained ankle) and was accepted. One year later she attended a musical workshop with Susi Nicoletti and Sam Cane in

Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

. Cane is said to have told Douwes' father at that time: "If she doesn't become a star, I'll hang myself!" In 1986, she got her first small part in the German-language premiere of ''

Little Shop of Horrors Little Shop of Horrors may refer to: * '' The Little Shop of Horrors'', a 1960 American film * ''Little Shop of Horrors'' (musical), a 1982 musical based on the 1960 film * ''Little Shop of Horrors'' (1986 film), a 1986 American film based on th ...

'' in

. More small parts followed and in 1987 she got her first part in a larger production, as a Swing in ''

Cats The cat (''Felis catus''), also referred to as the domestic cat or house cat, is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species of the family Felidae. Advances in archaeology and genetics have shown that the ...

'' in

. With this production she toured

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

in 1988, playing

Grizabella Grizabella the Glamour Cat is a main character in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical ''Cats''. Lonely and decrepit, Grizabella seeks acceptance from the other Jellicle cats but is initially ostracised. She sings the most famous song from the music ...

and Jellylorum. More parts followed, including

Fantine Fantine (French pronunciation: ) is a fictional character in Victor Hugo's 1862 novel ''Les Misérables''. She is a young ''Grisette (person), grisette'' in Paris who is impregnated by a rich student. After he abandons her, she is forced to look ...

in the original Amsterdam production of ''

Les Misérables ''Les Misérables'' (, ) is a 19th-century French literature, French Epic (genre), epic historical fiction, historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published on 31 March 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. '' ...

'' in 1991, but her great break came in 1992, when she got the title role in the world premiere of '' Elisabeth'' in

Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...

. Though the Viennese papers wrote a lot of scathing criticism, such as ''"Munter geht die Sisi unter" ("Sisi perishes")'' and though they denied Douwes singing and acting talent of any kind, Douwes became (along with Uwe Kröger) an acclaimed musical star and reprised the title role numerous times. ''Elisabeth'' is today the most successful German-language musical of all-time. Until 1994 she played ''Elisabeth'', then played more parts such as Rizzo in '' Grease'' (Vienna) and

Eva Perón María Eva Duarte de Perón (; ; 7 May 1919 – 26 July 1952), better known as Eva Perón or by the nickname Evita (), was an Argentine politician, activist, actress, and philanthropist who served as First Lady of Argentina from June 1946 until ...

in '' Evita'' in the Dutch touring production. She was also active in other areas; she dubbed the leading part for the Dutch versions of the movies ''

Pocahontas Pocahontas (, ; born Amonute, also known as Matoaka and Rebecca Rolfe; 1596 – March 1617) was a Native American woman belonging to the Powhatan people, notable for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. S ...

'' and '' Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World''. Additionally she did the gala evenings ''In love with Musical'' along with her colleagues Uwe Kröger, Marika Lichter and Viktor Gernot. In 1999, she played Velma Kelly in the Dutch premiere of ''

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

''. Then Douwes went back to her roots and played the leading part of ''Elisabeth'' again in the Dutch and German premieres of the musical. After a total of 900 performances as the Austrian empress, she went back to the Netherlands in February 2002 to take part in the Broadway musical '' Fosse'', along with Dutch musical stars Simone Kleinsma and . In March 2003 she got the chance to play Milady de Winter in the world premiere of the Dutch musical '' 3 Musketiers'' (''The Three Musketeers''). The musical was later filmed (with her) and is now available on DVD. In 2004 she played Velma Kelly in ''Chicago'' again, but this time she performed in the

West End of London The West End of London (commonly referred to as the West End) is a district of Central London, Central London, England, in the London Borough of Camden, London Boroughs of Camden and the City of Westminster. It is west of the City of London an ...

and then on Broadway, being the first Dutch actress to take a leading role in a production on Broadway. Back again in the Netherlands she played Clara in ''Passion''. Then she went back to Germany to play Milady de Winter again in the German premiere of ''3 Musketiere'' in Theater des Westens in

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

. She played the part until 30 October 2005. In 2007, she appeared as a judge on ''Op zoek naar Evita'' (In search for Evita), a Dutch

reality show Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring ordinary people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 1990s ...

. The winner was cast as Eva Perón, a role Douwes played over a decade ago, in a new Dutch production of '' Evita''. In 2008, Pia was a judge on the German reality show ''Ich Tarzan du Jane'' in which they looked for both Tarzan and Jane to star in the German production of ''

Tarzan Tarzan (John Clayton, Viscount Greystoke) is a fictional character, a feral child raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes; he later experiences civilization, only to reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer. Creat ...

'' and returned as a judge and coach on "Op zoek naar Joseph", similar to the search for Evita, but this series searched for the male lead in the musical ''

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat ''Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'' is a sung-through musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, based on the character of Joseph from the Bible's Book of Genesis. This was the first Lloyd Webber and Rice ...

''. In late 2008, she donned the turban as the infamous Norma Desmond in the Dutch touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's ''

Sunset Boulevard Sunset Boulevard is a boulevard in the central and western part of Los Angeles, California, United States, that stretches from the Pacific Coast Highway (California), Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, Pacific Palisad ...

'', alternating in the lead role with her friend and previous ''Les Misérables'', ''Chicago'' and ''Fosse'' co-star, Simone Kleinsma. In 2009 she returned yet again to judge and coach the contestants of a new ''Op Zoek Naar...'' series, this time searching for the woman who would play Mary Poppins. After the program ended, Pia played the role 'Velma Kelly' for six weeks on the West End in 2009. From August 2010 until January 2011 she played the 'Killer Queen' in the rock musical ''

We Will Rock You "We Will Rock You" is a song by the British rock band Queen from their 1977 album '' News of the World'', written by guitarist Brian May. ''Rolling Stone'' ranked it number 330 of " The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and the RIAA it p ...

'' in Utrecht. She then toured through the Netherlands with the Dutch production of

Master Class ''Master Class'' is a 1995 play by American playwright Terrence McNally, presented as a fictional master class by opera singer Maria Callas near the end of her life, in the 1970s. The play features incidental vocal music by Giuseppe Verdi, Giac ...

, in which she played the part of

Maria Callas Maria Callas (born Maria Anna Cecilia Sophia Kalogeropoulos; December 2, 1923 – September 16, 1977) was an American-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned and influential opera singers of the 20th century. Many critics praised ...

. The tour lasted until the end of May 2011, with two extra performances in September 2011. Pia has played the role of Mrs. Danvers in the Stuttgart production of

Rebecca Rebecca () appears in the Hebrew Bible as the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau. According to biblical tradition, Rebecca's father was Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram, also called Aram-Naharaim. Rebecca's brother was Laban (Bi ...

, Claire Zachanassian in the Vienna production of '' Der Besuch der alten Dame'', Diane in the Fürth production of ''

Next To Normal ''Next to Normal'' is a 2008 American rock musical with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. The story centers on a mother who struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effects that managing her illness has on her fam ...

''and Mrs. Wilkinson in the Dutch production of ''

Billy Elliot the Musical ''Billy Elliot: The Musical'' is a Coming-of-age story, coming-of-age stage musical based on the Billy Elliot, 2000 film of the same name. The music is by Elton John, and the book and lyrics are by Lee Hall (playwright), Lee Hall, who wrote th ...

''. She has taken part in over 25 CD productions, and was a duet partner of

José Carreras Josep Maria Carreras Coll (; born 5 December 1946), better known as José Carreras (, ), is a Catalan operatic tenor from Spain who is particularly known for his performances in the operas of Donizetti, Verdi and Puccini. Born in Barcelona, ...

. In 2023, she took part in the television show '' Het Onbekende''.

Musical Engagements

* 1986 - ''Little Shop of Horrors'', Crystal in Vienna * 1986 - 1987''Sammy Mario and Dancers'', Dancer in Vienna * 1987 - ''Cats'', Swing, Grizabella, Jellylorum in Amsterdam * 1988 - 1989 ''Cats'', Grizabella, Jellylorum, Demeter in Vienna * 1988 - ''Cats'', Grizabella, Jellylorum at the tour through Russia * 1990 - ''West Side Story'', Maria at the tour through Belgium and the Netherlands * 1991 - 1992 ''Les Misérables'', Fantine in Amsterdam & Scheveningen * 1992 - 1994 ''Elisabeth'', Empress Elisabeth in Vienna * 1994 ''Other People's Money'', Kate Sullivan in Prague * 1994 ''West Side Story'', Maria in Summer of Musical Amstetten * 1994 - 1995 ''Grease'', Rizzo in Vienna * 1995 / 1996 ''Cabaret'',

Sally Bowles Sally Bowles () is a fictional character created by English-American novelist Christopher Isherwood and based upon 19-year-old cabaret singer Jean Ross. The character debuted in Isherwood's 1937 novella ''Sally Bowles'' published by Hogarth Pre ...

in Bad Hersfeld, Germany * August 10, 1995 ''Cats'', Grizabella and guest at the premiere in Vienna * 1995 - 1996 and January 1997 ''Evita'', Eva Péron at the tour through the Netherlands * 1997 ''Rocky Horror Show'', Janet in Bad Hersfeld, Germany * 1997 - 1999 ''Dance! Dance! Dance!'', Soloist in Vienna * 1997 - 1998 ''Jane Eyre'', Jane Eyre at the tour through the Netherlands * November 1998 ''Savanah Bay'', Young Woman in the Netherlands * December 1999 ''The Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical Gala'', Soloist at the tour through Germany * 1999 ''Chicago'', Velma Kelly in Utrecht * 1999 - 2000 ''Elisabeth'', Elisabeth in Schevenigen * 2000 ''Sweeney Todd'', Beggar Woman, Debut in the West End of London * December 2000 ''Cole Porter's Songbook'', Soloist * 2001 - 2002 ''Elisabeth'', Empress Elisabeth in Essen * 2002 ''Fosse'', Soloist at the tour through the Netherlands * 2003 - 2004 ''3 Musketiers'', Milady de Winter in Rotterdam * 2004 ''Chicago'', Velma Kelly in London * 2004 ''Chicago'', Velma Kelly, Debut on broadway * 2004 - 2005 ''Passion'', Clara at the tour through the Netherlands * 2005 ''3 Musketiere'', Milady de Winter in Berlin * 2006 ''Cabaret'' in Amsterdam * 2006 ''Elisabeth'', Empress Elisabeth in Stuttgart * November 2006 - March 4, 2007 ''3 Musketiere'', Milady de Winter in Stuttgart * April - June 2007 ''Best of Musical 2007'' * July 2007 ''Cats'', Grizabella * December 5, 2007, ''Chicago'': 10th Anniversary Gala" as Velma Kelly. * 2008 04.01. - 27.01. ''Die drei Musketiere'', Milady de Winter in Stuttgart * 2008 20.04 - 06.07 ''Elisabeth'', Empress Elisabeth in Berlin * 2008-2009 ''Sunset Boulevard'' * 2009 14.09 - 24.10 ''Chicago'', West End as Velma Kelly * September 2010 - December 2010 ''We will rock you'', The Netherlands as Killer Queen * December 2011 - 2013 ''

'',

Stuttgart Stuttgart (; ; Swabian German, Swabian: ; Alemannic German, Alemannic: ; Italian language, Italian: ; ) is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Baden-Württemberg by population, largest city of the States of Germany, German state of ...

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

as Mrs. Danvers * October 2013 ''Next to normal - fast normal'' German Premiere as "Diana" * 2014 11.30 ''

Billy Elliot ''Billy Elliot'' is a 2000 British coming-of-age Comedy film, comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Daldry and written by Lee Hall (playwright), Lee Hall. Set in County Durham in North East England during the 1984–1985 miners' strike, the fi ...

'' - Mrs. Wilkinson (Scheveningen, 2014.11.30 - ) * 2018 ''The Addams Family'' - Morticia Addams * 2019 ''Elisabeth in Concert'' - as Empress Elisabeth (Schloss Schönbrunn, Vienna) * 2022 ''

The Prom (Musical) ''The Prom'' is a musical theatre, musical with music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, and a book by Bob Martin (comedian), Bob Martin and Beguelin, based on an original concept by Jack Viertel. The musical follows four Broadway theatr ...

'' - Dee Dee Allen (Holland Tour) * 2023/24 Follies - Sally (Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden) * 2025

Elisabeth (musical) ''Elisabeth'' is a Viennese Musical theatre, musical commissioned by the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien and originally produced in German, with a book and lyrics by Michael Kunze and music by Sylvester Levay. It portrays the life and death of Empress El ...

- Elisabeth (Tour - The Netherlands)

Discography

* 1987 ''Cats'', Cast recording * 1989 ''It's time to say we care'', Single for the benefit of the Aids-Gala in Vienna * 1991 ''Les Misérables'', Cast recording * 1992 ''Hier sta ik'', Single * 1992 ''Ich gehör nur mir / I belong to me'', Single * 1992 ''Elisabeth'', Cast recording * 1994 Aidan Bell: ''Time Warp Duett: Maybe we can make it'' * 1994 ''Grease'', Live recording * 1995 ''Living Water'', Benefit CD * 1995 ''Musical Christmas in Vienna'', Sampler * 1995 ''Pocahontas'', Original Soundtrack Holland * 1995 ''Evita'', Cast recording * 1995 ''Cabaret'', Cast recording * 1996 ''Stars singen Weihnachtslieder'', Sampler * 1996 ''Rocky Horror Show'', Cast recording * 1997 ''Still in love with Musical'', Live recording * 1997 ''Shades of night, Musicals go rock'', Sampler * 1998 ''10 für Zehn'', Benefit CD * 1998 ''Pocahontas II'', Original Soundtrack Holland * 1998 ''Joop van den Enden presenteert: De beste uit de musicals'', Sampler * 1998 ''Chicago'', Cast recording * 1999 ''Elisabeth'', Cast recording (Netherlands) * 1999 ''Mijn leven is van mij'', Single (Dutch version of ''Ich gehör nur mir'' / ''I belong to me'') * 2000 ''Die fantastische Welt des Musicals'', Sampler * 2000 ''Alles Musical'', Sampler * 2000 ''Hoogtepunten uit de musicals, aangeboden door Persil'', Sampler * 2000 ''Hilversum Calling'', Sampler * 2000 ''Zing dan! Luisterliedjes'', Sampler * 2001 ''Ernst Daniel Smit e amici: Una voce particulare - Duet'', Sampler "Tu Cosa Fai Stasera" * 2001 ''Elisabeth'', Cast recording in Essen, Germany * 2001 ''3 CD-Track: "Ich gehör nur mir"'', Single * 2001 ''In love with musical again'', Live recording * 2001 ''Steve Barton memorial concert'', Live recording * 2001 ''Uwe Kröger: Only the best'' * 2001 ''Uwe Kröger: Musical Moments'' * 2002 ''Het mooiste uit de nederlandse musicals'', Sampler * 2002 ''Fosse (Bye bye, blackbird)'', Promotional single * 2003 ''De drie Musketiers'', Cast recording * 2003 ''De drie Musketiers - Special Edition'', Cast recording, extra's CD & DVD * 2003 ''Uwe Kröger: Musical Moments 2'' * 2004 ''Het mooiste uit de nederlandse musicals II'', Sampler * 2004 ''Passion'', Cast recording * 2005 ''Die drei Musketiere'', Cast recording * 2006 ''Cabaret'', Cast recording * 2007 ''Dezemberlieder'' (December Songs), Solo CD of

Maury Yeston Maury Yeston (born October 23, 1945) is an American composer, lyricist and music theorist. Yeston has written the music and lyrics for several Broadway musicals and is also a classical orchestral and ballet composer. Among his Broadway music ...

's famous song cycle in German language * 2009 ''Sunset Boulevard'' CD to the Dutch Tourproduction, complete live recording with Simone Kleinsma (disc 1) and some studiotracks with Pia Douwes (disc 2) * 2013 ''Somewhere in the Audience'' compilation of four of

Eric Woolfson Eric Norman Woolfson (18 March 1945 – 2 December 2009) was a Scottish songwriter, lyricist, vocalist, executive producer, pianist, and co-creator of the band the Alan Parsons Project, who sold over 50 million albums worldwide. Woolfson also p ...

Broadway style soundtracks

Awards and nominations

* Image 1996 for ''Elisabeth'' in Vienna on* 1996 Bad Hersfeld Audience Award for ''Cabaret'' in Bad Hersfeld on* 2000 John Kraaijkamp Musical Award, Best Actress in a Leading Role for ''Elisabeth'' in Scheveningen ominated* 2002 John Kraaijkamp Musical Award, Best Actress Abroad for ''Elisabeth'' in Essen on* 2003 John Kraaijkamp Musical Award, Best Actress in a Leading Role for ''3 Musketiers'' in Rotterdam ominated* 2005 John Kraaijkamp Musical Award, Best Actress in a Supporting Role for ''Passion'' in the Netherlands ominated* 2006 Da Capo Award, Best Musical Actress for ''3 Musketiere'' in Berlin on* 2006 Da Capo Award, Best Female Voice on she won this award 6 times. * 2014 John Kraaijkamp Musical Award, Best Actress in a Leading Role for

in Scheveningen ominated Pia has also been given the award for Female Leading Role six times by the readers of the German magazine "Musicals" for her performances in ''Elisabeth'' also the best Female with the most beautiful voice.

References

External links

Official website and fanclub: www.piadouwes.com
(in Dutch, German and English) * {{DEFAULTSORT:Douwes, Pia 1964 births Actresses from Amsterdam Dutch musical theatre actresses Dutch sopranos Dutch women singers Living people