In Memoriam: SONDRA GORNEY
August 2015
Sondra Gorney was an actress, author, and beloved member of the League of Professional
Theatre Women. She will be deeply missed.
Sondra began her acting career in Chicago in theatre, radio and the Federal Theatre; then in New York and Hollywood. She was also an editor for Pic, a national news magazine and covered
Hollywood where she married Jay Gorney, a film and stage composer. They co-produced several musical revues including “Meet the People.”
In New York, they established the first musical play department at the New School and the
American Theatre Wing professional training program. Then she had a career as a Public
Relations Executive for non-profit organizations, as well as top corporations.
Her return to theatre was via the Off- Broadway route before performing in Equity productions, as well as films and TV. Her most recent performance was as Mrs. Hobson in Stuart Vaughan’s
“The Scarlet Letter” at the Gene Frankel Theatre. Other credits include “Mind Tricks” (Vital
Theatre), “Aunt Vanya” (78th St. Theatre Lab), and “Grandma Sylvia’s Funeral” ( Soho
Playhouse) for a four year run. Earlier various productions were at the Vineyard Theatre ,
Westside Repertory, Duality and Ubu Theatres; seven feature films including “The Producers” ;
and in TV’s “Law and Order.”
Sondra was the author of two books: “After Forty, How Women Can Achieve Fulfillment,” and “
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? The Life of Composer Jay Gorney.”
In addition to her membership in Equity and SAG/AFTRA, she was a proud member of the
League of Professional Theatre Women, the New York Sheet Music Society, and on the board of
the New York Coalition of Women in the Arts and Media.
