Newsday (Suffolk Edition) from Melville, New York • 128

IN STEP WITH: Sophie HIS WAS IN SAM'S- NICE, basement-looking restaurant just off Broadway, with brick walls and checkered tablecloths--and I was there to talk with Sophie Hayden, who became a major new Broadway star as Rosabella in the triumphant revival of one of America's great musicals, The Most Happy Fella. Sophie is also a new mother (her first child, daughter Hallie, having been born Nov. 3), and, as new mothers are supposed to do, she was no sooner seated than she was pulling out baby pictures. "Here's her 'talking to Johnny Carson' pose," Sophie said. And, sure enough, here was this cute little kid, naked as an egg, leaning on one elbow against the arm of a couch and looking off to the side as if chatting with the former Tonight Show host.

I tell you, in this family they start performing young. This does not mean it comes easily. Take Sophie herself. After 10 years of solid work on Broadway (and raves from the toughest critics in show after show), she found that her career had hit a wall. She seriously considered going back to college to prepare herself to become a physical therapist.

"Part of it was my fault," she said. "I was very picky about roles. I didn't want to go on tour, didn't want to live out of a suitcase. And I was married. I thought maybe! I could put myself through school doing voice-overs." Then along came Rosabella, a tremendous role as the greasy-spoon waitress who becomes the mail-order bride of an aging Napa Valley winemaker.

No sooner had Ms. Hayden won the role than she discovered she was pregnant. But, in show-biz tradition, she went on anyway--working until the end of her fifth month and pulling in brilliant notices in this revival, which began as a summer-theater production. "People are so moved by this show," said Sophie, who resumed her role in January, when the show came to Broadway. "No fancy sets, no fancy costumes and no orchestra- -just two pianos.

It's the purest theater experience I've ever had. How powerful a thing it is to be an actor." She is a pretty, small (5 feet 3), dark-haired woman who grew up in rural upstate New York, where she was once a champion baton-twirler (no, Hallie will not twirl, girl," she Sophie told me. assured "I me). came "I from was a a very farm. My serious parents little Sophie are still Sophie alive, was and my nominated dad for has desis actress wonderful in a musical, and a losing out to Faith Prince of Guys and Dolls.

What's it like to sit there as they name the winner, and it isn't reason why you? "I knew Faith was going to win," she said. "I didn't even have a speech prepared. What was really sweet, Fella" is so some of the papers said I should have won. And David shouted, 'You're getting BY JAMES BRADY Hayden BORN: Feb. 23, 1954, in Miami, Fla.

PERSONAL: Married David Rosen in 1980; one daughter. THEATER: Includes (as Sophie Schwab) King of Schnorrers, 1979; Barnum, 1980; She Loves Me, 1981; The Three Moscowteers, 1984; (as Sophie Hayden) The Three Sisters, 1985; The Comedy of Errors, 1987; The Most Happy Fella, 1992. Adams Eddie Since The BRADY'S BITS that corniest of Happy Fella Most order bride plot devices- the relies on a younger, by a fake attracted mailhow Sophie man--I photo of doing dinner met her husband. "I asked was running theater," she was onstage, and the he had light that said. followed "David me Six months this theater, and he later, I said, returned to crush that on same me.

Hayden, new mommy someone I said else, and I 'Do didn't. you I remember out, and I but David kept asking dating Broadway star, is a big a big saying Then me canceled. snowstorm, asked and the show we was had Happy we down talked for five hours me to dinner, "The Most and darned happy. was so the street the and then walked knew that at persistent and funny, and he snow, 24 I met and I the man I loved." PAGE 18 AUGUST 2, 1992 PARADE MAGAZINE.