Ursula Schaeppi or Ursula Schäppi (born 22 June 1940) is a
Swiss
Swiss most commonly refers to:
* the adjectival form of Switzerland
* Swiss people
Swiss may also refer to: Places
* Swiss, Missouri
* Swiss, North Carolina
* Swiss, West Virginia
* Swiss, Wisconsin
Other uses
* Swiss Café, an old café located ...
comedian, radio personality, and stage, voice and film actress starring usually in Swiss German language stage productions and as voice actress in children's literature.
Early life and education
Born and raised in
Zürich
Zurich (; ) is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. , the municipality had 448,664 inhabitants. The ...
,
Canton of Zürich
The canton of Zurich is an administrative unit (Swiss canton, canton) of Switzerland, situated in the northeastern part of the country. With a population of (as of ), it is the most populous canton of Switzerland. Zurich is the ''de facto'' Capi ...
in Switzerland, Ursula Schäppi began acting at the conservatory in Bern at Margarethe Schell von Noé in 1955 and in 1956/58 lessons with Walter Fried on ''Bühnenstudio Zürich'', and private lessons with Richard Münch. During her training Schaeppi premiered on stage, and played among others ''Gisèle'' in Giraudoux's "Intermezzo" on
Schauspielhaus Zürich
The Schauspielhaus Zürich () is one of the most prominent and important theatres in the history of German-speaking theater.
It is also known as "Pfauenbühne" (Peacock Stage). The large theatre has 750 seats. The also operates three stages ...
in 1955.
Theater, playwright and children's literature and plays
In 1958 Schaeppi was engaged at the ''Studio 20'' in Bern as ''Laura'' in Williams' ''
The Glass Menagerie
''The Glass Menagerie'' is a memory play by Tennessee Williams that premiered in 1944 and catapulted Williams from obscurity to fame. The play has strong autobiographical elements, featuring characters based on its author, his histrionic mo ...
''. From 1959 she worked at German city theatres, among other things, in Castrop-Rauxel, Berlin, München and in Rendsburg. At this time also began Schaeppi's career with children and trouser roles that later became one of her trademarks, including the title role in Saint-Exupéry's ''
The Little Prince
''The Little Prince'' (, ) is a novella written and illustrated by French writer and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It was first published in English and French in the United States by Reynal & Hitchcock in April 1943 and was published po ...
''. In 1968/69 she toured with the ''Deutsche Kammerspiele Buenos Aires'' through South and Central America, and received an engagement at ''Berliner Kammerspiele'' stages in 1971/72. Since 1969 she appeared in guest roles at Swiss theaters, for example, in 1969 at the ''Stadttheater Bern'' as ''Effie'' in Ludwig Thomas' "Moral", and in 1970 at the gallery theater ''Die Rampe'' in Bern as ''Mingo'' in the premiere of Alexander Ziegler's "Zellengeflüster". In 1976 she starred in the title role of
Hansjörg Schneider
Hansjörg Schneider (born 27 March 1938) is a Swiss writer and dramatist known for occasionally using ''Mundart'' or Swiss dialect. He received the Phantastik-Preis der Stadt Wetzlar
Phantastik-Preis der Stadt Wetzlar is a literary prize of Hesse ...
's "Sennentuntschi" that was directed by Schneider.
It was followed by appearances at the ''Stadttheater Luzern'', ''Kleintheater Kramgasse 6'' in Bern and at the ''Stadttheater Chur'', and since the early 1970s, also first appearances in the Swiss German dialect theater. Her breakthrough celebrated Ursula Schäppi in 1975,
at
Bernhard-Theater Zürich
The Bernhard-Theater Zürich or Bernhard Theater is a theatre in German-speaking Switzerland situated at Sechseläutenplatz in Zürich. It is part of the building complex '' Opernhaus Zürich'' and also houses the ''Restaurant Belcanto''. The t ...
as ''Heideli'' in the premiere of Max Rüeger's "Hochzeit in Hägglingen", under the direction of
Inigo Gallo,
followed by regular appearances in the Bernhard-Theater, at first mainly in cabaret revues by
Charles Lewinsky
Charles Lewinsky is a Swiss screenwriter and playwright, as well as a writer of novels and non-fiction, born and living in Zürich. He is known for his TV script '' Fascht e Familie''.
Early life and education
Born and raised in Zürich, Canto ...
,
Fredy Lienhard and
Hans Gmür, later in Swiss dialect versions of boulevard plays, for example, in 1988 in the title role of
Jack Popplewell
Jack Popplewell (22 March 1909 – 16 November 1996) was an English writer and playwright.
Life
Popplewell was born and grew up in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire. He published his first song in 1940, and his first play, ''Blind Alley'' was sta ...
's successful play "Katharina die Kühne" and Swiss tour performances and television broadcasting. Moreover, Schaeppi created her own arrangements for Swiss productions of the Bernhard Theater where she also performed in leading roles. There, also the long-standing collaboration with Rudolf Haas and Franco Romano began. She had further guest appearances at other theaters, for example, in 1979 as ''Oma Zeitel'' in
Jerry Bock
Jerrold Lewis Bock (November 23, 1928November 3, 2010) was an American musical theater composer. He received the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama with Sheldon Harnick for their 1959 musical '' Fiorello!'' and the Tony A ...
's musical "Anatevka" and in 1982 as ''Toinette '' in Molière's ''
The Imaginary Invalid
''The Imaginary Invalid'', ''The Hypochondriac'', or ''The Would-Be Invalid'' ( French title ''Le Malade imaginaire'', ) is a three- act ''comédie-ballet'' by the French playwright Molière with dance sequences and musical interludes ( H.495, H ...
'' on ''Atelier Theater'' in Bern.
National merits gained Ursula Schäppi since 1977 through her appearances on Swiss television as ''Goof'' or ''Göre Ursula'' (cheeky girl) in Kurt Felix' "Teleboy", by her television show ''10 x Schaeppi'' and as ''Eva Chifler'' in "Traumpaar" with
Walter Andreas Müller when even a song was listed in the Swiss radio charts.
Starting in 1987, Schaeppi produced independent theater productions with Haas, Romano and Müller, in which she also starred and for which she often wrote the Swiss dialect versions, including in 1987 the Swiss premiere of Pierre Chesnot's "Vier linke Hände" with Müller and directed by Haas, in 1991 as "Käthi - Superstar", and in 1994 the dialect version of "Die Sternstunde der Hanna Bieder", which on ''Gastspieltheater Zürich'' was resumed in 2000. In 1990, she starred in a dual role as Lisbethli and her mother the infomercial
Rotsch'' A great success was "Stan und Ollie in der Schweiz", starring Schaeppi as ''
Stan'' and ''
Stephanie Glaser'' as ''
Ollie
Ollie is a given name and a nickname, often as a shortened form of Oliver (given name), Oliver, Olive (given name), Olive, Olympia, Olga (name), Olga or Olivia (given name), Olivia. Variants include Olie, Oli, Oly (disambiguation), Oly and Olly (di ...
''. Her productions staged for several years guest performances, among others at the Bernhard-Theater,
on
Theater am Hechtplatz,
and on the studio stage of the
Opernhaus Zürich, at the ''Atelier-Theater'' in Bern and at the ''Sommertheater Winterthur''. After a long pause Schaeppi published other theater directing credits and Swiss dialect edits: in 1998 "Tatort: Goldküste!" according to Popplewell, and in 2001 the Swiss premiere of Jack Jacquin's "Der Mord zum Sonntag" on ''Gastspieltheater Zürich'' where Schaeppi starred in the lead role.
Ursula Schäppi wrote and spoke children's stories and fairy tales, which are available as audiobooks.
She also became popular by numerous radio appearances. Beside the stage, she became popular, along with
Jörg Schneider Jörg Schneider may refer to:
* Jörg Schneider (actor) (1935–2015), Swiss actor
* Jörg Schneider (politician)
Jörg Schneider (born 14 May 1964) is a German politician for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and since 2017 member of the Bunde ...
,
Paul Bühlmann
Paul Bühlmann (12 February 1927 – 15 July 2000) was a Swiss comedian, radio personality, and stage and film actor starring usually in Swiss German language cinema and television and stage productions.
Life and work
Born in Zürich, Canton of ...
and
Ines Torelli, by fairytale-radio plays records.
After many years absence from the stage, in 2012 she toured again in her signature role as ''Requisiteuse''. Ursula Schaeppi founded the children's theater studio in the
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
of
Thalwil
Thalwil is a Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality and town in the district of Horgen (district), Horgen in the Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Zurich (canton), Zürich in Switzerland. The municipality includes two parts: Thalwil and Gatti ...
on ''Zürichsee'' lake shore. Celebrating her 75th anniversary, Ursula Schaeppi announced to focus finally, at the request of a group of seniors, increasingly on theater productions with their peers because "many of the existing plays are just too dull".
Personal life
Ursula Schaeppi is a citizen of the
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
of
Thalwil
Thalwil is a Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality and town in the district of Horgen (district), Horgen in the Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Zurich (canton), Zürich in Switzerland. The municipality includes two parts: Thalwil and Gatti ...
in the
Canton of Zürich
The canton of Zurich is an administrative unit (Swiss canton, canton) of Switzerland, situated in the northeastern part of the country. With a population of (as of ), it is the most populous canton of Switzerland. Zurich is the ''de facto'' Capi ...
. Schaeppi was married with Rudolf Haas, a Swiss and actor with whom she also toured. In 1998 on Swiss television SRF Schaeppi talked about her depression to which she suffered after seven friends died within a short period; it was accompanied by a career slump, and she stepped back public appearance.
She also suffers of chronic lymphoid leukaemia which did not to allow to stage again on
Bernhard-Theater Zürich
The Bernhard-Theater Zürich or Bernhard Theater is a theatre in German-speaking Switzerland situated at Sechseläutenplatz in Zürich. It is part of the building complex '' Opernhaus Zürich'' and also houses the ''Restaurant Belcanto''. The t ...
in "Sie spillt wieder mit öis. Aber nume no eimal!".
Filmography
* 1990: ''Rotsch''
* 1973: ''Ein Fall für Männdli'' (Television series, 1 episode)
Awards
* 2013: Ehren-
Prix Walo
The Prix Walo is a Swiss award given for showbusiness.
Awards since 1994 Honorable - Walo - awards
* 1983: Charly Fritsche
* 1991: Eynar Grabowsky
* 1992: Willi Schmidt, First Harmonic Brass Band
* 1993: Caterina Valente, Ettore Cella
* 1994: ...
for her lifetime work.
* 1989: ''Prix Bernhard'' by
Bernhard-Theater Zürich
The Bernhard-Theater Zürich or Bernhard Theater is a theatre in German-speaking Switzerland situated at Sechseläutenplatz in Zürich. It is part of the building complex '' Opernhaus Zürich'' and also houses the ''Restaurant Belcanto''. The t ...
* 1987:
Prix Walo
The Prix Walo is a Swiss award given for showbusiness.
Awards since 1994 Honorable - Walo - awards
* 1983: Charly Fritsche
* 1991: Eynar Grabowsky
* 1992: Willi Schmidt, First Harmonic Brass Band
* 1993: Caterina Valente, Ettore Cella
* 1994: ...
''Publikumsliebling'' together with
Walter Andreas Müller
References
External links
*
Ursula Schaeppi on the website of the Swiss national television SRF
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schaeppi, Ursula
1940 births
Swiss stage actresses
Swiss film actresses
20th-century Swiss actresses
Actresses from Zurich
Kabarettists
Swiss radio actresses
Swiss women comedians
Swiss musical theatre actresses
Swiss television actresses
Swiss voice actresses
Living people
20th-century Swiss women singers
People from Thalwil
Swiss theatre directors
Swiss women theatre directors
Swiss dramatists and playwrights
Swiss women dramatists and playwrights
21st-century Swiss actresses