Sheila Dabney

Sheila Dabney is an American actress whose work spans theater, film, and television. She made her Broadway appearance in 1980 as a performer in The Bacchae at Circle in the Square Theatre.

Much of Dabney's stage career unfolded at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in New York City, where she appeared in numerous productions across several decades. Her La MaMa credits include The Three Travels of Aladdin With the Magic Lamp (1982), Hot Lunch Apostles (1983 and 1984), Conjur Woman (1983 and 2008), Jerusalem (1983), Pedro Paramo (1984), Harm's Way (1985), Big Mouth (1985), Cotton Club Gala (1985), Fragments of a Greek Trilogy (1987), and Mythos Oedipus and Dionysus Filius Dei (1989), for which she also served as musical composer and director. She returned to La MaMa in 1993 for Tancredi and Erminia, contributing additional music and arrangements in addition to performing. In 2009, Dabney served as musical director and performer in Red Noir at the Living Theatre.

Away from La MaMa, Dabney performed in Sarita (1984), a production by INTAR Theatre. Written by Maria Irene Fornés, the play earned Dabney an Obie Award in 1984 for her portrayal of the title character.

In film, Dabney is recognized for her co-starring role as Agatha in the 1987 lesbian feminist film She Must Be Seeing Things, directed by Sheila McLaughlin and also featuring Lois Weaver. Her television credits include the 1974 TV film The Underground Man, in which she played a Rent-A-Car Girl, the 1982 TV film Alice at the Palace, and the 1983 TV film Rage of Angels, based on the novel by Sidney Sheldon, in which she appeared as Sharon.