With Baldwin Wallace University on the verge of lighting up its Mainstage Theatre again with triple-threat action and applause for "Into the Woods," graduates of BW's nationally acclaimed music theatre program are back on Broadway and crisscrossing the country in national tours this fall.
Among the eight BW music theatre alumni appearing (or in rehearsal) on The Great White Way are four making their Broadway debuts, proving that a pandemic can't keep good talent down.
Veronica
Otim
'20
-
"Jagged
Little
Pill"Veronica Otim '20, who is making her Broadway debut in "Jagged Little Pill," acknowledged coming off a "rough year" when she revealed the good news via social media.
"Flew to NY for a week, last minute callback on Friday, found out on Monday, canceled my flight home for Tuesday, and started rehearsal Wednesday. This process has been insane, but I couldn't be working with a better cast and team," Otim wrote.
Eric
Siegle
'21
-
"Tina"
In another New York theatre, Eric Siegle '21 also made his Broadway debut as a swing in "Tina - The Tina Turner Musical."
Siegle is understudying the roles of Erwin Bach, Roger Davis, Terry Britten, Phil Spector and a few others, meaning he has to be ready to go on in any of those roles at a moment's notice.
He calls the experience "incredibly exciting!"
A huge Broadway opportunity came calling for Tavon Lamont Olds-Sample when he was just a sophomore BW music theatre student. Olds-Sample will make his Broadway debut as Michael in "MJ" when it starts performances this December.
David
Holbert
'19
-
"The
Lion
King"David Holbert '19 booked his Broadway debut covering the role of Simba in Broadway's "The Lion King." Holbert is also the male swing, meaning he will understudy other roles in the musical set to play New York's Minskoff Theater. Holbert is thrilled. "Anyone who knows me has probably heard me say my favorite show is 'Lion King.' Put me in as wall panel number 3, and I'll be the happiest person on earth!"
Other BW music theatre grads appearing this fall on Broadway are John Kramer '16 in "The Book of Mormon" and Nyla Watson '15 in "Waitress."
Caitlin Houlahan '14 reprised her role in "Waitress" when the show was among the first to return to The Great White Way, and Houlahan is now joining fellow BW music theatre alum Matthew Harris '18 in "Girl from the North Country," where she also appeared prior to the pandemic.
Zach Adkins '15 plays Mr. Parker Bowles in "Diana The Musical," which kicked off previews with a performance on ABC's Good Morning America.
Other BW talent, that we saw first as rising stars on our northeast Ohio stages, are in national touring companies of major productions.
Crisscrossing the country this fall are:
Proud
teacherAs is her custom, BW music theatre director Victoria Bussert has already made quick trips to New York and other cities to be in the audience as her former students take the stage.
And, as usual, she is well-stocked with tissues, perhaps more so now as dark stages and performing dreams come back to life.
Audiences can catch BW's rising stars right here in Berea, Ohio, at "Into the Woods," playing November 10-21. Information and tickets at BW's ticket site.
You can also watch for the national tours to make their way to Cleveland.
