The Last Midnight: October 2019

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Theatre: Stephen Sondheim Theatre (Broadway)
Opened: January 14, 2014
Closing: October 27, 2019
Tony Awards:
Best Musical [Nominated]
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for Jessie Mueller
Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Jarrod Spector [Nominated]
Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Anika Larson [Nominated]
Best Book of a Musical for Douglas McGrath [Nominated]
Best Sound Design of a Musical for Brian Ronan
Best Orchestrations for Steve Sidwell [Nominated]

Why Do I Do This?

"Why do I do this?" is a question many artists have asked themselves throughout their careers. "Why do I put myself through this hell?" Let me tell you something I have been thinking about this question a lot recently. Not just about theatre, but about life in general. "Why am I doing this? What's the point?" I cannot tell you the amount of times I have seriously debated ending my theatre career before it even starts because of stupid things people say and lies that have been spread about me. I think of everything that I go through in a single day and think "Is this worth it? Is any of this really worth it?" I'm gonna be honest with you I've not had it easy and I've come close to quitting many times, but I keep pushing forward. Earlier today was one of those days where I seriously felt like quitting. I was in the middle of cleaning my room when a picture frame fell off my dresser. I picked it up and it was a picture of me and my Grandma (the one who introduced me to theatre) and I realized I need to stop thinking and just let go of everything and clear mind. I grabbed a snack, got into bed and snuggled up under the covers and watched Cats (The 1998 film version.) And the first few notes of the overture started (You know the "da na na na na na na na da na na na na na na na.") I suddenly became a kid again. I was 4 years old and in my Grandma's family room sitting right in front of her TV and she put in the VHS (Google it if you don't know what that is) 2 tape collectors edition of Cats and with those first few notes I was enthralled. The overture and the orchestra seeing all of the eyes getting smaller and then all of a sudden the set appears and I thought "Well nothing can top that. That was epic!" and I was proven wrong. Everyone of the cats coming out in the beginning and then they opened their mouths and the most glorious vocals came out. I remember being stuck in a trance because I couldn't believe what I was seeing. With every song I was drawn in more and more and was fascianted. Anyway back to present day: I was there in my bed and those first few notes of the overture reminded me why I'm doing this. I'm doing this because of the way that film made me feel as a child. I'm doing this because theatre has helped me, changed me, educated me, healed me and saved me. I'm doing this because I love the theatre and the way it makes me feel. I'm doing this because maybe one day their will be a little kid who sits in their Grandma's living room and watch a musical, play, opera or ballet and they sit there and say "Oh my god this is epic. What is this?" And they dive into this beautiful world that helps them throughout life and shows them so many wonderful things. That is why I do this. I do this for the effects that theatre has on someone's heart. I do this because nothing feels the same as working on a show and then seeing it all come together and looking into the audience and seeing someones face light up. That is why I do this. Why do you do this?