Broadway and Its Impact Today in Cincinnati
Though the first ever Broadway show to occur took place in New York in 1866, it sparked the phenomenon of modern Broadway musicals everywhere. Our city of Cincinnati has also had a historical run, albeit a bit shorter, starting 38 years ago in 1987. It was a classic – Singin’ in the Rain, performed in September of that year at the Taft Theater and the only official Broadway performance of it in the Queen City.
Today, classics are still being performed, and new classics have arisen, now staged at the Aronoff Center since its opening in 1995. Thanks to Broadway Across America, specifically Broadway in Cincinnati, this year is chock-full of them.
The season started in September, with the 2020 musical adaptation of the beloved film classic, Back to the Future. Composer Alan Silvestri, who scored the original 1985 movie, returned to create the soundtrack to the musical.
In December, Broadway in Cincinnati will also feature the legendary musical Hamilton. With music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the revolutionary tale focuses on Founding Father Alexander Hamilton and the story of our country.
After Hamilton, we’ll also see performances of productions like Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen, Shucked, The Wiz, the classic Chicago, Water for Elephants, Suffs and a grand finish with the unrivaled success of Disney’s The Lion King. The highest grossing Broadway show of all time, The Lion King features music by famous names such as Hans Zimmer, Elton John and Tim Rice.
Romance blossomed most recently in another film-to-stage adaptation, this time based on Nicholas Sparks’ best-selling novel The Notebook. Here in Cincinnati, the production took place mid-October, featuring Alysha Deslorieux as Allie and Ken Wulf Clark as Noah.
Deslorieux was able to join us in our performance studio here at Cincinnati Public Radio for a stunning rendition of her solo in the musical, “My Days”. Of The Notebook production, she says, “I love the musical because there’s all these elements that are added to it that make it very metaphorical in a way. Ingrid’s music is so beautiful and between that, the lighting and the way that it’s staged, you’re really going back in time to see these memories.”
"The musical is shaped like a memory; it's lit like a memory. And it sounds like a memory.”
The story of The Notebook centers on a romance spanning three different stages of a couple’s lives. The last stage addresses with the hardships of Alzheimer’s, and Deslorieux notes that fans of the show have related to the process.
“I think a lot of people that we talked to at the stage door or have messaged online have mentioned a personal connection to Alzheimer’s. I think that this is so healing in a way for them – knowing personally how painful it is to watch your family member or someone you love go through this struggle, but watching the way that Noah takes care of Ali as she goes through this is so very healing,” says Deslorieux.
“It just reminds us to take care of each other and to love each other, and that it is always worth it. It also reminds us of what makes us feel like home and that home can be a person.”
You can view Alysha Deslorieux’s performance and interview on our socials or YouTube channel.
An alumna of the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, Deslorieux shares her experience coming back to our city. “It feels very full circle. The reason I came here in the first place was to study and learn – and everything that I learned, I’ve taken with me into the past 15 years up to this point. And now to come back and get to see all of my professors and some of my classmates’ families…full circle is a great feeling,” remarks Deslorieux.
The Musical Theater department of CCM is renowned for its prestige and ranks among the Top 10 Best Musical Theater College Programs. Adding to CCM’s stature is the fact that it’s also the oldest musical theater program in the United States.
As the website boasts, “CCM set the standard for musical theatre training … literally. CCM Musical Theatre was the first program of its kind in the US, and it continues to be a leader in the industry. At CCM we are in the business of turning out “Triple Threats” — talented young people who can sing, dance and act with equal accomplishment. Our students contribute positively to the growth of the American musical theatre.”
A gem in our Queen City’s crown, CCM’s Musical Theatre program has time and time again achieved national and international feats, with many alumni on Broadway in New York or touring nationally and internationally, while others shine in theme parks, on cruise ships, on tv, or on other widespread forms of entertainment.
One of these alumni onstage in New York is the illustrious Jenny Mollet. Having in recent years (and months) starred in productions like Broadway’s The Color Purple and SIX, as well as the national tour of the 50th anniversary of Jesus Christ Superstar, Mollet is currently in Lincoln Center Theater’s revival of Ragtime.
Mollet reminisces on her time at CCM in the Musical Theatre department. “My time at CCM definitely guided me in shaping the artist I am today. During my time there, I soaked up all the knowledge and experiences I could, especially since I knew I was a multifaceted person and would want to do other things in addition to theater,” Mollet remarks.
“Besides musical theatre classes, I was also able to take classes with the dance and drama departments, be a part of the media production department’s short films to finesse my on-camera skills, and collaborate with other musicians and vocalists.”
Speaking on her experience in Cincinnati as a whole, Mollet says, “One might say I’m an overachiever (I’ve always been that way), but I do believe a lot of the things that I experienced and observed during my time in Cincinnati have lead me to the career that I currently have, which I’m extremely grateful for.”
For more information on Broadway and musical theatre in Cincinnati, you can visit the Broadway in Cincinnati and CCM Musical Theatre’s websites or find them on social media.
