A Cinderella Story Once Upon A Song Bless Myself

[Baldomero Prado]

ActorNick Adams, Priscilla Queen of the Desert:

This year I've once again been reminded how thankful I am for all the wonderful people theatre brings into my life. Every time I start a new project I walk away with incredible memories and new friendships. I'm thankful that I'm surrounded by creative, remarkable artists.

Actor James Barbour, A Tale of Two Cities:

Thanksgiving and the holidays have always been special for me. It brings forth a sense of community and family and reminds us of that bond. One special memory I have of Thanksgiving was when I was on tour with The Secret Garden (my first big show). We were on the road and had shows over the Thanksgiving weekend and as such were unable to return to our families. The producers prepared a special Thanksgiving dinner for all of us. I remember this large room with tables filled with food. The late Mary Fogarty got on an upright piano and just started playing the funniest tunes I've heard in my life. It was a wonderful cast, Audra McDonald, Douglas Sills, Roger Bart, Kevin McGuire, not to mention Nevin Steinberg, who was at that time our sound engineer and who is now one of the preeminent designers on Broadway. I remember that day as we all sat and talked and ate and laughed. It was and continues to be a special memory.

Time has passed, careers have grown and lives have changed since that tour in 1992, but what I am most thankful for and continue to be thankful for was not only the sense of family that was created from that tour but the fact that many of us are still connected to this day. Broadway to me really is just one big family.

Actor Steve Blanchard, How the Grinch Stole Christmas:

I'm most grateful for a magical life that has lead me for 55 years. The most loving, supportive wife and three daughters who never blink when it's time to pack a suitcase. The love of friends across the world you never could imagine. And blessed by a magical career to be proud of. Thank you Mom and Pop for letting this southern Maryland boy play make-believe.

Sierra Boggess

Kristen Blodgette, Phantom of the Opera musical director

(With Phantom since the beginning): On a daily basis I am grateful to be able to walk through the stage door alley of The Majestic and go into the theatre where I have spent nearly half of my life. At Thanksgiving particularly, I take time to acknowledge the many blessings which being a part of the Broadway community, a Local 802 member and most specifically the Phantom community have afforded me.

For 25 years I have been able to be a part of a show that I have loved since the very first day I heard it. I work with people that are incredibly gifted; the orchestra, the actors, the crew, the ushers, stage managers. I am given the opportunity, daily, to try and do my job just a bit better than I did it the day before. I am able to try and give a paying audience something very special: An experience, or memory, which might just affect their day in a way that will resonate in their lives.

Actress Sierra Boggess, The Phantom of the Opera:

I am grateful to be able to sing Broadway music to my heart's desire! I am grateful that I get to be around extraordinary performers in this business! I am grateful that this is my community! I am grateful that my world consists of singing and dancing!

Actress Katie Rose Clark, Wicked:

This year I'm thankful for my husband, our theatre family and how it seemed to have grown so much recently. I'm overwhelmed by the new friendships we've made in the community this past year. Lindsay Mendez is like a sister to me now! Derek Klena, Carol Kane, Tom McGowan, Adam Gruper... I could go on and on because it's been a really rich year for us with new relationships. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it's time set aside to intentionally think through how you've been blessed. It's so easy to overlook and not take stock.

Composer Stephen Flaherty, Rocky, Ragtime:

Each Thanksgiving I give thanks that I am able to do the thing I most love: telling stories through music. On this Thanksgiving, however, I am especially happy and thankful that my old college roommate, John Schiappa, and I will finally be doing a show together this year: Rocky on Broadway. John and I met in 1980 when we were both undergrads at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. We became fast friends (and I became his accompanist). We shared apartments on-campus, off-campus, in Brooklyn and in Manhattan. Over these many years he watched me struggle to become a "real" composer and I watched him become a "real" actor. We always wanted to do a show together and, though it only took 33 years, it was totally worth the wait!

Actor Jason Gotay, Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark

I'm grateful for a lot of things about this community, but I find myself really thankful for those moments of "inspiration" lately. Whether it comes from a fellow cast mate, watching other actors do really great work, or the support of my friends/family, I live for those moments of being truly "inspired" by this industry and the love and passion people bring to it every day. Pretty cool.

Composer Adam Guettel, The Light in the Piazza, The Days of Wine and Roses:

A long time ago, I was lucky to spend three weeks writing with Craig Lucas at the Ucross Foundation. Deep winter in Wyoming. One day, fool that I am, I set off on my cross country skis over snowy fields to my writing room, dressed for the sparkling sunlight in just jeans and a thermal. By four o'clock, the sky had darkened with heavy, green clouds and the snow came in swirls of bitter wind.

Skiing back in the incredible cold I became comfortably sleepy somehow and thought it might be a good idea to take a little nap in a cozy drift. I stopped moving forward. But no, I thought groggily. Why don't I press on toward those little lights in the distance and the other writers there who understand what I do all day. (Mostly nothing.) Let me press on and see what comes of it. That's what my collaborators and friends in the theatre have done for me all these years. Saved me, that is. Actress Ellen Harvey, The Phantom of the Opera:

Thanksgiving falls every year in the middle of our collection time for BC/EFA. And every year I am reminded how wonderful our cast and crew are for generously donating their time and efforts to help raise money for those in need. I'm so thankful to be a part of such a caring and supportive community.

Hunter Ryan Herdlicka

Actor Jeremy Hays, The Phantom of the Opera:

My career in acting has given me such a large extended family. I've become so close to so many people over the years. I'm thankful for all the wonderful relationships the theatre has given me the opportunity to enjoy.

Actor Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, A Little Night Music:

I'm thankful to be in the heart of the city that I have always dreamt of living in. I've traveled to seven different states this year and nowhere makes me as happy as the people and the energy of New York. I'm thankful for my friends and mentors here that inspire me daily to be a better human and a better artist and that this career allows me to meet and commune with so many people from so many different walks of life. Psalm 100.

Tammy Kopko, dresser at Cinderella:

Over the holidays we often have to say, "I can't come home because we have a show." That can wear you down. Then you have your second family... your theatre family. The way we take care of each other, it's amazing. That's what I'm thankful for.

Liz Larsen

Actress, Anika Larsen, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical:

I am thankful for my colon, or as I now affectionately refer to it, my semi-colon. In August, four days into rehearsal for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, I had to have emergency surgery to have 8 inches of it removed. If I'd waited 5-10 hours to go to the hospital, my colon would have burst and I would have died. So I'm also grateful to be alive. And incredibly grateful to everyone involved with Beautiful, since they helped make it possible for me to recover on the job. But as your turkey and stuffing successfully pass through you this year, you should take a moment to be grateful for your colon, too.

Actress Liz Larsen, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical:

All my son (who is now 17) ever wanted to do was play sports and I couldn't have been happier. But about eight months ago, he got involved in a teen theatre company that does very high-end productions, called kidz theatre. (The talent and the work ethic are both off the hook.) Being an actor is now all he wants! So, what I'm most grateful for this year: BEFORE kidz theatre: "Mom, if you are so talented, why aren't you rich or famous?" NOW: "No one can believe you are actually my mom!"

At the end of the show each night, I continue to be touched by the audience's reaction. They come from all over the world and speak different languages, but they all understand the universal language of Love. They are moved by the story of the Phantom and his love for Christine.

Phantom is a must see when in New York City along with the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. And I count myself fortunate to be part of this wonderful Broadway production. Actor Telly Leung, Godspell, Allegiance:

Thanksgiving is often thought of as a "family" holiday, and when I think of "family," I think of the many people that are in my theatrical family. I am an only child and I think deep down, I love being an actor in the Broadway community because every cast I join is a whole new bunch of brothers and sisters that I get to add to my ever-growing theatre family. I'm thankful for all the brothers and sisters that have enriched my life on stage and off - and all of the ones yet to come. Happy Thanksgiving!

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