BroadwayBox teams up with photographer Curtis Brown to present "Ushering in a New Golden Age", an exclusive photo and interview series in which we spotlight the breakout stars from the 2018 Broadway season and style each like Broadway's original age. This illustrious crew of Tony nominees, Drama Desk nominees, and fan favorites was photographed at the beautiful Hudson Theatre (home to next season's new musical Head Over Heels). Next up is the handsome and versatile rising star Jordan Donica. He made his Broadway debut as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera and went on tour as Thomas Jefferson/Marquis de Lafayette in Hamilton. This season, he stars as the lovestruck aristocrat Freddy Eynsford-Hill in Lincoln Center Theater's Tony-nominated revival of My Fair Lady
. His soaring "On The Street Where You Live" is a highlight of the entire evening.
1. Was there a big role in high school or college that gave you the confidence to pursue this?
Actually, it’s funny: I decided when I was nine and I saw Phantom of the Opera for the first time on tour. The Phantom’s voice came over and I leaned over to my cousin and said, “I’m going to do that one day.” (And yes, that is still the dream role and I know that will happen one day, but I’ve eased up on the pedal of my pursuit of it.) From then on, I took it really seriously. It was never a question in my mind that it was something I was going to do. However, there were a couple roles (Valjean in Les Miz and Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar) that once I did them I realized I could do anything and that really gave me the confidence to know that I was going to be ok in this career. Those two roles really helped propel my confidence. Then making my Broadway debut in Phantom was so serendipitous. What are the odds of that happening?
2. What has changed most in your life since taking on this role?
I am able to do more creatively on my own outside of the theatre. This is the first time in a couple years now that I’ve had the opportunity to be in a show but not have to carry a huge singing load—I sing two songs in the course of three hours. It’s been a cool journey to go from Phantom to opening Hamilton out west and coming back and doing this awesome revival with Lincoln Center Theater and opening it in New York. I feel like it’s been a nice ladder.
3. This series is all about this Broadway season’s breakout performers. If you could time machine back and see any big Broadway icon’s breakout stage performance, whose would you want to go back and see?
This might be really weird but probably Bernadette Peters in Dames at Sea.
4. What’s the most sentimental thing in your dressing room?
I got this really beautiful Tiffany crystal apple from the Young People’s Chorus of New York—I did their 30th anniversary gala this year and as a gesture of thanks they sent me that apple. Everyone comes in and picks it up. It’s really beautiful and reminds me of the time that I got to spend with those kids and how impactful that was. Spending time with kids like that is ultimately the reason I do theatre.
5. What’s been your biggest obstacle in reaching this point?
Probably myself in terms of letting people’s opinions of you affect what you think of yourself and what you should be doing. Going through high school and college, not allowing someone’s thought of what something is or has been not affect my thought going into an audition. I’ve had the opportunity throughout my entire life to do things as a person of color that other people have yet to have the opportunity to do. I was the first person of color to play Raoul. So, to be a small part of a community who can show people that everyone can do anything. It’s about getting to that point and blocking out the voices.
6. What piece of advice would you give to future actors who will one day play Freddy in My Fair Lady—be it on Broadway, on the road, or at their school?
Fight for him. Don’t make him just a goofball because he’s not. He is love-stricken but that’s not all he is. There are context clues in the script and the time period that will tell you who he is. He’s not just the comic relief of the show.
Photographed by Curtis Brown at The Hudson Theatre. Makeup by Claudia Eltabie & Liv Swenson from Rouge Makeup Salons, Hair by Austin Thornton, Styling by Kinsland Howell Alice in Kinsland Styling. Clothing courtesy of Alberto pants, Our showroom, & Hyela Makoujy.
Click here to see the entire "Ushering in a New Golden Age" series, and don't miss Jordan Donica in My Fair Lady at LCT's Vivian Beaumont Theatre.
