The echo of "thank you, five!" at theaters across the country could be heard as casts assemble five minutes away from the house lights dimming and audiences are on their way to be transported into the exciting worlds of brand new shows or revisiting a fresh new view of a beloved favorite title.
This season, we are asking some of this year's 2022 Tony Award® nominees, if they could give their own "thank you, five" to these five subjects, what would they be? Find out what they had to say!
The sensational Shoshana Bean has earned a 2022 Tony Award Nomination and 2022 Outer Critics Circle Award Nomination for her role as Susan Young, the daughter of famed comedian Buddy Young, Jr. portrayed by Billy Crystal in the Broadway musical Mr. Saturday Night.
1. Company Member
Which company member of your show would you like to shine a spotlight on that makes each show a fabulous experience?
That would be Mylinda Hull. She is always full of energy, so much love and affection, and makes me laugh like no one can. The funny thing about show people is we like our routines. We fall into little patterns and habits offstage as well as on. Mylinda and I have a few beautiful moments together offstage that I look forward to every night, and to me those are as much a part of my show as the things I do onstage!
2. Family/Friends
Which family member or close friend offered so much support to you during the audition process or inspires you each night since the very beginning of your run in the show?
My best girl Jackie Seiden has walked through every single step of this process on a daily basis, and continues to do so. And I mean from my first audition on tape. She is my main source of support, encouragement and unconditional love. She makes me better, she makes my life so much richer. . .I truly don't know who I would be or how this whole experience would have been without her.
3. Performer
Was there a performer when you were growing up that influenced you into this onstage career and what was your first memory of encountering their work?
Oh, Pamela Myers. I recently got to see her for the first time in almost 35 years when she came to see Mr. Saturday Night. When I was 10 years old, I played Louise in a production of Sunday in the Park With George. She was our glorious Dot. I was so enamored of her, so in awe, and she was so wonderful to me. She gave me my own powder and puff so I could be just like her Dot. I cherished that gift for years!!! I credit her with not only inspiring me as a performer, but sort of laying the path for the trajectory my life and career would take. She was famously in the first graduating class of the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music BFA program for Musical Theater. And because of her, that is where I chose to go to college.
4. We all start somewhere!
What was the earliest performance of yours that was the moment you knew this was going to be what you wanted to do forever? Did you have a role and what was the show?
When I was a junior in high school I turned down an offer to play Little Red in a community theater production of Into The Woods because the rehearsal schedule conflicted with my practice schedule for drill team at school. I remember making that choice because I guess I somehow knew. . .I'm going to perform and do theater for the rest of my life. But I only get to be in high school once. So I chose the high school experience.
5. Time To Relax
In the hustle and bustle of a week of shows, what is your favorite way or favorite place to decompress?
OH THE BATH TUBBBBBB!
