Meet newly announced Lucille Lortel Award Nominee for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Kuhoo Verma!
Verma earned her first professional theatre award nomination with her Off-Broadway performance in New York Times Critic's Pick Octet, Dave Malloy's (Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet of 1812) one act chamber choir a cappella musical. The show dealt with the world's addiction to the Internet and was inspired by religion, poetry and science.
Here is her delicate song "Beautiful" towards the end of the show. Her character, Velma, reflects singing of "a girl in Saint-Marie" just like her - finding joy within herself.
Kuhoo, an NYU graduate, landed the lead role in Berkeley Rep's musical version of Monsoon Wedding, the hit Bollywood film, while in her junior year. You might have also seen her in The Big Sick opposite Kumail Nanjiani on the big screen. Kuhoo has performed throughout New York City as a musician/vocalist and produced her own sold out cabarets To All the Gay Boys I've Loved Before and Triple Threat: Singer, Songstress, & Chanteuse.
Let's have a look at some of Kuhoo's live performances. Wait until you hear her go from amazing soprano to an actual pop star - what a range! Give her a follow on Instagram!
"Glitter and Be Gay" (Candide)
The high notes are everything you want them to be. She does not disappoint. We live for the point at 3:07. What she does with this whole section and its similar sections through to the end with just an "oh" soaring through the musical scale - holy smokes!
"I Will Always Love You" (Whitney Houston)
You thought you'd miss the saxophone solo in this song? No, no, no. Kuhoo does a riff at 2:29 - 3:02 that we rewound three times and aren't ashamed to admit it. Then the whistle tones 4:00 - 4:08? You're welcome.
The Bad Medley with The Skivvies (Lady Gaga, M.I.A., Billie Eilish, Donna Summer, Bon Jovi)
Always grateful for a Lady Gaga cover and Kuhoo delivers at 3:08 with "Bad Romance" with an assist from The Skivvies.
"Butterflies" (Kacey Musgraves)
What can't Kuhoo sing? She takes on this Kacey Musgraves hit keeping this amazing chill, laid-back groove throughout while her voice flutters over the gorgeous melody.
"Sorry" (Justin Bieber)
The audience is so into this cover as they scream "sing the song!" and so are we. Serving pop star vocals effortlessly, here's another genre Kuhoo covered with ease giving an R&B feel to the song.
"Travelin' Thru" (Dolly Parton)
Closing out with a fabulous storytelling tune by the legendary Dolly Parton. Her voice reaches new heights at 2:28 into this amazing improvised ending - so great.
