Friday 5: 5 Broadway Debuts We Are Looking Forward To This Fall

5 Broadway Debuts We Are

Looking Forward To This Fall

Every season, we are enchanted by the thrilling Broadway debuts of a variety of actors, singers and dancers. Some are debuts by talented individuals who are new faces in the entertainment world, while others have made their name in music, television and/or film and are now ready to take the Main Stem by storm. This week's Friday 5 is about 5 such actors set to debut this fall.

Kit Connor (Romeo Montague) Romeo & Juliet

Though he's appeared on the West End since he was a child, and has been making films for most of his life, Kit Connor became an international sensation as Nick Nelson in Netflix's Heartstopper. We have no doubt he will be a smash in Romeo and Juliet, and have a feeling he'll be as big on Broadway as his Heartstopper co-star, Joe Locke, was last season in Sweeney Todd.

Tom Francis (Joe Gillis) Sunset Boulevard

At a mere 25 years old, Tom Francis has already made quite a sensation on the West End as the Olivier Award-winning, street singing Joe Gillis. Now he'll be stalking Shubert Alley eight times a week, and we are hear for it! Welcome to New York! (We are already mad about the boy...)

Nicole Scherzinger (Norma Desmond) Sunset Boulevard

As excited as we are to see the new Joe Gillis, we may be even more excited for the new Norma Desmond. I've never been one for black satin lingerie and blood, but Ms. Scherzinger certainly makes a strong case for the combo. One of my all-time favorite musicals, I'm excited to see a new take on the whole thing.

Helen J. Shen (Helperbot Claire) Maybe Happy Ending

Okay, her humility and completely sweet demeanor got us to snatch up a pair of late preview tickets. But it is the happy combination of truly focused performances (those videos the show has released are pure dopamine) and the fan-girling she shows for every "first" in her journey to the "big time," that makes us root for her!

Rachel Zegler (Juliet Capulet) Romeo & Juliet

She had me in her grip from the first second she appeared on screen in Spielberg's West Side Story. Since then, I've come to enjoy her online presence and willingness to put herself out there. From what I've seen so far, she seems like the perfect match for her Romeo. As they say in the show's advertising, the kids are f*cked. That may be, but this new Romeo and new Juliet are anything but.

Best of 2021: Debuts

Every New York debut is a momentous occasion for an actor, be on or off or off-off Broadway. Accomplishing this career highlight is no small task, maybe even more so in these trying times. Today, we celebrate six such actors, congratulate them, and look forward to seeing their careers take off!

THE BEST OF

DEBUTS

Sharon D. Clarke (Caroline, or Change) As the title character in the revival of this Tesori-Kushner musical, Clarke's portrayal of the stoic maid brings audiences to their feet nightly. Her strength pervades the entirety of Studio 54. An established actress in Britain, we are indeed fortunate that she was able to share her performance with us here in the United States. I'm already looking forward to seeing her again, and hope it will be sooner rather than later.

Morgan Dudley (Jagged Little Pill) Taking over an acclaimed (and Tony-nominated) performance is a daunting, Herculean task, and no doubt it's even more challenging when, on top of it all, you are also making your Broadway debut! Dudley certainly made their presence known with a powerful turn in the challenging role of Frankie. Here's to more of them on stage and screen!

Roe Hartrampf (Diana) What a delicious way to make your Broadway debut! Not only on stage at the Longacre, but to have your debut captured in a pro-cut film on Netflix, too? An embarrassment of riches, to be sure. A great singer, he cuts a dashing figure and manages to make a spoiled, entitled brat of a prince captivating. Surely, it won't be long before he's back on the Rialto.

Brittney Mack (Six) She's one of those actors that I found myself watching even when she wasn't the focus of the performance. As Anna of Cleve$, she is all kinds of sass, style and power. With a voice angels surely created, and a presence that has that "it" factor, we can't wait to see what comes next for this Queen of the Castle!

Adi Roy (Jagged Little Pill) Though his time on Broadway was unfortunately cut short, I am certain we will see him again soon. This 19 year-old is currently studying acting at NYU, which will only make him better. He has a natural ease on stage and a remarkable chemistry with his cast mates! Best of luck to him!

Colin Trudell (Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas) Even through a ton of makeup and a huge furry costume, we could tell that this young man is going places! He's the real deal - a triple threat - who made us believe he was a conscientious young otter. One thing I particularly appreciated about his performance was that despite this being a children's holiday show, his performance was sincere and never pandering. Can't wait to see him play a human! Soon, please, casting people! 

Welcome to the Theater! The Broadway Debuts of Six

Congratulations to the entire company of Six on your upcoming opening night! Special congratulations to the 6 cast members who are making their official Broadway debuts tomorrow night! Dreams really do come true.

Here's to a successful run and many more opening nights!

Welcome to the Theater:

the Broadway Debuts of Six

Opening Night: Thursday, March 12, 2020

Brooks Atkinson Theatre

Nicole Kyoung-Mi Lambert (Alternate)

Andrea Macasaet (Anne Boleyn)

Brittney Mack (Anna of Cleves)

Andrea Macasaet (Alternate)

Mallory Maedke (Alternate/Dance Captain)

Samantha Pauly (Katherine Howard)

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Welcome to the Theater! The Broadway Debuts of Girl From the North Country

Congratulations to the entire company of Girl From the North Country on your opening night! Special congratulations to the 3 cast members who are making their official Broadway debuts tonight! Dreams really do come true.

Here's to a successful run and many more opening nights!

Girl From the North Country Company

The Broadway Debuts of

Girl From the North Country

Matthew Frederick Harris

(Ensemble)

Ben Mayne

(Swing)

Chiara Trentalange

(Swing)

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Welcome to the Theater! The Broadway Debuts of West Side Story

Congratulations to the entire company of West Side Story on your opening night! Special congratulations to the following 33 cast members who are making their official Broadway debuts tonight! Dreams really do come true.

Here's to a successful run and many more opening nights!

The Broadway Debuts of

West Side Story

      

Marissa Brown (Francisca)  Elijah A. Carter (Action)  Daniel Ching (Snowboy)

      

Audrey Collette (Swing)  Marc Crousillat (Juano)  Stephanie Crousillat (Teresita)

      

Roman Cruz (Luis)  Alexa De Barr (Graziella)  Israel Del Rosario (Anxious)

      

Tyler Eisenreich (Big Deal)  Armando Eleazer (Swing)  Marlon Feliz (Estella)

      

Satori Folkes-Stone (Marguerita)  Zuri Noelle Ford (Anybodys)  Ui-Seng Francois (Minnie)

      

Yesy Garcia (Swing)  Jennifer Gruener (Pauline)  Matthew Johnson (Baby John)

      

Dharon E. Jones (Riff)  Jarred Manista (Swing)  Michaela Marfori (Nibbles)

      

Ilda Mason (Swing)  Adolfo Mena-Cejas (Mouthpiece)  Michelle Mercedes (Clarice)

      

Paul Morland (Swing)  Mia Pinero (Swing)  Gus Reed (Gee-Tar)

      

Michael Seltzer (Swing)  Sheldon True (Toro)  Madison Vomastek (Velma)

      

Bridget Whitman (Swing)  Kevin Zambrano (Moose)   Jordan Dobson (Tony u/s)

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