Kailey Hansen
YASSSSS QUEEENS! It’s time to talk about the fierce ladies of the theatre realm. Broadway (and theatre in general) has always been home to strong, hardworking and empowering females, and the women gracing the stage or kicking butt behind the scenes today are fiercer than ever! Get inspired by these eight women:
1. Phillipa Soo
This year, Phillipa Soo swapped out the title of Elizabeth Schuyler for a chance to step into the shoes of Amelie. The titular character from the Oscar-nominated movie and new stage musical is pretty much the spirit animal for any introvert. Why? Amelie may be quiet, but she has a world of hopes and dreams in her mind. In fact, her timid nature doesn’t stop her from achieving big things and making her mark on the world. Soo kickstarts our list as she reinvents this inspiring story.
2. Lynn Ahrens
Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens are the masterminds behind the music and lyrics of “Anastasia: The New Broadway Musical.” Ahrens, whose stacked resume ranges from “Seussical” to “Ragtime” to a Patti LuPone concert, uses her magic to bring a beloved childhood phenomenon to the stage. Thanks to Ahrens, we can’t wait to get inspired by this incredible tale of Russian royalty.
3. Sara Bareilles
The adorable stage adaptation of “Waitress” offers audiences more than just a chance to buy pint-sized pies. The show brings an empowering message of determination and strength, all set to a glorious score by song-seamstress Sara Bareilles. Currently, Bareilles is taking the stage and singing her own songs as the show’s protagonist, Jenna. Theatre nerds everywhere are giving her mad props for cooking up a successful Broadway debut.
4. Laura Osnes
This theatrical starlet shines in Broadway’s new swing musical, “Bandstand.” Playing a wartime widow who finds a second chance at life, Osnes joins this upbeat show partnering with Got Your 6, an organization that “believes veterans are leaders, team builders and problem solvers, who have the unique potential to lead a resurgence of community across the nation.” This Tony-nominated actress aids “Bandstand” in bringing audiences a meaningful message.
5. Rachel Chavkin
Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” gets a facelift in an invigorating Broadway show titled “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.” It stars Josh Groban, rakes in rave reviews and was directed by powerhouse Rachel Chavkin. Chavkin has exercised her directing chops in the theatre world before, spearheading a number of Off-Broadway productions, including “Great Comet,” which she took to Broadway in 2016.
6. Glenn Close
This Hollywood acting icon returned to the Great White Way in a production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Boulevard” (yup — there’s more to Sir ALW than kitties and opera ghosts). Why is this particular casting choice inspiring? Close, who played the role of Norma back in 1994, doesn’t just recreate this beloved role. In fact, the acclaimed actress brings something fresh and new to this classic Broadway musical. According to Playbill, director Lonny Price says Close approached the role “dead set on exploring what Norma and ‘Sunset’ mean to her now.”
7/8. Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Sara Wordsworth
This dynamic duo officially brings our count to eight. As half of the four-person team that wrote Broadway’s a cappella musical “In Transit,” Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Sara Wordsworth are most certainly making waves in the theatre world. You might recognize Anderson-Lopez’s name as the lyricist for “Frozen’s” little ditty “Let It Go.” Now, these ladies have created a unique show about adventuring through New York City and, of course, finding yourself along the way.
