The School of Drama takes Broadway by storm in the new musical The Queen of Versailles, opening tonight at the St. James Theatre! The show, based on a documentary of the same name, follows the life story of Jackie Siegel, as she pursues a life of luxury during the 2008 recession as her home and her character are compared to the royal court of Versailles and Marie Antoinette. It marks alumnus and composer Stephen Schwartz‘s return to Broadway on the heels of the incredibly successful Wicked movies.
Ahead of their big opening night we were able to catch up with some of our talented alumni to hear about the show’s journey to New York, the excitement of opening night, and what it means to be in a production with so many incredible CMU artists.
In addition to Schwartz, the Tartan talent bringing The Queen of Versailles to life behind the scenes are Peter Hylenski (Sound Designer), Dan Miele (Associate Sound Designer), Scott Wasserman (Ableton Programmer), Ryan Park (Technical Costume Design), and Henry Blazer (Assistant Scenic Designer). Onstage, Ryah Nixon appears as Sheri & Others, and understudies the roles of Jackie and Debbie; Andrew Kober appears as Pageant Host & Others and understudies the roles of John and Gary.
Q: What has your favorite part of the process for The Queen of Versailles been so far?
ANDREW KOBER: I’ve been with the piece since the very first reading, so watching it develop in collaboration with this team has been incredibly gratifying. It’s thrilling to see it finally cross the finish line.
RYAN PARK: Getting to collaborate with an incredible talented company of actors and creatives.
SCOTT WASSERMAN: Having a hand in the realization of a new Stephen Schwartz score has been a thrilling, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
HENRY BLAZER: It was amazing watching the set become a reality from all the drafting and paper models in the studio. It’s one of the best parts of being a scenic designer and it never loses its luster whether it’s on a soundstage or in a Broadway theater. I had the pleasure of working with Dane Laffrey and his associate Matt Iacozza on some of the initial drafting for the Boston run and the added elements for Broadway. It’s always gratifying to see what you figured out on paper works in real life.
RYAH NIXON: I didn’t get to do Boston with a majority of this group so all of it is new to me!! Working with this creative team, including our very own Tartan Stephen Schwartz is what dreams are made of! The last time I had seen him was when we did a master class at school my junior year, so this has been pretty full circle.
Q: What does it mean to work on a production with so many artists in various capacities from CMU?
AK: It’s wonderful, but to be honest, not at all unique! I think every project I’ve ever worked on has had at least a couple of alumni involved. It’s a real testament to the level of talent coming into and out of CMU every year.
RP: It feels a bit surreal to be working in an industry doing what I love, alongside CMU alums and friends.
SW: Having a hand in the realization of a new Stephen Schwartz score has been a thrilling, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
HB: It’s always rewarding to work with fellow alumni because everyone’s in their element and striving to achieve the best work possible. It’s no surprise to run into CMU alumni on a show like this but it’s a pleasure to know you have kinship and a common background with your collaborators.
RN: It just proves that Carnegie Mellon really turns out some of the most incredible, well-rounded, and prepared professionals to work in this industry, and I am so lucky to be on this show with all of them!
Q: What are you most looking forward to on opening night?
AK: This is an incredible ambitious show, and to have finally arrived at the final version is a wonderful feeling. This is also my tenth Broadway show, which is a nice milestone. It feels great to have been able to make a career here.
RP: Celebrating!
SW: Tonight I am celebrating the opening of my 10th Broadway show!
HB: On opening night I’m looking forward to saying cheers to a job well done and starting to look forward to the next project on the horizon!
RN: Celebrating!!! The rehearsal preview process of a show, especially a new musical is always very tedious and requires a lot of focus and energy, so we are all ready to celebrate a little bit!
Q: What advice do you have for current students with their eyes set on Broadway?
AK: It’s a wonderful goal, but I think it’s important to make clear that Broadway, while wonderful, isn’t the “peak of the mountain”. There is wonderful theatre happening all over the country, and in many cases the most interesting, inventive, exciting work is happening Off-Broadway and in the regions. I think of Broadway as the Marvel movies of the theatre: crowd-pleasing, often big and flashy, but ultimately designed to be successful commercial ventures. There’s nothing wrong with that; I love Marvel movies! But I think it’s important for a young actor starting out to be clear about their goals.
RP: Work hard and focus on creating work that is exciting to you, if you’re excited to share what you are doing, that’s a good sign.
SW: You never know exactly what path your career will take, so be open to any opportunities that come your way, even if they don’t fit the specific mold you’ve made for yourself.
HB: My advice to current students is to hone your craft and strive for excellence in your work and the path ahead of you will reveal itself. It’s great to have dreams in mind like working on a Broadway show or winning a prestigious award but the truth is your career and life will have so many twists and turns you can’t possibly imagine. Be patient, give yourself grace, and do great work. Others will notice and help propel you towards your goals.
RN: Really lean into what makes you unique and specific, be patient and become the best version of your unique self.
Q: Anything else you’d like to add?
AK: As I tell anyone who asks, there’s no better collegiate training program in the country than CMU, and I’m so proud to be an alumnus!
SW: Go Tartans!
Learn More about QOV…
Hear Stephen Schwartz talk about his visits to “both Versailles.”
Read about the show’s pre-Broadway run in Boston.
Follow @qovmusical on Instagram and TikTok for more!
Story photo by Julieta Cervantes (featuring Ryah Nixon, second from left and Andrew Kober, back row center).