{"id":91544,"date":"2019-06-05T13:47:42","date_gmt":"2019-06-05T17:47:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=91544"},"modified":"2022-03-03T15:55:29","modified_gmt":"2022-03-03T20:55:29","slug":"alumna-broadway-debut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/alumna-broadway-debut\/","title":{"rendered":"UCF Alumna Talks Role in Tony Award-Nominated Musical “The Prom”"},"content":{"rendered":"

When musical theatre<\/a> alumna Jerusha Cavazos \u201914<\/strong> stopped by the UCF Performing Arts Center ahead of her Broadway debut last October, she felt a wide array of emotions: Gratitude. Excitement. Nervousness. Joy. Shock. She knew she was about to embark on something special as part of the original Broadway cast of The Prom<\/em>, a new musical comedy about acceptance and love.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a little over seven months since she began performing in The Prom<\/em>, and she still feels those emotions \u2013 plus, exhaustion.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut exhaustion in the best of ways,\u201d she says. \u201cIn some ways, it\u2019s everything I expected it to be: thrilling, exciting, emotional; but in another way, it\u2019s nothing I expected it to be. We all love the show so much and are deeply connected to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

With The Prom <\/em>being a brand-new musical, there\u2019s endless pressure for the show to be a success, something each company member feels personally.<\/p>\n

Fortunately for them, it has been.<\/p>\n

The Prom<\/em> was the first musical of the 2018\u20132019 Broadway season to be named a New York Times<\/em> Critics Pick, and has been nominated for 28 awards so far in 2019 \u2013 seven of them being Tony\u2019s, including Best Musical. The awards ceremony airs June 9 at 8 p.m. CBS.<\/p>\n

Ahead of the biggest night in theatre, The Prom<\/em> won the prestigious Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe competition is stiff. We call ourselves \u2018the little show that could.\u2019\u201d \u2014 Jerusha Cavazos on The Prom’s Tony Award nominations<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re thrilled beyond belief,\u201d Cavazos says of all the nominations. \u201cThe competition is stiff. We call ourselves \u2018the little show that could.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

And it could. The Prom<\/em> has become one of the most impactful productions on a Broadway stage, resonating with audiences and being lauded by critics and professionals alike. The Prom<\/em> follows the story of a lesbian student who just wants to take her girlfriend to prom in a small, close-minded town that won\u2019t allow it \u2014 and the band of Broadway stars who try to make it happen.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe audience reaction is surprising \u2013 the message of unconditional love and respect, no matter your political, religious or cultural background, seems to have reached beyond just the expected audience. It\u2019s transcended it. And to me, that\u2019s one of the things theatre does so well \u2013 touch people.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been especially important for Cavazos to be part of this cultural narrative.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe impact and resonation are deeply personal for me. I lost a dear friend and coworker, Shane, in the Pulse shooting in Orlando, and another friend barely escaped with his life,\u201d says Cavazos, who dedicates her performances each night to Shane. \u201cThe show has helped me heal. Every day, I am reminded that love wins.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before her debut, Cavazos first had a role on the show Atlanta<\/em> on FX in April and performed in Jesus Christ Superstar<\/em> in Chicago through May of last year. Even with such a successful whirlwind year, during her visit to campus in October, she gave new musical theatre students a masterclass and reflected on her roles, her journey and her own prom.<\/p>\n

Congratulations on your Broadway debut! Do you recall how it felt getting ready to take the stage?<\/h2>\n

I had so many mixed emotions then. So grateful and excited … literally bursting with joy. At the same time, I was nervous and still in shock that I get to go on a journey that I\u2019ve been dreaming about since I was 10. There are days I walk to the theatre and ring the stage door buzzer with tears in my eyes. I\u2019ve walked past many Broadway stage doors dreaming of what it would be like to enter it as an artist performing on that stage. I get to do that now. It feels surreal and I\u2019ve been trying to be present in every moment, taking it all in, with so much gratitude.<\/p>\n

“I am still in shock that I get to go on a journey that I\u2019ve been dreaming about since I was 10.” \u2014 Jerusha Cavazos<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What have you learned since your debut?<\/h2>\n

I think the best thing I learned is how to take care of myself. I learned from my parents how to eat right, exercise, do preventative things like take vitamins and supplements, but this is a whole other level of \u201ctaking care\u201d \u2013 like saying \u201cno\u201d to going out and just going home to sleep, taking time to meditate and be silent to rest my voice and my mind, endless hours of physical therapy to keep my body healthy, etc.<\/p>\n

Tell us about the show and the role you\u2019re playing?<\/h2>\n

In a nutshell, the show is about acceptance and love. This story will have you laughing so hard you can\u2019t breathe \u2013 and then, it will have you crying. It is moving, honest and relevant. I play one of the high school kids in the show, in the ensemble.<\/p>\n

Are there any memories from your own prom that inspired you in this production?<\/h2>\n

In high school, prom was SUCH a big deal. Finding the perfect dress, the date, how you were going to arrive, the after-party, etc. I remember going to so many different dress stores with my mother. My best friend and I planned out a party bus to pick up all our friends, and we went all out. These memories really help me with my character \u2026 when I remember just how important prom was to me then, it\u2019s easy to really tap into the brain of a high school teen who just wants to have the best senior year and make memories.<\/p>\n