#candi boyd

[womenofbroadway]

Current Jersey gals Sara Schmidt, Candi Boyd, Cara Cooper, Katie O'Toole and Jessica Rush.

[theensemblist]

Q&A: Candi Boyd

Name: Candi Boyd

Where are you from? Pittsburgh, PA!

Broadway credits: Jersey Boys is my first!

How did you hear you’d booked your first Broadway show? Well, I got the news I was joining the 1st National Tour of Jersey Boys (after 10 callbacks) during a shift of waiting tables! I wanted to walk out immediately, but did the right thing and gave my notice :) after touring for 2 years, they promoted me to the Universal Swing, so I could make my Broadway debut and live at home most of the time with my Husband. I made my broadway debut my first week of covering at 20 minutes before curtain!

What is your favorite event in the Broadway community? It's not really an event, but "Carols for a  Cure" is the CD that broadway and off-broadway casts put together at Christmas to benefit BC/EFA. Being a part of the hard work and hours of rehearsal/coordinating for our 1 song to be recorded perfectly (everyone's time is donated) was so moving and so rewarding when we finally hear our song on the CD. I'm doing it again this year! The broadway community is such a giving community, between Broadway Bares, Broadway Barks, the Broadway flea market and so many other fundraising events, sometimes I feel like actors spend more time raising money than any other profession! 

  What’s something about Broadway that fascinates you? The fact that our community is such a small one always amazes me. Everyone knows everyone! It never fails that a friend from college knows a friend from auditions knows a friend from tour! It makes me feel like I belong to a really strong and supportive group of artists who are all connected.

  What, other than theatre, has inspired you recently? My recent vacation to Greece and Spain with my husband was so inspiring. I love engulfing myself in other cultures and eating local food and exploring off the beaten path, and we found ourselves so inspired by the art, architecture and uncomplicated ways of life. We came home inspired to live a simpler life and appreciate the natural beauty around us.

If I could have coffee with any living person, it would be... President Obama... I'd tell him I think he's doing a great job and then give him some pointers... Then I'd definitely make the coffee my treat!

If I could trade places with anybody for a day, I would choose... Today, I'd like to be Amy Spanger, who currently plays Roxie in Chicago on Broadway. That is my absolute dream role and I hope I get to play it 8 shows a week one day!

Tomorrow, who knows...

  To be successful in this business, it takes... Patience and a lot of self love. Patience  is important because it always seems to take longer to hit the milestones in this business than you want, and self love because this business comes with a lot of rejection, and you need to be strong enough to push through that and keep going.

[fuckyeahjerseyboys]

Jersey Boys is special for me for a few important reasons. It was my first big break and has been so good to me for the past four years. I remember seeing the original Broadway cast, standing in the back when I was a poor waitress and thinking “that’s the best show I’ve ever seen. I’m going to be in it one day.” Then I brought my parents to see it. My father, who is not a musical kind of guy, fell in love. I knew then I had to do it. Finally, the fact that there are only three females per cast and EVERY actress wants to be in this show makes me feel very successful. I’ve never felt more proud to be a part of anything.

Candi Boyd (News: Life as a Swing: The Unsung Heroes of Musical Theater)

[fuckyeahjerseyboys]

Musicals Tonight! will continue its ongoing salute to Broadway and Off-Broadway standbys, understudies and alternates with its next edition of At This Performance, which will be presented March 18 at The Lion Theatre.

The lineup includes Candi Boyd and Jared Bradshaw.