Let’s talk about the journey.
Not the one-week-out-of-college Broadway debut dream (although shoutout if that’s your path ✨), but the long, winding, full-of-twists-and-pivots kind.
Because that’s the story I resonate most with.
👯♀️ From MT 12 to Broadway Debut (10 Years Later)
My friend Olivia Hernandez and I graduated in the same class—University of Michigan’s Musical Theatre class of 2012. And 13 years later, I’m still so inspired by her story.
She left New York. She left the biz.
And then… she came back.
And she made her Broadway debut 10 years after graduating (Plaza Suitestarring Sarah Jessica Parker! Then Days of Wine and Roses, Ragtime at New York City Center…!)
⏳ She’s Not Alone
She’s not the only one. A bunch of our classmates have taken breaks, moved away, come back, reentered the industry at their own pace, or left to pursue something else.
And every single one of those journeys?
Inspiring.
Because they challenge the idea that success is linear—or fast.
🎭 The Myth of the Showcase Fairy Tale
Let me be super honest:
After our senior showcase? Crickets. 🦗
I didn’t land an agent.
I didn’t have that magical post-showcase moment.
And I really thought I would.
Because when you graduate from a “top-tier” musical theatre program, there’s this unspoken (or very spoken!) pressure to “make it” fast.
Spoiler alert: it doesn’t always go that way.
🌱 Your Life Is Bigger Than Your Resume
Here’s the truth Olivia and I both landed on (watch her inspiring video here for all the context):
This career is a marathon, not a sprint.
And even booking Broadway right out of the gate doesn’t guarantee years of being “booked and blessed.”
This business is unpredictable. Relentless.
And if you’re not finding joy along the way, what’s the point?
💖 What Actually Saved Me
A couple years after graduating, I was burned out.
I felt like my life was in someone else’s hands—agents, casting directors, the industry.
So I paused.
I focused on teaching.
I prioritized my relationship at the time.
I invested in the parts of life that actually brought me joy.
And I don’t regret a second of it.
Because those choices?
They saved me.
They gave me longevity. Perspective. A career I’m proud of—even if it doesn’t look like I imagined at 22!
I made my “Broadway Debut” as the associate vocal coach on School of Rock in 2017, and believe me when I tell you, that is NOT how I ever pictured seeing my name in a Broadway Playbill for the first time!
🧭 Build a Life, Not Just a Résumé
If you take one thing from this, let it be this:
✅ Think long term
✅ Define success on your terms
✅ Prioritize joy and authenticity now, not just “once you make it”
Want a family one day? Amazing—start thinking about how that fits into your dream.
Want to build a life that feels meaningful outside of auditions? Do it.
Want financial autonomy and a career you can control? You’ve got skills to make that happen!
🌟 The Right Opportunities Will Find You
When you show up with joy, when you live in alignment with your values…
the right opportunities will find you.
But if you’re miserable every step of the way?
Even when the dream job arrives—it won’t feel like a dream.
I believe this so deeply.
Thanks for letting me share it. 💛
xo,
Chelsea
