Sometimes life throws you a delightful surprise you didn’t even realize you were waiting for.
Back in March, I got a call from my dear colleague and friend based in London, Fiona McDougal. She’s the head vocal coach for all of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s productions around the globe. We worked together quite a bit pre-pandemic.
I was Fiona’s boots-on-the-ground associate vocal coach for the Broadway productions of School of Rock and The Phantom of the Opera—and I truly have her to thank for getting my Broadway coaching career off the ground!
She called me up in March telling me she needed some help with a little Off-Broadway production in development: Masquerade. She asked if I could join her as associate vocal coach.
Just like that, out of the blue!
Honestly, I hadn’t expected to be back on a show like this again! After leaving New York City in 2020, I thought that chapter of my life was closed. But saying yes to Fiona’s call has been such a gift.
Since March, I’ve had the privilege of supporting this phenomenal company of artists—mostly remotely from my office in Raleigh. (Yes, the Angel of Music sometimes logs in via Zoom 😉). And this past Sunday, I got to celebrate (at home, in my pajamas, ha!) as Masquerade officially opened Off-Broadway.
Here’s what has struck me most this time around:
1. This production has made vocal health and technique a priority. The very fact that they’ve employed a vocal coach at all is a rarity! I wish every show supported its actors with the same care.
2. The cast are, for real, some of the best singers in the world. Brave, open-hearted, and wildly talented. It’s been my privilege to be a small part of their journey to the spotlight.
From Raleigh to Off-Broadway: what an unexpected joy! I’m grateful to Fiona for that fateful phone call, to this dream team of collaborators (William Waldrop, our fearless music director, is a delight to work with!), and to a company that sings their hearts out night after night.
Here’s to crashing chandeliers, soaring high notes, and the reminder that the best chapters are often the ones you never saw coming.
With gratitude,
Chelsea
