Noteworthy

By Glenn Sumi 

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s Broadway-themed concerts have always been popular events, attracting starry names and mixing well-known show tunes with the rich, lush sounds of a full symphony orchestra—all for a fraction of the cost of a flight to Manhattan. 

Who could forget last year’s Broadway Blockbusters concert with Ramin Karimloo and Mikaela Bennett, or 2019’s Modern Broadway bill featuring Jeremy Jordan and Betsy Wolfe?

This year’s program, called 21st-Century Broadway and conducted, like the others, by the TSO’s Principal Pops Conductor, Steven Reineke, promises to be the most thrilling concert yet.

On the bill are not two but four young stage stars who have made their names wowing audiences in contemporary shows and productions. 

The four artists—Aisha Jackson, Ali Stroker, Derek Klena, and Javier Muñoz—won’t be singing songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein or George Gershwin; instead, they’ll be performing numbers from shows by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Stephen Schwartz, Alanis Morissette, Sara Bareilles, and others that have entered the musical-theatre canon in the last quarter century. 

“These are shows I grew up listening to in college and high school,” says Jackson, whose Broadway credits include the original production of Waitress, the Tony Award–winning Paradise Square, the Britney Spears musical Once Upon a One More Time, and Frozen.

In the latter show, she made history as the first Black actress to portray Anna on Broadway—a fact that makes her immensely proud.

All of the songs that Jackson will be singing were originated by artists she’s looked up to, like LaChanze, who originated the role of Celie in The Color Purple, and Patina Miller, who first played the role of Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act.

“This concert is my opportunity to pay homage to the beautiful women who brought these songs and characters to life before me,” she says. “But it’s also cool to pat myself on the shoulder and take my place in this community.” 

One of the highlights of the show promises to be Jackson’s performance of “I’m Here”, the stirring anthem of hard-won confidence and self-love that acts as the emotional climax of The Color Purple.

“I’m honoured to bring it to life,” says Jackson, who admits she’s been singing it since high school but only now feels like she might be at the appropriate age to give it weight and do it full justice.

“It’s a beautiful song with such depth and such a journey—you get to hear the highs and the lows of this woman’s life. I hold this song with such respect. Every time I approach it, I think, ‘Alright, let’s tell this story of Miss Celie. Let’s honour her and go on this journey and take the audience with you on that journey.’”

Jackson isn’t the only performer in the 21st-Century Broadway program to make theatre history recently. 

In 2019, for her performance as Ado Annie in the Broadway revival of the classic musical Oklahoma!, Ali Stroker became the first-ever wheelchair user to win a Tony Award. A few years before that, in a production of Spring Awakening, she became the first actor in a wheelchair to appear on a Broadway stage. 

“I was blown away by that fact,” says Stroker. “That was in 2015. I couldn’t believe it was true, but it was. And it made me feel that I cannot be the last. It was a big wake-up call to the industry and the community that we belong in these spaces. Just because people have different abilities doesn’t mean the talent isn’t there.” 

Since her Tony win, she’s seen a lot more diversity casting of performers with disabilities. 

“Every time I see and hear about someone from the disabled community being in a cast, whether it’s on Broadway, off-Broadway, or wherever, it’s a win for all of us,” she says. “It’s just so important to be on these stages.” 

While most theatres have made their venues more accessible, the auditoriums themselves are often inaccessible to those in wheelchairs. 

“The reality is, most of the backstage areas in the New York theatres are really old and need to be renovated,” she says. “A lot of work still needs to be done, but thank goodness this is all being considered.” 

Stroker is especially looking forward to performing in front of a full orchestra. She says there’s nothing like it. 

“There’s this massive wall of sound behind you, and it’s like you’re at the front of this train, and if you don’t keep up they will run you down,” she says, laughing. “It’s so majestic. You don’t get to hear this quality of sound very much in the theatre, let alone perform it. So it’s really special.” 

She also hopes that musical-theatre fans stick around and consider other TSO programming. 

“I think sometimes people are intimidated by classical music,” she says, “and Broadway might make things a little more accessible. Any way to open the door to the arts is fantastic, and I’m happy to be a part of it.” 

Jackson, for her part, understands if fans want to sing along to some of the show. After all, she’s starred in several so-called jukebox musicals on Broadway, like Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Once Upon a One More Time, consisting of Britney Spears hits.

“It brings me so much joy to hear that you are having such a good time that you want to sing along,” she says. “As long as you’re not disturbing your neighbours too much, and you’re not singing louder than me, I’m cool with it. Sometimes, I’ll even put my hand to my ear to show you that I hear you. There’s something really beautiful about that. It makes me happy because it lets me know that people are excited to be in the building.” 

From the stages of New York to Roy Thomson Hall, catch 21st-Century Broadway and hear the biggest Broadway hits performed by the stars who made them famous. A night of soaring melodies, breathtaking vocals, and show-stopping moments awaits. Get your tickets now at TSO.CA.