Tony nominee sees God’s grace on Broadway


By Sara Shelton O


n a crisp Manhattan afternoon, Elizabeth A. Davis takes a moment


to consider the story of a girl named Réza. She knows little of Réza’s background, but wonders if perhaps this Czech immigrant girl has fled a difficult, possibly even abusive, past. On the surface Réza is a brazen,


strong-willed woman, but Davis sees the truly fragile spirit that lies below this seemingly unbreakable exterior. “She acts tough, but she’s acting out of


her hurt,” Davis says. “She really is just a scared woman who so desperately wants to be loved.” Davis pauses to reflect and contin-


ues, “But knowing her has taught me so much about how the Lord truly loves His people. I truly experience a grace that is deep enough for Réza every night.” If it seems Elizabeth Davis knows Réza better than anyone, it’s because she does. For nearly a year, Davis has spent eight shows a week playing Réza, the character she originated in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical “Once.” Based on the 2006 film of the same name, the musical tells the story of an Irish musician and Czech immigrant united and revived by a love of music. Unique to this musical is the fact that the entire ensemble provides the orchestral ac- companiment for the show, both playing an instrument and singing live each night. In the role of Réza, sister to the primary character, Davis is a quadruple threat: acting, singing, dancing and playing her violin live on stage. “‘Once’ is such a unique piece of


theater, and I feel so incredibly blessed to be a part of it,” says the 32-year-old Davis. “I truly feel like I have been preparing for this role my entire life.” This preparation began in the small


town of Channing, Texas, in a home that Davis’ parents infused with the arts. Her mother has a background in both theater and vocal performance while her father serves as music minister at their church. Davis began playing the violin at age 3 be- fore getting involved in theater. However, upon entering college at Baylor University, Davis thought her theater days might be a thing of the past.


“I decided to be a communications ma- jor because I thought theater and music were just hobbies from high school,” she explains. “I kept thinking, ‘I have to find a career, and it obvi- ously can’t be music and theater.’” But God had other


plans. “I felt the peace of the


Lord come over me. I just heard Him whisper, ‘It’s okay to pursue this dream. Be a theater major.’ And that was my green light. I never looked back.” Davis graduated from Baylor with a


church community. “The way you go to church and con- nect with believers is different,” she ex- plains. “If someone isn’t completely intent on making church a priority, it’s not going to happen. It certainly gave me a sense of disillusionment at first.” It was in these moments of doubt and discontent that Davis clung to the faith that led her to the city in the first place. “There’s so much fear and thinking,


Elizabeth Davis followed her God-given dream to Broadway and has been rewarded with a God-honoring career.


‘What am I doing with my life? Did I not hear God correctly?’ In those moments, I would cling to the light. Never doubt in the darkness what God has said to you in the light.” Years later, Davis’ walk in the light has paid off. She recon- nected with college classmate and now- husband Jordan Richard in 2006, and the couple now regularly attends and serves at Gallery Church in Manhattan. Here, Davis has found the sense of connection and support that was so difficult to locate in her early years in New York. She’s also at the height of her career, nominated for a Tony


degree in theater performance before mov- ing to Cleveland to earn her MFA in the same field. Upon graduation, Davis again stepped out in obedience to the Lord and made the move to New York City. “I once heard another very specific


word from the Lord telling me, ‘Go to New York City,’ but I just sort of filed it away at the time,” Davis recalls. “I knew going to grad school that my ultimate goal was to follow that word and move to the city to pursue this dream.” The early days in the city were cer- tainly not the dream that Davis had envi- sioned. Life was a struggle in most aspects, from securing steady work to finding a


award this year for her portrayal of Réza. “The Tony awards were such a crazy time for me,” Davis says. “I loved every second of it, and to even have the oppor- tunity to sit in the same room with people I have admired for years was remarkable.” Davis says the motivation for her per- formance each night comes from the God who inspired her to follow this dream all those years ago. “When I’m on stage, I feel like I’m simply doing the best I can with the gifts God has given me. I know I’m painting on a canvas that He has created and just trying to illustrate the depths of His love and grace.” OM


Sara Shelton is associate editor for On Mission.


ON MISSION • Winter 2013 F


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