CK HALL
STRAIGHT OUTTA OZ HOLD ON TO YOUR BROOMSTICKS, BITCHES!
There are notable exceptions to that rule and I’ve recently run across a shining example. To be clear, it’s certainly can’t be classified as a “remake.” More specifically—it’s nothing short of a complete remastering—maybe reinvention is an even better descriptor. Using the favorite, childhood Ozian tale as the base for his original endeavor, Todrick Hall, who took over Broadway’s famed Lola role in Kinky Boots after Billy Porter, has waved his magic wand and graced us with a fable-turned-on- its-head, original musical called Straight Outta Oz. This time it’s set in Texas and using the original cast of characters (many played by him, though in very updated contexts), to tell the semi-autobiographical tale of his rise to fame in Los Angeles (you guessed it, Oz). Somewhere between a Glee-esque mashup and Hamilton’s soulful reinvention, Hall has given us sixteen original and truly heartfelt songs—along with a few thrown in by friends like Raven- Symoné, Tamar Braxton, Shoshana Bean and Tracie Thoms—taking audiences on a command- ing, emotional journey, not unlike the twister and its symbolic transmogrification in the original. You may think I’m over-the-rainbow here, but if
the Broadway producers who have been knocking on Hall’s door are any indication of Straight Outta Oz’s powerful allure, then it’s just a matter of time before the Great White Way takes the journey over said arch, bringing the story and music to an even greater audience. Gushing over...Let’s get to know Todrick Hall and his musical genius.
I’ve been so blown away around what you’ve managed to amass, creatively in your life. I’m curious, what motivated you and how early on did you discover your interest in music? This isn’t my first memory, but it’s the first thing
that comes to mind. Watching Sister Act 2, when I heard Lauryn Hill sing, “His eyes on the sparrow.” That was a moment when I realized, “I love this.” The other is the first time I walked into my grandmother’s room and I saw Mariah Carey sing- ing “Dream Lover” in a hot air balloon. I fell in love with her immediately and she became my favorite person in the world. Those are the two moments that I remember realizing how much I loved music and that I wanted to sing someday.
I’m always fascinated to know what performer’s early memories are, because it’s so often the thing that sparks their drive. You’ve talked a great deal aboutThe Wizard of Oz. Was that a big influence early on, as well? It was, it was…I saw it as a young kid, but I thought it was called Cinderella. (Laughs) Every week I would say to my mom, back when you’d go to the grocery store and rent movies for the weekend, I would say, “Mom, can you bring me Cinderella?” Every time she rented it, I would be like, “No, the one with the witch in it.” (Laughs) She would re-rent the movie every week and finally I was like, “Fine, I’ll go with you to the store, because clearly if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself!” (Laughs) I saw then it wasThe Wizard of Oz that was my favorite movie. When I finally realized what it was, I wanted it all the time. After renting it so many times, my mom just bought it for me and I would watch it so much, it was crazy. I always loved the story so much. What was the first thing that you performed in front of people, on stage or otherwise? I was in the gifted and talented program in my elementary school, ironically, we had to write musicals. The movieLeap of Faith had just been filmed with Steve Martin and a scene from it was filmed near where I lived, in Plainville, Texas. For Easter, instead ofLeap of Faith, we didHop of Hope and all of us were dressed as rabbits. It was a bunny version and I performed as a bunny ballerina. My teacher’s daughter was the owner of the dance studio in town, called Tip Tap Toes and I decided after she came to work with us and told me, “You have to pursue this, you actually would be really good at dancing.” That really was my first stage experience and led me to start dancing. Adorable. That tenacity comes across in your work, you can definitely tell you’ve been honing your craft for a long while. I especially noticed it in Straight Outta Oz. The overall story and execution of it is very impressive. You take on some heavy
AUGUST 2017 | RAGE monthly
AUGUST 2017 | RAGE monthly 35
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
