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In this exclusive interview about the love of music and human
connection, we speak with Renée Elise Goldsberry who rose to
fame as Angelica Schuyler in the musical phenomenon,
Hamilton, winning a Tony and a Grammy Award for her
role.
Broadway's Hamilton is the sung-and rapped-through
musical about U.S. Founding Father Alexander Hamilton which
garnered unprecedented success while sweeping the country by
storm since its debut in 2015.
The Truth Reporter:
Congratulations on all your professional accolades. They are
well deserved. In light of what you’ve accomplished, tell us
what is next on your list of goals?
Goldsberry: Thank you. I try to be ready for any surprises around the corner
because so many things I’m given the opportunity to do are
unexpected and better than I ever could have dreamed. My
main goal is to stay ready and stay prayerful for whatever
opportunity comes my way and to enjoy it!
The Truth: Can you share any details of your upcoming one-night-only show?
Goldsberry: I want to share the stories, experiences, and lessons learned with as
many people as possible. This is why I think certain things
happen for certain people because they share things with the
masses. I’ve met some pretty amazing people and the ones I
get most excited to meet are the people who are most open
about their experiences - good or bad. I try to also be this
type of person. My concerts are a really wonderful way for
me to share my personal experiences from the different shows
I’ve done and the lessons I’ve learned along the way with
people. I feel if you come to one of these concerts you’ll
hear some really great music and feel like you got to know
me on a personal level.
The Truth: Where have you toured so far?
Goldsberry: I have a wonderful band and we’ve been touring all around the
country. We’ve gone to Cincinnati, San Francisco,
Nashville, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Iowa…
We have travelled to Wake Forest, Lehigh, and my alma mater, Carnegie
Mellon University, just to name a few. Our Toledo
performance is an extra special one to me, though, as I
graduated from high school close by in Detroit so it feels
like home here. I’m really excited about being back in the
Midwest, it really feels like the entire point of what I am
doing.
The Truth: Do you foresee directing or producing in your future?
Goldsberry: I’d love to do more producing and shining some light on those stories
people need to know about or really enjoy. I love showcasing
different kinds of women. It has been an honor to portray so
many versatile characters in my acting career. I think the
unique thing about my own concert is this is really me. I’m
putting myself out there which is very daunting at times,
but still the most satisfying.
The Truth: Who are your role models or women you admire?
Goldsberry: I admire many women, some older than me and some younger. The first
person is my mother. Without her I would not be able to
manage the ups and downs or highs and lows of anything.
Felicia Rashard has always been a role model and just a
light in this world for me. I’m also in a movie, Waves,
with Taylor Russell, a young woman who plays my daughter.
She has been a light in my life as well. The three amazing
background singers in my band just vocally blow the roof off
the place wherever we go! They are always lifting me up and
just filling the room with the spirit of God, it is really
beautiful. There are women all around me who continue to be
sources of inspiration and support.
The Truth: What motivates you? What do you do for fun?
Goldsberry: The most fun I have honestly, is being with my family. I have a
wonderful husband and two small children. The chaos of it
all is the greatest thing in the world, the most simple yet
greatest of all.
The Truth: What advice would you give a young lady who aspires to be like you?
Goldsberry: My mother told me a long time ago that everything is possible if you
work hard and truly believe that you are worthy of wonderful
things happening to you. Always search for an opportunity to
be a blessing, with every blessing that comes to you. I
believe that really strongly. The goal is not my fame or my
glory but what I can do that is beautiful and positive in
the world. We can all accomplish wonderful things and I
really believe that about everybody. My career should be an
example that anyone has access to success. I don’t think I’m
an outlier. I think I’m just a regular person in the world
who has been blessed to tell wonderful stories with amazing
people. I believe every person I meet is worthy of this as
well. Most importantly you must always work hard, surround
yourself with people who are trying to do positive things,
and never say no to yourself.
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Hamilton was
not Goldsberry’s first appearance on Broadway. Goldsberry
also originated the role of Nettie Harris in The
Color Purple, the Broadway
musical adaptation of the Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel of
the same name, played Nala in The
Lion King, and was in the
cast of the United States tour of Dreamgirls.
Goldsberry was selected to play Mimi Márquez in the final
cast of Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning
musical Rent in
2008.
Since Hamilton, Goldsberry has worked on several
projects. She's appeared in The Get Down on Netflix
and shot the title role for HBO's The Immortal Life of
Henrietta Lacks. She currently stars in the Netflix
series Altered Carbon and a new movie, Waves,
released November 19.
Goldsberry, background singers Crystal Hall, Kristina Miller, and
Anastasia Talley, and a full band, including Michael
Mitchell on piano, Jordan Peters on guitar, Kenneth Salters
on drums, and Jeffrey Hanley on bass, will join the full
Toledo Symphony at the Stranahan Theater. The evening will
cover music from a variety of genres, including soul, rhythm
and blues, and gospel.
Audience
members will hear their favorite music from The Lion
King, Rent, and of course, Hamilton, but they'll
leave having witnessed something intimate and special as
well.
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"We are spreading a message of love through music. Let’s cozy up in the
wintertime," says Goldsberry.
The one-night-only performance of Hamilton's Renée
Elise Goldsberry will take place Saturday, January 25, 2020,
8 PM at the Stranahan Theater.
Tickets can be purchased online at
toledosymphony.com,
by calling 419.246.8000, or by stopping by the box office at
1838 Parkwood Avenue
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