Hope Summer Repertory Theatre recent alumna Grace Stockdale has signed on to perform with Broadway’s touring production of “Kinky Boots,” beginning in September.
Directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, another HSRT alum, the original production of “Kinky Boots” was a wild success when it debuted on Broadway in 2013, and went on to win five Tony awards, including best musical, best actor, and best choreography. Stockdale has been cast as Nicola in its touring production, which will open on September 4 in Las Vegas before embarking on its year-long national circuit.
Stockdale interned with HSRT’s acting company last summer, where she played the role of Natalie in “All Shook Up,” in addition to ensemble roles in the musical “A Light in the Piazza” and the five-woman cabaret “I Am Woman.” She noted that the HSRT internship gave her a foundation that she could “continue to grow and learn and act upon.” “I grew as an artist,” she said. “It really prepared me for what I’m doing now.”
According to Stockdale, one of the most beneficial aspects of HSRT was its repertory practice of cycling multiple shows at once. “That was my first rep experience,” she said. “Without it, I wouldn’t be nearly as prepared to do so many things at once and multi-task.” Her ability to “live in so many different worlds artistically, and to not get lost in the transition between one world and another” will prove valuable for Stockdale this summer, as she begins rehearsing for “Kinky Boots” while still performing “Atomic,” a new rock musical from Australia that will open its eight-week run at the Acorn Theatre in New York this coming week.
Stockdale is just one of many talented theatre artists, like Jerry Mitchell, that have passed through HSRT and considered it a valuable step to success. “It’s all part of it,” she said. “You get good doing regional stuff. And then you go to the city and you play with the big boys, and then it takes off.”
HSRT continues to foster such rising talent within its company this summer, supporting 28 interns in various departments, as well as 18 professional actors. This season, the company is presenting four main-stage productions: “The Sound of Music,” “A Raisin in the Sun,” “Hot Mikado,” and “The Matchmaker.” In addition, HSRT’s Children’s Performance Troupe is also featuring two children’s musicals, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” and “The Doll People.”
Individual tickets are now on sale at the DeWitt Ticket Office (141 E. 12th St), which is open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from noon until intermission. The college’s downtown ticket office, located at 100 E. Eighth St., is also open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. All tickets are $15 for general seating. Patrons can also purchase individual tickets online by visiting hope.edu/hsrt or calling (616) 395-7890.
Ticket options also include Season Ticket Packages, which save patrons up to 38 percent off individual ticket prices and guarantee a terrific seat for every performance. Season Ticket Packages are available now at both ticket office locations. The Best Buy Package offers seating for four main-stage performances for only $75 for adults, $70 for seniors and $40 for students. The Super-Saver Package includes seating limited to the orchestra and admission to the four main-stage productions for $60 for both adults and seniors and $40 for students.
In addition, the Children’s Performance Troupe offers the Children’s Pass Package, intended for children under 12, which includes a ticket to both CPT performances and one ticket to a main stage musical for only $30. Also available is the Adult CPT Package, which offers tickets to both CPT performances and one main stage performance for only $46. Patrons may elect to purchase our Bonus Adult CPT Package, which adds at additional main stage performance to the existing package for only $72.
More information available online at hope.edu/hsrt.