Interview: BEAUTIFUL's Becky Gulsvig

Becky Gulsvig is currently appearing in BEAUTIFUL - THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL as Cynthia Weil - she's a Hall of Fame songwriter with numerous hits to her credit such as "On Broadway," "Make Your Own Kind of Music," and "(You've Lost) That Lovin' Feeling," just to name a few. Weil was a friend, competitor and collaborator of Carole King and an integral part of the story of King's career.

Gulsvig, who most recently originated the role of Cinderella in Off-Broadway's DISENCHANTED!, has been seen in Broadway's HAIRSPRAY, LEGALLY BLONDE and was in the latter show's First National Tour as Elle Woods. But Minnesotans with keen eyes may recognize her from her beginnings in Moorhead, Minn., where she got her theatrical start and still has family now. With a busy schedule and eight shows a week, Gulsvig was unable to do 6 Questions & a Plug (I know, awww!) but Hennepin Theatre Trust provided this Q&A with Gulsvig about her Minnesotan past.

Q. You were born in Benson, Minn. if you went to school there were you involved in singing or performing or did your formal education in theatre begin when you moved to Moorhead?

Yes, I was born in Benson, Minn. I moved away when I was small so my formal education was in Moorhead.

Q. Was your family involved in music, dance or acting - and were they supportive of your desire to work in theatre? Are they still in the Moorhead or Midwestern area? What was their reaction when you moved to New York at age 17?

My parents and many relatives are still in Moorhead and I have family in the Twin Cities area and near Duluth. My parents were very supportive of my move to NYC (thank goodness!!) and have been supportive ever since! My folks were't really into the arts but they can definitely carry a tune and became great supporters of the arts!

Q. Your bio says you grew up in Moorhead, went to Moorhead Senior High School and were involved in the theatre program. What did you learn, what roles did you play? Also, Hennepin Theatre Trust, owner of the Orpheum Theatre, has a high school program called the SpotLight Musical Theatre Program that works with Moorhead. Any chance you were involved in that?

The Spotlight Program came along after I had already graduated. It would have been so fun to have that when I was growing up! At MHS I played Crystal in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, Narrator in JOSEPH and Dorothy in THE WIZARD OF OZ. At Trollwood Performing Arts School I played Peggy Sawyer in 42nd STREET, Judas in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and Lola in DAMN YANKEES. I learned so much by having such amazing opportunities available to me. The Fargo-Moorhead area is so supportive of the arts and particularly of young artists and I am so grateful that I grew up there!

Q. What was your earliest experience or moment when you knew that you wanted to make this your life's work?

I was one of seven finalists from around the country to be the replacement Dorothy in the national tour of THE WIZARD OF OZ with Mickey Rooney and Eartha Kitt. The tour did a massive search country-wide. My dad and I flew to Detroit and I stood in line all day and got the call that night that I was Detroit's finalist. They ended up changing plans and the tour ended up not continuing long enough for a replacement but all the finalists got a free trip to NYC and I had already prepared to graduate high school just in case. I made the move around the time of the "free trip" and then just stayed!

Q. What impact did going to a specialized arts school like the Trollwood Performing Arts School (TPAS) in Moorhead and working with Eddie and Kathy Gasper have on your career?

TPAS was such a special and huge experience for me. I loved spending my summers there. The Gaspers provided such amazing training and really prepared me for life in the business. I am so grateful for that.

Q. You probably came to the Twin Cities when you were growing up and you also played Elle in the LEGALLY BLONDE tour that ran at the Ordway. Are there things that you make a point of doing when you're back in this area?

Family! We are there over Thanksgiving so I'm really looking forward to seeing as many friends and family as possible! Plus we have to take our daughter to the Mall of America, Children's Museum and all of those sorts of fun places!

Q. What do you think of the Minnesota arts/theatre scene now that you've experienced New York and other locations?

I am so proud to be from Minnesota, a state that funds and appreciates the arts. The arts are such a great way to build confidence in young people, share joy and tell stories. There are so many amazing things happening across the state of Minnesota and it all fuels the same wonderful fire of creativity that burns nationwide. I am thankful for that.

Watch a clip about the show here: https://youtu.be/BHukmJb1KvE and read more at http://beautifulonbroadway.com. Becky Gulsvig is online at www.beckygulsvig.com.

BEAUTIFUL - THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL plays through Nov. 29, 2015, at Minneapolis' Orpheum Theatre. Tickets are available at www.hennepintheatretrust.org.

Photo: Barry and Cynthia. Ben Fankhauser ("Barry Mann") and Becky Gulsvig ("Cynthia Weil"). Photo by Joan Marcus.