Interview: Evelyn Christina Tonn In CHICAGO Coming to the Van Wezel

The Windy City meets the City by the Bay when Chicago comes to Sarasota, bringing hometown girl, Evelyn Christina Tonn to grace the Van Wezel stage. Ms Tonn is a native of Sarasota, Florida and presently touring as a cast member in Chicago the Musical. She has been with the production for and incredible 10 years, traveling worldwide to countries such as Brazil, Dubai, Thailand and Tokyo. Sarasotans will be able to catch Ms Tonn while Chicago plays at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, March 24-26, 2017.

Evelyn's career started at a young age. Her mother gave her every opportunity to explore the arts. She performed impressive professional work in middle and high school at local venues such as The Florida Studio Theatre, The Asolo Repertory, and the Sarasota Ballet. She graduated Double Honors from the University of Central Florida in Orlando with a BA in Political Science, (International Relations). After graduation, Evelyn moved to New York City to pursue at shot at Broadway. After 4 months of grueling auditions, she secured a non-union, one-year tour with Chicago. That led to an extraordinary 10 years of traveling the globe with the long-running musical, which she considers a blessing.

When speaking with Ms Tonn, it will not be long before you come to know two characteristics that make up her personality. She is one of the most grounded people you will encounter. And she is strong in her faith, which guides her and keeps her anchored. When asked what keeps her so grounded, she answers, "Gratitude!" Enjoying a job singing, dancing, touring and doing what one loves doesn't sound like a bad gig. But the reality is, performers are never in one place for long. She discloses, "With touring comes constant packing and unpacking, battling the elements in cities all over the world, fighting colds and allergies and maintaining mental, physical and vocal prowess in order to keep your position. We also perform the same role 8 times a week and have to keep it fresh every time". Having an attitude of gratitude helps Evelyn focus on her role and maintain its newness for an audience who may be seeing the show for the first time or the 10th time. Ms Tonn continues, "I draw my inspiration from inside and love being a part of telling a story".

In describing herself, she states her favorite musicals are of course Chicago, and Phantom of the Opera. She likes to read works by Latin American authors, loves science fiction and is fascinated with medieval realism. She would love to play a Princess Warrior in a movie and has a love of languages. "I'm also a nerd ball", she adds with a chuckle.

For those who wish to follow in her footsteps, Evelyn advices, "Have a backup plan and anchors in place. This is a very hard industry and you cannot compare yourself with other people. You must maintain humility and trust and especially support fellow artists." Such good advice from someone who knows the ropes.

What is next for this statuesque beauty? The contracted end date for the Chicago's touring run is August 13, 2017. However, beloved shows such as Chicago are often renewed, so we will have to wait and see. Evelyn says she would love to pursue more film and television roles. She would especially like to be a part of one of the live performances of Broadway musicals being aired on television. A dream come true would be a part in the Broadway production of Chicago on, "The Great White Way".

Whether it is the theatre, film, or television, we will see more of Evelyn Christina Tonn. She's doing all the right things as she continues to advance her career through vocal and dance training, remains grounded in her roots, exudes her love of humanity and stays strong in her faith and commitment to delivering fine performances. Maintaining balance in her life is something she does with as much grace as she radiates on the stage.

Chicago, the winner of 6 Tony Awards, 2 Olivier Awards and a Grammy, is now in its 20th year on Broadway, making it the longest-running musical revival and the longest-running American musical in Broadway history. The musical is set during the Prohibition-era in Chicago and is based on a play written by Maurine Dallas Watkins. Ms Watkins was a Chicago Tribune reporter and playwright whose assignment was to cover the 1924 trials of accused female murderers Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner for the Chicago Tribune. The public's fascination with female murders during the trials made this ripe for a clever Broadway musical with the book written by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.