Ashley Brown recently sat down with BroadwayWorld's Alan Aronshtam to talk about her Symphony Concerts with the TSO Dec. 10 and 11, The Sound of Music LIVE, and more!
You often perform concerts like these with large Orchestras. How different is it form performing ina musical? Which one do you find more fulfilling? Yes I've been so lucky to be given the opportunity to sing with amazing orchestras and it is very different from Broadway. Your onstage with the musicians versus hearing them from the orchestra pit. Also with an there a a lot more players in Symohony concerts which makes the music soar! It would hard to choose a favorite tho because they are so different. I do love that in my Symphony concerts it feels like we all collaborate together versus them just accompanying me. It's like a really fast train that we all jump in together.
Do you have any favourite holiday memories? I started singing in church when I was about 6 and when I was about 9 they asked me to sing O Holy Night on Christmas Eve. After that first time it became a tradition. So much so that when I'm able to go home for Christmas I still sing at my church on Christmas Eve. So now that I'll be singing O Holy Night with the Toronto Symphony and at Carnegie Hall it's just a dream come true.
What kind of music can audiences expect to hear at the TSO Chirstmas Pops concert? A lot of their favorite Christmas songs but the program is filled with surprises as well. Steve Reineke and I put together this amazing medley of songs that people will know but wouldn't expect. I'll be doing I Wonder as I Wander, I'll Be Home For Christmas, O Holy Night with a big choir! It's gonna be an amazing night. I get chills just thinking about it.
You'll be performing with the Etobicoke School of the Arts! Do you get much rehearsal time with them? Nope! Hahah. Only 1 rehearsal and then we are on. That's showbiz. Like I said it's like a fast train and we all just have to jump on. The good thing is I know they will come prepared and so will I so it should all come together nicely.
You were last seen on Broadway in Mary Poppins. During your first run (since you returned to the role a second time later in the run) you celebrated two holiday seasons on Broadway! Are the holidays different when you celebrate them while in a Broadway show? For sure! None of us are able to be with our families so we find a new family within our cast of friends. I try to start new traditions. It's hard though, not being home.
You're also getting ready to perform in NBC's Live version of the Sound of Music tonight! How exciting has that been? It's been so exciting! I'm actually responding to this interview as I sit in my trailer on set. Haha. The show is tonight and I hope everyone will tune in. Haha. Carrie Underwood is going to blow everyone's socks off and don't even get me started on Audra McDonald! She's not only an amazing human being but you've never heard Climb Every Mountain like this! Both of these women are so down to earth and such hard workers
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Since this POPS concert is holiday-themed, what is your favourite part about the holiday season? Being with family and friends. The holiday season is always busy for me, singing here and there and I love it. But after working really hard it's nice to be in my pjs on the couch with my mom and dad. I know I'm a dork. Haha. But that's true no matter how old I get. I will always love that
When and Where?
Ashley Brown with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
- Tue. Dec. 10, 2013 at 8:00 PM
Roy Thomson Hall
- Wed. Dec. 11, 2013 at 2:00 PM
Roy Thomson Hall
- Wed. Dec. 11, 2013 at 8:00 PM
Roy Thomson Hall
Tickets available at TSO.ca
