Interview: Labraska Washington of BEAUTIFUL at Theatre Under The Stars

There are performers who walk onto a stage and instantly change the temperature and feeling in the room, and Houston favorite LaBraska Washington is one of those singers who you can count on to do that! Whether belting with powerhouse vocalist Christina Wells, commanding the stage in productions like Sister Act and Thunder Knocking on the Door, or lending his voice to anime characters for Sentai Filmworks, Washington has built a reputation as one of Houston theater’s most soulful and dynamic artists. Now he returns to Theatre Under The Stars for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, which runs through May 31 at the Hobby Center. The production is packed with local talent, and Washington could not be more excited to dive into the music of legendary songwriter Carole King.

For Washington, the experience has been both nostalgic and revelatory. “As a music aficionado, you realize you know songs, but then you don’t realize who actually wrote them. Over the course of doing this show, I’ve been hearing the music and going, ‘Oh, they wrote that?' That’s good!” Like many people, Washington grew up surrounded by King’s music without fully realizing how deeply her songwriting shaped American pop culture. Before rehearsals began, the songs he most associated with King were classics like “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “I Feel the Earth Move,” and the Drifters song “Up on the Roof.” “There’s a story inside of her lyrics,” he explained. “And then in the music and orchestrations, there’s also a story in there that helps everything flow together. I love Carole King. I love her.”

Beautiful traces King’s rise from young songwriter to Grammy-winning superstar. The musical begins when she first steps into the legendary Brill Building music scene of 50s and 60s pop and follows her through her creative partnership and marriage with Gerry Goffin, culminating in the era-defining success of Tapestry. Washington describes the show as a celebration of perseverance. “You really see her fight,” he said. “You see the story of a woman, maybe being silenced in a world full of men, but her voice is so strong that you can’t deny it. If you’re part of pop culture, if you love music, this show is timeless,” he said. “The music takes you back. It makes you dream. It makes you think. And it’s comforting. The music of the ’60s and ’70s was so good,” he said. “And I think when we go through turbulent times, art steps in and comforts us. That’s what Carole King did.”

In Beautiful, Washington performs with the Drifters ensemble, tackling a demanding track featuring classic songs and rapid-fire costume changes. He jokingly refers to the material as “the numbers from hell,” but his excitement about the score is unmistakable. “Our track is fierce,” he said. “We sing in pretty much every ensemble number, and then our specific numbers are ‘Some Kind of Wonderful,’ ‘On Broadway,’ and ‘The Locomotion.’” Washington also gets a featured solo with “Up on the Roof,” a song that unexpectedly became deeply personal during the rehearsal process. “My mom reminded me that my grandmother used to sing that song all the time,” he said. “Around the house, at work, everywhere. I never knew that.” His grandmother passed away years ago, making the connection especially emotional. “It’s nice to find a new anchor in that sense,” he reflected. “Like, oh, we have this in common. You’re still here somehow. It’s insane that it became my solo,” he said. “That kind of thing makes you feel like you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.”

The production also reunites Washington with director Dan Knechtges, a longtime collaborator whose approach he deeply admires. “Dan is very organic,” Washington said. “He’s not a puppeteer. He picks smart, strong people who make active choices, and then he shapes the picture around that. Everybody [in this cast] is bringing something strong to the table.” That cast includes several of Houston musical theater’s brightest stars, including Holland Vavra, Mark Ivy, Ben Chavez, and Sarah Sachi. Washington lights up when discussing his castmates, particularly Sachi, with whom he previously appeared in Thunder Knocking on the Door.

Outside of Beautiful, Labraska’s schedule remains busy. In addition to theater work, Washington has become increasingly active as a voice actor, particularly in anime dubbing for Sentai Filmworks. His credits include Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? and Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!. “I started playing Dungeons & Dragons with some directors at Sentai,” he explained. “I’d do voices during the game, and eventually I asked if I could audition.” Voice acting proved to be an entirely different challenge from stage performance, especially when dubbing Japanese animation into English. “You’re in a booth screaming and stretching words to fit timing,” he said. “It’s a full-body workout.”

Though he enjoys voice work, theater remains central to his artistic identity. When asked about his favorite roles, Washington immediately points to Thunder Knocking on the Door at Stages as one of the most fulfilling experiences of his career. He also has a soft spot for playing Monsignor O’Hara in Sister Act. “It’s such a fun gig,” he laughed. “You come in, do funny stuff, and leave. It’s great.” 

Need more Houston Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...