“Sunset Boulevard” actress Grace Hodgett Younger starred in a Broadway present earlier than she ever noticed one herself.
After 5 months of performing six days per week within the musical The Submit referred to as “Broadway’s most exhilarating show in years,” she lastly obtained to expertise what it’s wish to be within the viewers on the Nice White Approach.
“I know, it’s crazy . . . I couldn’t believe I made my Broadway debut before seeing my first Broadway show,” Younger, 22, informed The Submit.
“I saw my first, which was ‘Smash,’ last Monday.”
The native of Nottingham, England, mentioned she was “utterly inspired” by the quintessential Large Apple second.
“Taking a night to go to the theater is so f–king exciting,” she gushed.
Her journey to Gotham to star within the musical — the place she performs the principal function of Betty Schaefer, an aspiring author decided to make it in Hollywood — was her first time visiting New York, and America, and she or he was “absolutely terrified.”
“I was freaking out, I’m not gonna lie to you. . . . I didn’t know what to expect because I never really pictured that this job would take me to New York. . . . It just seemed so far-fetched,” mentioned Younger, whose first skilled function was in “Sunset Boulevard” in London’s West Finish.
“So to be here now is insane.”
During the present, on the St. James Theatre till July 13, she’s residing in Hell’s Kitchen — the place the most important factor she needed to get used to was the “the constant stream of traffic” outdoors her window.
“I’ve asked people in the cast, and apparently the road that I can see out my window is notoriously known for bad traffic,” she mentioned.
“Every single day, without fail, it’s just blocked with cars and people are honking their horn like there’s anywhere to go and there’s really not.”
The Submit praised Younger for her “strong” efficiency as Betty — who finds herself in a messy love triangle with fellow author Joe Gillis, performed by Tom Francis, and Norma Desmond, a seasoned Hollywood actress performed by former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger.
Younger was working as a waitress in a London bar referred to as Skylight when she auditioned for a smaller function in its ensemble.
Nevertheless, its director Jamie Lloyd was so impressed together with her, he requested if she was obtainable the subsequent day to check out for Betty — which earned her a nomination for an Olivier Award, the British equal of a Tony.
“I said, ‘Yes,’ and I actually wasn’t [free] because I had a shift at the bar,” she mentioned, laughing.
The evening earlier than the audition, she needed to study two of the present’s songs, written by legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, and the morning of “they taught me some more songs at about 11 a.m. and then I had to be back at 2 and do them,” she recalled.
Younger obtained the decision she’d landed the half whereas on the bus commuting residence from a 12-hour shift on the watering gap, the place she was about to get promoted to bartender.
“I was at the phase where they were training me to be on the bar, but after I got that call, I literally called my boss and was like, ‘I got a job. I’ve got to go.’”
