Christian Henry, the multifaceted tour

Last I saw local superstar Christian Henry of Running to Places, Ithaca College Theater, and Cortland Repertory Theatre fame, we were sitting in Ithaca Bakery. Christian was about to head off on the Broadway National Tour of Pretty Woman, The Musical.

Today we caught up by phone. Christian is in Detroit, Michigan, for the week performing at the Fisher Theatre.

Christian: Hi, Marjorie. I’m glad to report on my experience on tour! I’m acting, singing and dancing in different cities around the country—East Coast to West Coast, North and South, all around. By the end of the tour, I will have spent 27 weeks on the road and performed the show 206 times!

It’s a rigorous work schedule. Most weeks, we perform Tuesday to Friday nights. On Saturday and Sunday, we do an afternoon and an evening show. Eight shows a week! The week we went from Reno, Nevada to Fresno, CA we did ten shows. Coming up, we have a week where we’re in five different cities on consecutive days, in 4 states: Illinois, Indiana, North Dakota, and West Virginia.

In addition to our performance schedules, we often have understudy rehearsals during the day. I understudy two roles: David Morse and Alfredo, the opera singer. I’ve gone on for both! David Morse, a whole twenty-one times.

The hardest part is the travel. We go from city to city by bus and plane, and it can be long and cramped. For example, to get from Kansas to Michigan, we left Manhattan, KS at 6:30 a.m., took a bus to Kansas City, flew to Chicago, had a three-hour layover, then flew to Detroit. We arrived at 5:45 p.m. We were tired and stiff, but we dropped our luggage off at our Airbnb and went right out for hibachi.

Life on the road is not for the faint of heart. It is hard to live out of your suitcase and to be in a hotel room all of the time. So, nights like this hibachi-finale-travel-day are special.

Our first night in the new theater requires a lot of technical work. We start with a P.M meeting, where our Stage Manager updates the cast and crew on the ins-and-outs of the space. Then we get into mics for sound check, so our Head Audio and Asst Audio Engineers can mix and balance our vocals with our pit orchestra. After the meeting and sound check, we grab food from somewhere near the theater, and then it’s time to get ready for the show.

We travel with our Music Director and Assistant Music Director, both of whom play keys in the orchestra, along with two guitarists, bassist, and drummer—a six-person pit orchestra.

During the show there is very specific off-stage choreography. After the opening number, I have a one-minute quick change where I have to go from a “Hollywood Low-life” to a “Beverly Wilshire Bellhop.” Wig off. Jacket off. Shirt off. Pants off. Shoes off. Shirt on. Tie tied. Pants on. Suspenders on. Shoes on. Jacket on. Pull a pair of gloves from my jacket pocket, and push a piano on stage. It’s so fast paced and exhilarating, and I bet that most of the audience has no idea that it’s the same person in both roles.

When we are done in one locale the stagehands carefully pack up all the costumes and props and equipment and load up the travel bus.

My job requires me to work nights, so I try to fill my days with fun activities. I usually get up in the morning and go to a gym, stretch, and exercise, and go out for coffee or breakfast. In my NYC life, while auditioning, I was a Personal Trainer, so I deeply understand the value of exercise for a good life. After the show, my castmates and I order food, go out for a cocktail or dinner, or see a drag show. If I’m tired I may stay in and read (I’ve read many great books on the road.), call loved ones, watch a movie, whatever is most rejuvenating.

I try to see important historical landmarks in all the cities we visit. Last night, the cast was invited for a private tour and party at Berry Gordy’s Motown Mansion after our show! It was a spectacular night.

I began rehearsals for Pretty Woman in Syracuse, NY on August 31st, 2023 (and I’ll back in March!). I felt really lucky to be rehearsing so close to home, in Ithaca. I was able to go home and see my family, even celebrate my birthday with my twin, Chandra. So, the serendipitous location of the pre-travel rehearsals helped me adjust; I was definitely missing my people in NYC and Ithaca.

At first I experienced some grief over leaving the life I had in NYC. I left the thriving personal training business I had worked so hard to build, not to mention the relationships and support system. But I owe it to myself to put my acting career first. Not many people get to say that they’re doing exactly what they’ve always said they were going to do. I’m one of the lucky ones.

I have forged strong connections with the people around me. I feel deeply connected with my castmates, whom I have found to be gracious, talented, and hard-working. They’re my new people.

There are many parts of touring that I love. I love making new memories and seeing what our country has to offer. I love getting paid to share my artistry. Not many people get to say that they perform for upwards of 10,000 people a week.

National tours can be a fantastic career boost. Broadway casting directors, producers, and creative teams understand that it requires stability and stamina to do 8 shows a week. In the last 6 months, I’ve been invited to audition for two Broadway shows and three National Tours. I also gained a talent manager! She submits me for film, television, and theater work.

But the most powerful part of the tour for me has been reconnecting with family members who don’t live in Upstate, New York. My castmates make fun of me, saying “You have family everywhere,” and they aren’t wrong. I’ve seen family in Delaware, Massachusetts, DC, Georgia, California, Ohio, Colorado, and New York.

I feel so fortunate to have my community in so many places and for my network to be expanding! A life on the road is not easy, but right now my heart is on the road and there’s no place I’d rather be.

You can catch Pretty Woman The Musical at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse, March 19-24th. Tickets can be found here: https://www.ticketmaster.com/pretty-woman-the-musical-touring-tickets/artist/2737500?venueId=168