Ginna Claire Mason

From Kat: I was insanely lucky to spend a summer with GC at Flat Rock Playhouse (yes, the same summer as Obvious Path feature, Alex Hairston)! Ginna Claire and I became instant friends and bonded over our love for cereal, coffee, girly dresses, a morning devotional, and puppies. I fell in love with her spirit.

We hit NYC the fall after that apprenticeship and that thing you wish would happen to all the lovely and talented people in your life happened to Ginna Claire- she started working. And on BIG things. I’m sure it felt like a methodical rise to her, but from the outside, you could see she was going to blow up. I moved around a lot but Ginna Claire would always check-in every new job, life development, and move to see how I was doing and tell me what was going on with her. 6 years post-apprenticeship, she toured through Cleveland on the Wicked National Tour…

And, despite all her success, she was as kind, as inviting, and as fun as I remember. Ginna Claire demonstrates charm, honesty, vulnerability, and braveness in her craft, but also in her life. She’s not afraid to make friends, and as you will read, even sing in front of her math class. I’m thankful that I can call her my friend. She has a light around her that is contagious- even through a blog post! We’ll let her take it from here.

Ginna Claire! Thanks for stepping out of your Broadway bubble (see what we did there??) to talk to us! Can you briefly introduce yourself?

Hi y’all! I was born and raised in Nashville, TN, so I think music was always in my bones. My parents raised my fam on the musical theatre classics- Sound of Music, Cats, Annie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. My favorite soundtracks growing up were My Fair Lady, Les Miserablés, and Annie Get Your Gun. I have three brothers, so I’m a bit of a tomboy myself- with a definite girly side, too! I watched my big brothers perform in community theatre and wanted to get involved, too. The local show I did was Grease in third grade. I was officially bit by the theatre bug!

In fourth grade, I saw my first Broadway show and had the amazing realization that PEOPLE DO THIS FOR THEIR JOB. There was no turning back.

My after-school activities became completely consumed with dance classes, voice lessons, piano and play practices. The real game-changer was in 7th grade- I saw the original cast of Wicked on Broadway, and announced to my parents at intermission that I would be Glinda someday!

Let’s talk about Elon, which has the reputation of being one of the premier MT schools… How did you end up there?

In high school, I started researching BFA Music Theatre programs. I remember freshman year of high school for Christmas asking for all NYU merch because I was thinking, “GET ME TO NEW YORK!”

Upon further research and guidance from my mom, I came to recognize the value of a more “normal” college experience with a campus and student life. Also, New York isn’t going anywhere!

Elon was my first audition, and I considered it a “practice” school. I think that actually put me in a good headspace, because I wasn’t super nervous. I was just having fun, and soaking it all in! I fell in love with the gorgeous campus (a literal botanical garden!), the warm and wise faculty members, and the friendly students. Then I saw their production of Sweeney Todd, and I could NOT believe I wasn’t in NYC seeing a Broadway show! The caliber of the talent and sets and costuming and EVERYTHING totally blew me away. I knew then that I wanted to go to Elon and be part of a program that trained kids to perform like THAT. I was fortunate enough to be accepted early, and actually ended up canceling all of my other auditions!

What did you learn at Elon that changed your career? Did your association with Elon open any doors for you early on? (ie showcase/relationship with CDs)

I honestly cannot say enough good things about Elon. My training there definitely prepared me for this career path.

Something I love about my alma mater is that it’s a liberal arts school with conservatory-style training. That means as a BFA music theatre student, I was, of course, singing and dancing and acting, but I was also taking math and language and science and psychology and history. I’m a firm believer that well-rounded people make well-rounded performers, so I recommend, learn as much as you can about the world! Elon also has a top rated study abroad program. My semester in London was brightly eye-opening and transformative. I highly encourage travel, if possible!

Elon doesn’t do a traditional showcase. Instead, the class decides upon and invites individual casting directors and agents to the school, to work with and audition students privately. I thought this was awesome, because I moved to New York feeling like I had a semblance of a relationship with a number of top casting directors. It was also good practice for the “real world.” This is how I got an agent right out of school.

How do you prepare for the big auditions?

In college, I would get really nervous to get up and perform in front of people. I remember I had to sing in front of my whole department, and I was feeling anxious about it. I wanted to get a handle on my nerves, and asked my math teacher if I could get up and sing for my class. I thought, hey, if I can do it for them, I can do it for my department. Silly, I know. But there’s something to be said for making friends with our nerves.

I did summer stock at Flat Rock Playhouse (with Kat!!), and we had weekly “Midnight Studios”. On Friday each week, if there were still open slots to perform, I made myself sign up! To have that experience of getting up in front of my peers and real professionals was so valuable!

I still find myself being nervous for big auditions, and I find the best way to combat that, is to be overly prepared. Practice makes permanent, right? So I always run through things by myself, AND with my husband, friends, and co-workers. Depending on the audition, I may hire a coach, too. If there’s new music involved, I always run through it at my voice lessons Then just go in there, be myself, and HAVE FUN with it!!

You haven’t stopped working since you graduated (which is AMAZING), but your path to leading “Wicked” on a nightly basis included some understudying and lots of time out of town. Did you ever feel like you wouldn’t make it to where you are? Can you talk about the paradox of being thankfully employed (in a business of so much unemployment), but still striving for more?

No matter what I was doing, I never lost sight of my Wicked dream. I always thought it was just a matter of time. And it was!

Each job teaches you something!

I loved doing Flashdance right out of school. I learned so much about the business and the union. Some of the more seasoned actors definitely took me under their wings, for which I’m very grateful. I learned about the discipline required to do 8 shows a week, and how to tour! (Pack light, be flexible, and explore as much as you can!) This was also my first go at figuring out what long-distance marriage looks like, something we would have to keep practicing for the next five years!

Newsies was my next job. This gig honestly taught me a little humility because I went from being a principal to being in the ensemble. It was fun being part of the process and the launch of a first national tour. I gained a lot of precious brothers and sisters from this experience.

Duck Commander Musical was a wonderful surprise. The director of Newsies helped move me to perform the lead in another project that he was also directing. It was very creatively satisfying to help originate a new role within a new production! To this day, the music from DCM is some of my favorite material I’ve ever sung! I loved getting to live and perform in Vegas. The show was short-lived, a reminder that every job is temporary!

My next job was the standby for Glinda in Wicked on Broadway. This position required a lot of preparation and patience. Sometimes I wouldn’t go on for months, then suddenly I would be required to step in to lead a massive show. My 16 months as standby were both thrilling and terrifying. I’m forever thankful that I got to make my Broadway debut in my dream role.

I auditioned again and had the chance to take over the role of Glinda on tour! I was on the road with the “Munchkinland” production for 20 glorious months. Doing the role 8 times a week revealed to me what I needed to do to sustain myself: lots of sleep and water, regular voice lessons, vitamins, stretching, lifting weights, warming up, eating healthy, steaming my voice, icing, etc. My time on tour really prepared me for doing the show in New York.

Being back on Broadway in the role, now truly feels like coming home! I already knew and loved many people in the building from my previous stint at the Gershwin, so it’s been a very sweet reunion. It also feels like the completion of my Glinda Journey. To play this role AND to go home and sleep in my own bed every night is the ULTIMATE.

What is the most important thing you’ve done in your career so far?

The thing I value most about my time as a professional actor is the relationships I’ve formed.

What do you wish you did differently leading up to where you are now? What was the most helpful thing you did in your career?

I wish I had stopped comparing my journey to other people’s and focused instead on the next best step for me.

I think the most helpful thing I’ve done is stayed in training. I love learning! Voice lessons and film classes are my favorite. It challenges me to expand my skillset and to work on new material.

You’re doing something right now lots of people don’t get to do, which is realizing (one of) the dreams they had in middle school. Do you mind sharing what being Broadway’s good witch means to you?

When I was a kid, I liked Glinda because she wore cute dresses and sang fun songs. Now I love Glinda because of her growth and goodness, heart and humor. She has such a dynamic path from naive, unfiltered school girl to passionate and loyal ruler of Oz. I think her arc is intriguing and makes her story a super interesting one to play. I’ve done the show almost 900 times, and I’m still discovering new qualities and moments with Glinda girl.

The story of Wicked is a beautiful one of friendship and overcoming differences to unite together. It’s meaningful to share this message on stage for a live audience 8 times a week!

Glinda inspires me. And I hope I can play her in such a way that she inspires others, as well!

Are you at the top of your mountain?

In some ways, yes! My dream since I was 13 was to play Glinda on Broadway! So I’m doing that, which is awesome. But now I find myself dreaming new dreams and looking to new mountains, exploring different storytelling mediums, imagining what’s next!

RAPID FIRE:
Favorite Broadway show: The Light in the Piazza (favorite show currently out is Come From Away!)

TV show you binge: Mindy Project, This is Us, The Good Place, Jane the Virgin, Fixer Upper, Queer Eye

Podcasts you like: The Glorious in the Mundane, That Sounds Fun, Armchair Expert, Passion City DC, Booked It

Any other obsessions?: ABLE!! (Fashion and female empowerment), Paddywax candles, French press coffee, Whole30 lifestyle, DOGS, country music

Religious, Spiritual, or nah?: Christ follower 🙌🏻

Any former side hustles?: teaching voice lessons

Any bad audition stories?: Oh man, one time the casting director never looked up from his phone while I did the material. That was... 🙈

Best part of being married to Prince Eric? (Go stalk them on Instagram- they’re adorable): His ginormous heart. The way he loves God, his family, me. He lives his life thinking about how he can be a blessing to others. He is intentional, disciplined, adventurous, kind, and inspires me to be better. And, my goodness, those baby blues still make me swoon. I’m forever needing more kisses, please.

How I made being on the road feel like home was ______: Having a kitchen!! (Opt for an Airbnb instead of a hotel, if possible!) It gave me control of how I was nourishing myself.

Favorite audition song: I think the last time I auditioned with my own song (instead of material from the show) was probably 3 years ago?! I used “When He Sees Me” from Waitress. Such a good song! I also love singing “The Beauty Is,” “Cockeyed Optimist,” and “Another Life.”

Job you didn’t expect to book: Duck Commander Musical

Biggest beef with the business: the push for self-promotion? Always looking for the next job? 8 shows a week?

Social media handles: @ginnaclaire everywhere

Anything you’d like to promote?: my favorite non-profits are Show Hope (helps fund international and domestic adoptions), Love Without Boundaries (international orphan care), and In Our Hands Rescue (animal rescue based out of NYC)

Books: Rhythms of Renewal by Rebekah Lyons, Love Does by Bob Goff, Blue Book

Photo Credits:

Photo by: Nathan Johnson, Press Shot by Joan Marcus, Ginna Claire and Parents, Photo by Joan Marcus, Photo by Kristine Kelly, Photo by Matt Andrews, Photo by Michael Kushner, Singing at Yankee Stadium, Photo by Christine Small, The cutest now and then photo!