Ariana DeBose on 'The Baker's Wife,' Musical Theater, and Community

'The Baker's Wife' Revival

• 🎭 Ariana DeBose stars as Jean Viev Castier in the off-Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz's 1976 musical, "The Baker's Wife," at Classic Stage Company.
• 💡 The musical, which never reached Broadway in its initial run, is set in a French village desperate for a baker after their local one dies, finding hope in a new baker and his much younger wife.
• 🌟 DeBose was drawn to the role after receiving a direct email from Stephen Schwartz, seeing the musical as a fable with themes of community, romance, and challenging unconscious bias.

Performing in Intimate Spaces

• 🎤 DeBose thrives in intimate, in-the-round settings like Classic Stage Company, appreciating the ability to feel the audience's energy and maintain a sacred, communal theatrical experience.
• 🎯 The close proximity to the audience keeps her honest as an actress, providing immediate feedback on whether she is connecting with them.

Character and Themes

• 🌱 Jean Viev is introduced as someone starting over, seeking kindness and a fresh start in a new town, valuing a stable relationship over fleeting excitement.
• 💖 The musical explores different definitions of love, particularly the difference between lust and love, and the journey of a couple, despite an age gap, learning what true partnership entails.
• 💃 A new dance sequence, conceived by the director and choreographer with Schwartz's approval, was added to this production, enhancing the storytelling by depicting a dream sequence about love and lust from the baker's perspective.

Community and Collaboration

• 🤝 DeBose highlights the incredible, stacked cast of "The Baker's Wife," featuring theatrical legends, and emphasizes the cast and crew's function as a tight-knit family working towards a common goal.
• 💬 The show explores themes of community and getting along with neighbors, reflecting on how people often form misconceptions about others and the importance of understanding each character's motivations.
• 🌟 The musical ultimately models the privilege of being seen and understood by others, a valuable reminder in today's world.

Musical Theater's Future

• 💡 DeBose discusses the challenges facing Broadway musicals, noting that adapting to changing financial and demographic landscapes is crucial for the industry's survival and equity.
• 🤝 She believes that compromise and collaboration are essential for finding a path forward, citing the successful staging of the Tony Awards during the WGA strike as an example of industry resilience.
• 🌟 The future of Broadway requires sacrifice and collective effort to overcome adversity and ensure the industry's continued success.