{"id":152,"date":"2019-07-17T18:17:55","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:17:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wcsu.wpengine.com\/news-archives\/andrew-hendrick\/"},"modified":"2019-07-17T18:17:55","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:17:55","slug":"andrew-hendrick","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/news-archives\/andrew-hendrick\/","title":{"rendered":"2014 Coming to a stage near you: Theatre arts alumnus enjoying an actor’s life"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"ImageDANBURY, CONN. <\/strong>\u2014 Catching up with 2012 Western Connecticut State University<\/a> graduate Andrew Hendrick proved interesting this fall, as he traveled across the country as a cast member of the national touring company of \u201cJekyll & Hyde.<\/a>\u201d A layover in the Charlotte, North Carolina, airport just before Thanksgiving provided the opportunity to find out what the musical theatre<\/a> major has been up to.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe last year has been pretty amazing, being on tour,\u201d Hendrick said. \u201cI auditioned for \u2018Jekyll & Hyde\u2019 in May, was given a call-back, and a week later I was told I had the role of the Bishop of Basingstoke.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The \u201cJekyll & Hyde\u201d national tour opened in September 2014, and Hendrick said the hardest part was waiting all summer for the rehearsals to begin and the show to premiere in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after finding out he had been given the role four months earlier. By late November, he\u2019d already performed in more than 50 shows, with the production being staged on average seven times a week \u2014 often in a different city every night. Heading into his weeklong Thanksgiving break, Hendrick had just performed nine times in four different states, being murdered nightly by Mr. Hyde at the end of Act One.<\/p>\n

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As the production rolls across the country, Hendrick said every element is orchestrated to the smallest detail.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe don\u2019t have to think about any of the logistics,\u201d Hendrick said. \u201cThey take good care of us, and we get to perform in all different kinds of venues. Each space is different \u2014 some are very old theatres and some are very new \u2014 and it\u2019s cool to meet people from all over the country. It\u2019s most exciting to meet people who are seeing their first touring Broadway show and knowing that our performance could be what inspires them to love theatre or pursue a career in theatre themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

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With so many performances under his belt, Hendrick said his role is \u201calready in my muscle memory. I\u2019m really enjoying what I\u2019m doing and I\u2019m doing the best that I can each time I take the stage.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Several of Hendrick\u2019s former professors and classmates had the opportunity to see him at work when \u201cJekyll & Hyde\u201d came to the Palace Theatre<\/a> in Waterbury in early December. A recognizable presence on campus following lead roles in WCSU productions of \u201cThe Best Little Whorehouse in Texas<\/a>\u201d in 2010 and \u201cSweeney Todd<\/a>\u201d in 2011, Hendrick credits his musical theatre studies at Western with his subsequent professional success.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe performing experience I had at WCSU included amazing voice teachers who worked with me to develop a grounded voice, which I need in order to be successful,\u201d he said. Hendrick also credited \u201cthe work ethic I was taught at Western, which included being in a show and<\/em> working on the show, whether in the box office or as a producer.\u201d <\/p>\n

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After obtaining his degree from Western\u2019s School of Visual and Performing Arts<\/a> in 2012, Hendrick worked for a few months as a shift supervisor at CVS until he acquired roles doing local theatre at the Downtown Cabaret <\/a>in Bridgeport. Upon moving to New York City shortly thereafter, his job as a box office manager at the Mint Theater Company<\/a> in Midtown Manhattan enabled him to \u201cimmediately put my WCSU experience to professional use.\u201d At the Mint, Hendrick said, he was \u201csurrounded by incredibly artistic people at a company that specializes in lost and forgotten plays.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Hendrick, who grew up in Fairfield, landed an internship with renowned producer Van Dean at the Broadway Consortium<\/a> for several months before being promoted to producing associate. In that role, he worked with the company and Dean to produce Broadway shows that included \u201cBig Fish,\u201d \u201cMatilda the Musical\u201d and \u201cThe Velocity of Autumn.\u201d Dean is a five-time Tony Award nominee, a Grammy Award nominee, and he won a 2012 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical for \u201cThe Gershwins\u2019 Porgy and Bess.\u201d Dean also produced \u201cFrom Broadway with Love: A Benefit Concert for Sandy Hook,\u201d which was staged and recorded in January 2013 at the Palace Theatre in Waterbury.<\/p>\n

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Because of his affiliation with Dean, Hendrick also found work as a producing associate at Dean\u2019s sister company, Broadway Records<\/a>. Known for its cast recordings of Broadway shows, the company recently announced<\/a> that it will release the original soundtrack of NBC\u2019s \u201cPeter Pan LIVE!\u201d<\/p>\n

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Hendrick maintains his off-stage production responsibilities for the Broadway Consortium and Broadway Records while he\u2019s on the road. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of downtime on tour: time on the bus and in hotel rooms,\u201d he said. \u201cI do remote work.\u201d<\/p>\n

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His first Actors\u2019 Equity show after graduating from Western was in a regional production of \u201cAvenue Q\u201d in Florida, with fellow WCSU alumnus Joel Oramas. In late 2013, Hendrick added to his regional credits when he performed at the White Plains Performing Arts Center in \u201cLes Miserables<\/a>.\u201d <\/p>\n

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During a six-week break in the \u201cJekyll & Hyde\u201d tour, Hendrick returned to the White Plains Performing Arts Center to perform in Disney\u2019s \u201cThe Little Mermaid<\/a>\u201d from mid-December to early January. He obtained the role of Chef Louis after sending a video audition tape to the director while on his current tour. He\u2019s already eyeing some audition opportunities for spring 2015 when \u201cJekyll & Hyde\u201d closes.<\/p>\n

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As an announcement signaling that his flight was about to board echoed in the background, Hendrick reflected on his success in the two years since his graduation from Western.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019ve made sure I have jobs I am passionate about \u2014 not jobs just for money,\u201d Hendrick said. \u201cI don\u2019t go to work feeling like it\u2019s work; I go thinking I\u2019m having a good time. I\u2019m enjoying what I have \u2014 and keeping an eye to the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England\u2019s best small private universities.<\/em><\/p>\n

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