From Belmont to Broadway…and Back Again!

September 30, 2024
By: Keira Maupin

Last Friday night at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University, the College of Music & Performing Arts’ Musical Theatre program invited six of their incredible alumni to return to the stage of their alma mater in Nashville, TN. Parents, friends, family members, and current students received a warm welcome from the woman who started it all, Marjorie Halbert (Director of Belmont Musical Theatre 1998-2013) and the woman who upholds the program’s level of excellence to this day, Nancy Allen (Director of Belmont Musical Theatre 2014-present). Celebrating 25 years of the Musical Theatre program here at Belmont, Marjorie Halbert shared the advice she gave prospective students in their audition for the program, “If there is a fire in you and you can’t see yourself without doing musical theatre, you’ve come to the right place.”

The night featured accomplished alumni, including Rebecca Covington Webber (Broadway/Tour: Hamilton, Motown: The Musical, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Katie Ladner (Broadway: Wicked, Almost Famous, Sunset Boulevard; Off-Broadway: Heathers), Whitney Meyer (Disney: Voices of Liberty, Session Singer; Off-Broadway: Angelina Ballerina), Nathan Meyer (Disney: Voices of Liberty; Royal Caribbean Cruises), Douglas Waterbury-Tieman (Off-Broadway: The Robber Bridegroom; Creator: Johnny & The Devil’s Box), and Annabelle Fox (Off-Broadway: No Strings; Regional: Waitress, Singing in the Rain, Spring Awakening).

Showcasing their journeys from Belmont to the professional stage, the event was moderated by Erica Aubrey (Belmont Instructor of Voice, Belmont BFA Musical Theatre Senior Capstone Director, Professional Actor, Nashville Session Singer) and Miles Aubrey (Musician, Guitar Instructor, Professional Actor, Broadway: Jersey Boys). Accompanied by the phenomenal Ming Aldrich-Gan, the alumni performed some of their favorite Disney classics, Broadway favorites, and pieces from original works. The magic of live musical theatre was in the air as these talented artists captivated the audience and effortlessly owned the largest stage in all of Nashville. Each alum heartfully shared stories of their successes, unexpected challenges, hopes for the future, and words of wisdom for current students trying to follow in their footsteps. Marjorie Halbert put it best: “From Belmont to Broadway and back again, these alumni made it happen.”