By Jake Zabski
Bryan Terrell Clark, known for his role in the Broadway hit “Hamilton,” treated students to a capella performance on February 3 as a part of Stonehill’s new program called Ace’s All-Access Pass.
Clark is an actor most known for his role as George Washington in the Broadway show “Hamilton.”
The hour-long live event was part of a program to allow students to view exclusive celebrity performances run by the Office of Student Engagement.
Clark, who played George Washington in the Broadway show “Hamilton,” covered topics such as his upbringing, his life as a Broadway actor, and of course singing some of his famous numbers.
Clark said that he can remember wanting to be an actor “before he could talk.” He would sit in front of the television and dance or act out what was going on in the show.
As a child, he sang in the church choir where his mother was a Sunday school teacher.
However, singing was never his passion growing up.
He recalls being forced to perform for his church, and this stifled his passion for his craft. For years, he often found musical theater and singing to be “corny” and did not think that he would be able to fit the role of a singer.
It wasn’t until he auditioned for the school choir, and had a positive response to his singing publicly that he considered going into musical theater.
After the choir, he went on to attend a performing arts high school and eventually the Yale School of Drama.
One of the first Broadway shows he became fascinated by was Rent.
Clark said he “had to understand why they were singing” which helped him find authenticity and relatability in the art of music theater.
He also credits actors Billy Porter and Lin Manuel Miranda with helping him find his passion for starring in musical theater shows.
“Your passion becomes a compass to guide us,” he said.
His passion indeed guided him to have a successful Broadway career, as well as dipping his toes into acting in Hollywood and also the music industry.
Clark recalled fond memories of working with Beyonce and meeting Rihanna backstage at a Hamilton show.
He also has worked alongside celebrities such as Oprah and Sandra Bullock.
While the glitz and glamor of Hollywood may seem inviting, there was a lot of hard work that had to be done for him to get there, Clark said.
Before Covid, Clark was practicing for his Hamilton show daily through various means such as vocal lessons, intense workouts, and rehearsing the show routine every few weeks to make sure that it’s fresh and exciting.
He calls this practice “training your instrument.”
Clark’s advice for students entering the acting field is to be their authentic self.
“Your work is no longer needed, we need to see you. Be authentic to yourself and you will have a magnet of success,” he said.
Clark said he hopes that college students going through the pandemic can “ignore the noise and distractions” and to stay focused on their purpose in life.
For more information about Bryan Terrell Clark and his story, you can check out his website: bryanterrellclark.com
Students are encouraged to check their emails from the Office of Student Engagement frequently to find out about future celebrity experiences within the Ace’s All-Access Pass program which will take place every Wednesday night over the next month.
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