If you haven’t already, now’s the time to get to knowAriana DeBose. Admittedly, I had a good deal to learn about all of her Broadway accomplishments on this edition ofCollider Ladies Nightbecause my mind is in the movie and TV bubble 24/7. Not only was it a thrill to dig into DeBose’s step-by-step journey to scoring a Tony nomination simply because it’s wonderful to hear about a hardworking and passionate person finding success, but also because it teases what she’s bringing to her on-screen work with films likeThe Prom, which is out now on Netflix, and withSteven Spielberg’sWest Side Storydue in theaters in 2021. We’re already seeing big things for DeBose and even more are on the horizon so what better time to get a sense of where it all started?
In this edition of Collider Ladies Night, DeBose took us from some of her earliest inspirations and her experience onSo You Think You Can Danceto a show that was and still is a massive phenomenon,Hamilton. DeBose played “the bullet” in theHamiltonensemble, a role that wound up scoring her an Astaire Award nomination for her work. While the show was enjoying peak success, DeBose actually opted to leave the production. While one might assume that choice was a bold and potentially scary risk to take, DeBose was confident in her decision for one big reason; “Leaving the show wasn’t necessarily as nerve-racking for me because I believe in an expiration date because I don’t like getting stale.” She added, “Broadway shows, you can do them for years and that’s great. It’s not my style, personally.”
But that doesn’t mean there were no nerves involved in making this choice. DeBose wasn’t afraid to leaveHamilton; it was more about the risk that comes with pushing for more featured or leading roles in shows rather than ensemble parts. Here’s how she put it:
“What made me more nervous was leaving the show and choosing to try and book more featured roles or leading lady roles, because that’s not necessarily how the industry saw me, right? That’s not the box that I fit in for them necessarily. So I had to change a lot of minds, or it felt like I had to change some minds in order to find success … But those were hard choices. They’re not easy because people look at you sideways a little bit trying to figure out if you don’t necessarily feel like it’s good enough - like what you have is not good enough in the moment. That definitely was not the case for me. I just wanted to continue to challenge myself.”
Again, I don’t know as much about the Broadway landscape as I do film and television, but still, the thought of one assuming you’re not grateful for the ensemble opportunities you have when there seems to be a very clear trajectory for vying for bigger roles felt a bit strange to me. Here’s what DeBose said in response:
“As much as I’m an artist, I consider myself a business person of sorts. I made a very conscious decision to get to know the business of my business. And to me, that path was obvious. If I was willing to work for it then, theoretically, I could achieve it. So that’s what I did, but there were many people who looked at me sideways and I’ve worked to change their minds. I don’t know if I have. After a while you also learn you can’t change everyone’s mind. That’s on them. But I lead with love and I just keep doing what I’m doing because it’s working, and I’m proud of the work I’m doing and I have found the challenges I was looking for. And what I’m doing now? It ain’t easy, but I’m so thrilled by it! It makes me want to get up in the morning.”
Turns out, all of these challenges DeBose took on were for the better. AfterHamilton, not only did she score the role of Jane inA Bronx Tale: The Musical, but she also got to play Disco Donna inThe Donna Summer Musical. She continues to find great success in new territory with movie musicals likeThe PromandWest Side Story. What’s next for DeBose? Other than the release ofWest Side Storyand theCecily Strongshow,Schmigadoon, I don’t know, but I do feel pretty certain that DeBose’s mind frame and her approach to her work is a sure sign she’ll continue growing, honing her craft and surprising us every step of the way.
