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On this episode I talked with Ayanna about her background in theatre, including her childhood in the Bronx and her move to Los Angeles, where she attended performing arts schools, the cultural adjustment she faced in LA and her longing for New York, especially during the pandemic, choosing to study at the Manhattan School of Music and appreciating it’s welcoming atmosphere and rich history, the significance of the people and experiences that shaped her artistic journey, her casting experience for "How to Dance in Ohio," which began with a self-tape submission after seeing a casting call on social media, her excitement when she received a callback for the show and the welcoming atmosphere during her final audition, how the show resonated with her post her autism diagnosis, her Broadway debut and experience as a swing in How To Dance In Ohio where she covered five roles, her current role in Harry Potter & The Cursed Child on Broadway where she plays Rose Granger Weasley (the daughter of Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger), being part of a new cast who debuted a new version (under three hours) of Cursed Child on Broadway, characteristics of Ron and Hermione that she has made sure to add to Rose Granger Weasley on stage, her favorite bit of magic that happens in the show, her real life Hogwarts house, dream roles she has, her passion for jazz music, and much more!
Ayanna Nicole Thomas is currently playing Rose Granger-Weasley in the Broadway Production of Harry Potter and The Cursed Child. She made her Broadway debut as a principal swing in the Broadway production “HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO”! She studied musical theater at the Manhattan School of Music under Samuel Mckelton’s voice studio. She is originally from Bronx, New York but has also spent quite some time in Los Angeles.
Ayanna began her love of singing at just two years old and later around 8 years old began singing in local music school productions while taking weekly dance classes. She has always loved performing in front of an audience! Ayanna’s love of music began when she came into this world. She has early memories of jamming out to Stevie Wonder’s “I Do” and crying to Whitney Houston’s “All the Man I That I Need"!
Her love of musical theater started with the musical classics, Annie Get Your Gun, The Wizard of Oz, Funny Girl, The Sound of Music, The Wiz, Annie and many others. Imagine, a five year old, screaming out the lyrics to “You Can’t Get A Man With A Gun”. . .adorable.
Along with performing in musical theater productions, Ayanna, currently plays in local New York City venues entertaining her audiences with her love of jazz standards.
