This weekend, the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts will be home to yet another national tour launch as it hosts the debut of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer: The Musical!
We interviewed Callahan Gillispie, who plays Rudolph, to gain some behind-the-scenes insight into her journey to musical theatre, what it's been like to work with this particular production, and the important lesson Rudolph has for audience members of all ages.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Images courtesy of the production.
Callahan Gillisipe stars as Rudolph in Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer: The Musical!
Q: You have an extensive background in theatre. Can you share a bit about your journey that you feel has led you to this role? What are some formative experiences you find yourself pulling from when playing Rudolph?
A: Yes! I’ve dreamt of leading a musical - let alone a national tour - since I was a kid. This is all still so surreal to me. And like I don’t take a second of this gift for granted, I have to acknowledge the literal blood sweat and tears that it took to get here. I only most recently however, learned what I believe is the most valuable lesson of a performer’s career which is how truly essential it is to let go and have fun. (With nuance of course.) I just recently finished playing another iconic cartoon boy, Timmy Turner, in an Off Broadway musical parody of The Fairly Oddparents, and in this show I really found the childlike joy and wonder that I’m lucky is easily accessible for me to bring to a performance. It’s different (yet similar) characters like Timmy and Rudolph that have such a special essence of wonder and excitement that I have the honor of recreating.
Q: What are the challenges with taking on such a timeless, classic character like Rudolph?
A: So many gifts, but so many challenges as well… Rudolph is so iconic and known that I know people have their preconceived notions of what he should be like live on stage rather than the claymation film we all know and love… I’m replicating in a completely different medium. I mean this little guy was one of the biggest parts of most people’s childhood holiday traditions. Those are some big shoes to fill. It took a while to trust that I was doing him justice!
Q: What has your experience been like working with the cast of Rudolph?
A: Lovely! I love this cast with all of my heart and we’ve only known each other for about two weeks. That’s the great thing about the theater community - good people get hired. And this is a cast of great, great people. Especially as we’re living on a bus together for a few months I imagine we’ll get even closer!
Q: I read in your bio that you're passionate about funding arts education in underprivileged communities. Will you be doing any outreach performances with this production of Rudolph that will bring it to children in these areas? If not, how are you involved in bringing arts education to the underserved?
A: Oh yes. I am well aware that our show will be many kids’ first experience with theater, ever. This is an honor that I do not take lightly. There is a severe accessibility issue regarding theater and who can financially and socially participate. I grew up in Bonney Lake, Washington, about an hour south of Seattle. And there (outside the city), theater is very dismal. I was lucky that I had a family that supported the arts and introduced me to theater when I was young - but besides that I didn’t have half of the resources growing up of people that I know now working in the professional world. To return home on this tour (Federal Way, WA) and bring a Broadway caliber show to an area where I personally know most children have never stepped foot in a theater is doing the work I’ve aspired to complete all my life. It’s such an honor.
What I think would be such a cool idea is to put on a “pay what you will” type of show for families with children in notoriously low income and/or arts starved areas. Although there are so many factors that manipulate the financial beast of the theater market that I can’t begin to get into, I am hopeful one day that arts administrators and producers could put together something like this to make a difference for these kids that need it. I sure did!
Q: The Columbus, GA performance is your tour's launch. What are you most looking forward to our Columbus audience experiencing that evening?
A: I’m most excited for the Columbus audience to be the first to experience the joy and laughter and magic we’ve prepared. There’s an energy on opening night that’s impossible to replicate - thanks to adrenaline and nerves and whatnot. I want the audience of Columbus to know that this is an awesome honor and their excitement of witnessing our opening night is exhilarating. What will happen?! No one knows!
Q: What is one thing you hope people take away from the show? What's something you'd like our audience to know before they see the first performance?
A: What’s so touching is that the story of Rudolph premiered in 1964 with the main message being acceptance of those who are different than us. This is a theme that is unfortunately still so prevalent today, especially in our current social and political climate. I hope audiences leave the show loving their different friend/family member/coworker/acquaintance/classmate/stranger/mortal enemy/and all of the above, a whole lot more. Because our differences are not just to be recognized, but celebrated. ◼️
If You Go:
When: November 10, 7:30PM
Where: RiverCenter for the Performing Arts