TheatrePeople (#56) - Afra Hines | Theatre Avenue
Hello TheatrePeople!
Boy, do I have special surprise for you this week. Today, I'm thrilled to introduce you to Afra Hines.
Afra is a veteran Broadway performer, from the likes of Hadestown, the original company of In the Heights with Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the First National Tour of Hamilton.
Afra is remarkably talented, so sweet and generous—I hope you enjoy her interview as much as I did!
What’s a show that inspires you? (explain away!)
Passing Strange! The actors and musicians were phenomenal. It was funny and heart-breaking, and I really related to the feeling of not fitting in, or not being enough of one thing or another.
What’s one of your happiest moments in theatre?
When I found out I would be understudying the role of Disco Donna (played by Ariana DeBose) in SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical on Broadway.
What’s the biggest ‘fail’ or goof you’ve seen on stage? (do tell the story)
Oof - can I tell on myself? As I hit the button of my first full song of the show (playing Donna Summer), my wig came off and was hanging onto the back of my head by two bobby pins.
Why do you love theatre?
As an audience member, I love being swept away into the story, I love sitting in a dark theater with hundreds of people all reacting to something in real time.
Theatre is for...
NEW PERSPECTIVES
Seeing the world through the eyes of someone else.
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More Incredible Theatre People!
Gordon Greenberg, Broadway and Television Writer and Director, NYC
Esther Newell, Theatre Teacher and Production Supervisor, Mississippi
Adam Michael Rose, Dialect Coach, Los Angeles
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More about Afra
Currently performing in the new Broadway musical Hadestown (where she understudies the role of Persephone), Afra is a veteran performer with 8 Broadway credits to her name. Some of her favorites include SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical where she played Michael/Maid and understudied Disco Donna Summer (performing the role 25 times), In The Heights (Original Broadway Company with Lin-Manuel Miranda), Shuffle Along (Original Broadway Company along side Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Billy Porter and Joshua Henry with choreography by Savion Glover), Ghost (Original Broadway Company, understudy Clara/Louise), and Motown (understudy Tina Marie). She also spent a year on the First National Tour of HAMILTON (Angelica Tour) playing San Francisco and Los Angeles. Additionally, Afra was a Radio City Rockette for 7 years. You can see Afra in the miniseries Fosse/Verdon with Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams, on FX. Other television work includes Boardwalk Empire (Onyx Dancer), Curb Your Enthusiasm (Hamilton ensemble), The Detour (B.Frank ensemble), Mozart In the Jungle, and SNL.
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