“Kids in the Balcony is one of the most inspiring music education programs I know of, and we’re so proud that it’s been serving New York City kids for 25 years. The New York Pops works with school partners to identify the kids who need this kind of experience most and offers them an incredible opportunity – the chance to hear a full-size orchestra in a fun concert at Carnegie Hall! It makes me so happy to hear the kids call back to me from the balcony when I announce their schools, and I hope that coming to one concert inspires in them the same love for music that all of us onstage hold in our hearts. Music isn’t a privilege; music is a right, and everybody should have access to it. That’s why Kids in the Balcony is so important.” – Steven Reineke

Having attended many of The New York Pops concerts over the years, I agree with Mr. Reineke in how thrilling it is to hear the children cheer when their schools are mentioned, it makes us believe in a bright future where music and the arts are cherished and used as means of personal expression, reminders of how much good there is in the world. The program couldn’t have selected anyone better than Laura Osnes to be its spokeswoman, the Tony nominated actress doesn’t only have the talent to be an inspiration to children, but in her work she has become a champion of young girls and boys who have seen her become the perfect 21st century leading lady: a powerful woman who relies on her brains and talent. I spoke to Ms. Osnes about this exciting program and some of her upcoming projects.

Do you remember the first time you went to Carnegie Hall?

The first time I went to Carnegie Hall I was performing there! It was the 2008 New York Pops Birthday Gala honoring Jimmy Nederlander Jr. and Sr., I was in a Nederlander show at the time and I got so sing “Hopelessly Devoted to You” with the full orchestra, it was amazing!

Carnegie Hall has true magic to it, would you say that sharing this with the children of Kids in the Balcony is part of your mission?

Oh absolutely! It really does have something magical about it and it’s hard to explain until you’re there. When you’re performing you get to see how beautiful the theater is, and you see all the tiers and the kids in the balcony and it’s really special. Walking into that space you can’t avoid that magic, especially getting to experience the music.

Rather than ask you how you became involved with Kids in the Balcony let me ask you why?

It’s just incredible to be able to give kids the gift of music, some of the kids might not have this opportunity otherwise. The New York Pops and Kids in the Balcony give 100 New York City students from all the boroughs, free tickets to their concerts at Carnegie Hall. To be able to give the gift of music to kids at the age when they’re discovering who they are and what they like...I remember seeing theatre at a young age and it shaped who I am today. It’s so important to get kids involved in music, they’re our next generation of music lovers, supporters of the arts and possibly even performers and musicians themselves. Over the 25 years Kids in the Balcony has existed, over 37 thousand students have seen The New York Pops for free, I am honored to be a spokesperson for this.

Are there any outreach programs beyond the tickets?

Yes, The New York Pops is trying to develop their PopsEd Program which brings music to public schools, senior centers, children's hospitals. They’re trying to bring music to people who otherwise might not get to experience music. I’ve personally done two things with them, Santino [Fontana] and I went to a school and did a music class, we also did a concert for the Ronald McDonald House at 54 Below. We’ve been talking about ways to bring the gift of music to all of these venues in a greater way, ways that have the biggest impact possible.

Have you found that there are any composers whose work resonates the most with children?

That’s interesting, they definitely responded to Cinderella, I remember when Santino and I went to the school we taught them some of the dance. Because they haven’t been exposed to many composers they don’t know, I did a Q&A with some kids a few weeks ago and it was interesting to hear their questions, they like music but they don’t know who I am for instance, and that’s fine, they shouldn’t know who I am, they’ve only been on this planet for 10 years. They don’t know yet who Lerner & Loewe, Stephen Sondheim and Jason Robert Brown are, so it’s amazing to show these kids who these great composers are. Getting to be a carrier and a vessel to show the kids who these people are is incredible, because they’re not getting this in their classrooms.

It must be intimidating too, because how to pick the music to introduce them to? Whenever someone asks me to recommend a show because they’ve never been to one I get stressed thinking what if I pick the wrong one?

I know, I take it for granted too, I’ve been going to shows since I was 5 years old, I grew up listening to Broadway music, it’s been part of my life since I was born. To meet someone who’s never gone to a concert or seen a Broadway show is baffling, because it’s something I’ve always had. I definitely take it for granted.

Let me ask you about some things you’ve been working on too. I squealed from excitement when I saw you’d be doing Blueprint Specials at the Under the Radar Festival.

Yes!

This is so exciting, I couldn’t help but imagine you as an Indiana Jones figure rescuing lost musicals!

Thanks for saying that, I’m really excited! We’re all learning exactly what the project is, “rescuing” is such a good word for it too, we’re rescuing these musicals that soldiers would perform in WWII to help boost morale. They haven’t seen the light of day since. A lot of them were written by Frank Loesser who was a soldier at the time, that's pretty remarkable. We get to pay homage to them and we’re performing them on the Intrepid in January. We’re also getting  a bunch of military people involved in participating and performing in the project. I think it will be unbelievably special for all of us. Especially leading to Bandstand which has a similar idea and heart behind it. Everyone should go see Blueprint Specials, what a better way to thank our vets and interact with them.

On the topic of Bandstand, why do you think you’ve been drawn to playing characters of this era of American history?

After having done Bandstand last year I have a new view of people who fight to protect our country selflessly so I can have a normal life. There were WWII vets who saw the show at Paper Mill and they wept, it was incredibly moving for us to see that. As a cast we united in that desire to share their stories in an accurate, real way. There are shows about the war, like South Pacific, but Bandstand deals with the ones who survive, and what they have to heal, they were treated like heroes when they came home and they didn’t feel like that. Bandstand just got 6 Certified, by an organization that ensures that soldiers and vets are portrayed accurately. I think we’re the first Broadway musical to get 6 Certified, there are movies and documentaries that get it like Sully and Hacksaw Ridge, and now Bandstand is there. It’s pretty awesome, we’re very excited about it, doing Blueprint Specials before Bandstand feels like a great appetizer.

I saw you perform with The New York Pops at their Lerner and Loewe show recently and wanted to ask you a technical question. I saw you go from being Eliza Doolittle, to Guinevere, without the aid of costumes, sets or anything other than the music. As a performer how are you able to accomplish this in a concert setting?

I think at the end of the day I am a storyteller, whether I have all of the elements to tell that story that’s wonderful, but if I don’t have the elements I still can’t help but tell that story from my heart. Music is something that speaks to me, and when I get to sing at Carnegie Hall with a full orchestra it can’t help but become part of me, and I can’t help but tell a story through my song. Obviously the music is fantastic, Eliza Doolittle is a dream role of mine, so to be able to step in her shoes was amazing.

If you could get to play Eliza on Broadway who would be your dream Professor Higgins and Freddy?

I do know Paulo Szot just did it in Brazil...so dream big, there are people like Hugh Jackman, Colin Firth was rumored to play him in a revival. For Feddy I’d choose one of my past leading men, Santino, Colin Donnell, there are so many dashing men who could take it on.

You can be Eliza and the men can play the other characters in rep, I’d be OK with that.

(Laughs) I’d be OK with that too!

For more information on Kids in the Balcony click here.