Taylor Quick headshot
Theatre TCU alum Taylor Quick ‘16 performs eight times a week around the country in the cast of the U.S. tour of “Anastasia”. The critically-acclaimed Broadway production makes its Fort Worth debut at Bass Performance Hall this summer from May 28 to June 2. Quick, who plays Young Anastasia and understudies the lead role of Anya, recently gave the College of Fine Arts an update about her professional career since graduating from TCU.
What have you been up to since graduating from the Theatre program at TCU?
It’s been a wild ride since graduating [from] TCU! I was so blessed to already have signed with an agent because of our Theatre TCU showcase that our professors set up in NYC the spring before graduating. That summer, I was cast at Casa Mañana in Spamalot and Jesus Christ Superstar, working with directors that I would cross paths again with in NYC. The Dallas-Fort Worth theatre community is amazing. These productions were so beneficial to me because it taught me so much about working with different directors and meeting other actors who were already established in NYC. I had very specific plans to move to NYC at the end of the summer. When I moved there, I hit the pavement running and haven’t stopped since.
What has been your proudest moment in your professional career?
Taylor Quick in Anastasia
Being a part of this show and getting to play Young Anastasia and understudy Anya on my first Broadway tour is a dream come true! It’s amazing to wake up every day and do this around the country. But I have to say, an absolute pinch me moment was performing as Millie in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” at Goodspeed Opera House. It was the first role I was cast in after moving to NYC. Definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will never forget.
What is your favorite Theatre TCU memory?
Scene study class with Dr. Walsh my senior year. This course made me a better actress. I loved getting to be a teacher’s assistant to Penny Ayn Maas’s musical theatre class. I learned so much being on the other side of the table. Also, getting to take dance class with the dance majors was wonderful!
Did any of your professors have a lasting impact on your education and career path?
Definitely all of the theatre faculty and my incredible voice teacher, Angela Turner Wilson, left an impact on me. Each of them were so caring and supportive. Their doors were always open to us. Of course they care about our careers, but they are invested even more so about us as people. After we graduate, they still support us 100 percent. They celebrate every single part we get. Jumping into the concrete jungle after graduation isn’t easy and their support helped me so much.
How did your studies at TCU impact your professional career?
TCU studies were NO JOKE! They pushed us in every class possible and I’m so grateful for that. I chose a liberal arts education because I knew the more I learned about the world, the better actress I would become. The faculty at Theatre TCU encouraged us to take all the classes we wanted [and] participate in clubs we were interested in because they knew it would make us more well-rounded humans. They were right. I was so proud to have graduated Summa Cum Laude! The hard work paid off.
How does it feel to be back in your college town performing professionally?
Oh, it’s full circle. I’m ecstatic to be back in Fort Worth. Performing as a professional at Bass Hall is a dream come true and definitely something I thought about while in college. Can’t wait to eat at Joe T. Garcia’s again, too!
Give us a glimpse of a day in the life as part of the national tour of Anastasia.
Every day I have a good cup of coffee to wake me up and start the day. One of my favorite things to do in every city is find a cute local coffee shop. I usually try to explore the city I’m in during the day if I don’t have understudy rehearsal. I like to be outside since the majority of our time is spent in the theater. I will go to the gym or a workout class with my friends on tour then head to the show! The schedule can be hectic, but it’s such a blast. You really have to pace yourself. Constantly changing climates while performing eight shows a week can take a toll on your body. I try to take great care of my health and voice, conserve my energy, and get lots of rest.
The cast of the U.S. tour of Anastasia
What is your favorite moment of Anastasia?
I really love the moment Anya walks into the opera house in the signature blue gown. It’s breathtaking. All eyes are on her. I grew up on the animated film, and it’s a moment that is exactly like the movie. Since I understudy Anya, that moment was surreal for me when I got to do it.
What advice do you have for current and future Theatre TCU students?
I figured out early on after going to as many auditions as I could that a “no” is not a negative! Every audition I learned something new; what I wanted to work on. You never stop learning! I met new people, started relationships with casting directors whom I would see again and again. Plus, the auditions were fun! Work as hard as you can, reach for the stars, and don’t take yourself too seriously! There is joy to be found in everything.
See Quick and the cast of Anastasia perform at Bass Hall through June 2.
Photos courtesy of Performing Arts Fort Worth.