Meet Broadway Wiz Bright Star, Nia Joy from Westchester, NY!
Nia is a huge Wicked fan and she also wrote, directed, and starred in her high school production of Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
On average, how many Broadway or Off-Broadway shows do you see a year?
4-6
Favorite Broadway show:
Wicked
All-time favorite performer:
Lindsay Mendez
Songs you like to belt in the shower:
“Defying Gravity,” “Mama Who Bore Me,” “Burn,” “Waiting For Life”
Favorite piece of theater memorabilia you own:
The Hamilton playbill my prom date got me when he saw the show
Most memorable performance you’ve ever seen:
The evening show of Wicked Broadway on December 11, 2013. It was my 14th birthday, so I was already super excited. I remember that in “Dancing Through Life,” Derek Klena (who played Fiyero), snatched the book from Boq and then dropped it. Then he was trying to pick it up while walking backwards, but finally managed to pick it up and threw it over his shoulder. For some reason, that made me smile.
Best interaction you have had with another theater fan:
When I went to BroadwayCon last January, I just remember I would start talking to whoever I was standing on line with. I remember waiting on line for the photo session with Lesli Margherita and striking up a random, fangirling-filled conversation with the girl standing behind me. I don’t remember what I said; I just remember laughing and fangirling over Lesli and other Broadway shows and actors.
Why do you love theater?
I love theatre because, for me, it is a way to relax and relieve the stress of the real world. I love going to see a show and just enjoying watching the actors on stage tell a story for two hours. I’m also a performer, and I love to play different characters and walk in their shoes. They really teach me a lot of lessons about love, friendship, family, and how to stay strong. I feel at home when I’m performing in front of people.
Dream roles?
Elphaba, the ensemble member that goes “Glinda, is it true you were her friend?” during ‘No One Mourns the Wicked’ from Wicked, and the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Best stagedoor or backstage experience?
When I went to see Tuck Everlasting two days before it closed, I couldn’t get the lighting to cooperate when I was trying to take a selfie with Michael Park, who played Pa Tuck, at the stagedoor. He then said, “Here, let me help,” took my phone, held it up so the light wasn’t shining in the camera and took the selfie that way. It is one of the best Broadway stagedoor selfies I have.
Favorite spots in NYC:
Schmackary’s, 54 Below, and the Broadway stagedoors
If you could sing a duet or perform a scene with any Broadway star, who would it be?
Lindsay Mendez, and we would sing “Some Things Are Meant To Be” from Little Women, or “For Good”
Did you ever fangirl when you met an actor/performer?:
Yes, I did! Last August, my mom and I went to 54 Below to see Willemijn Verkaik in her solo concert. She was my first Elphaba when I saw Wicked back in March 2013. Needless to say, I could not contain myself. Since she is a Dutch actress, she mostly does things in the Netherlands, Germany, and London. Since I don’t have the money to travel (nor do I speak Dutch or German), I had to wait two years in order to see her perform live again.
After her show (which was PHENOMENAL!), she went to the bar area to talk to people. When it was my turn, I couldn’t stop smiling and the only coherent thing I remember saying was, “Hi! You’re amazing! I love your voice! Can I have a photo?” in a long, run-on sentence. But she was super sweet, understood what I said, and took a photo with me. I didn’t stop talking about that moment for a whole week.
Favorite thing about Broadway Wiz?
The reviews and fun interviews
What would your super power be?
Teleportation
Besides theater, what are some of your other passions or hobbies?
I love to write, mostly stories and plays.
Where can we stalk you online?
Twitter: @NJHarvey1
Instagram: @NiaJHarvey
Anything else you would like to share? Funny stories, weird facts about yourself, cool talents?
My sophomore year of high school, I wrote, directed, and starred in a dramatic adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Lightning Thief. I played Percy and got some of my teachers to play the Olympian gods and goddess, Grover, and some of the other minor characters. We performed it for the middle school students as an end of year surprise. They all loved it and it got great reviews from the teachers in the audience.
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