Grace Pichler, 18, of rural Mondovi has continued to pursue her passion for singing and musical theater. She was recently selected from over 100 applicants as the “Special Guest Princess” appearing in a pair of Broadway Princess Party shows at the Chicago Improv in August.

Pichler sparkles as ‘guest princess’ in Chicago Improv show

 

Courtesy of Louis Vasseur, ThirdCoastCreatives.blogspot.com

 

Young girls everywhere dream of being princesses growing up.  Over the years, Belle, Ariel, Cinderella, Jasmine, Rapunzel and their sisters have been marketed as positive role models.

Recently, three Broadway Princesses and their Fairy Godfairy made one Mondovi singer’s musical dreams come true.

Grace Pichler, 18, was selected from over 100 applicants to be the “Special Guest Princess” at the Broadway Princess Party held in Chicago on Aug. 19.

Pichler performed in two shows, sharing the stage with Laura Osnes (Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella), Susan Egan (Broadway’s Beauty and the Beast, Hercules), Courtney Reed (Broadway’s Aladdin) and Music Director Benjamin Rauhala (Fairy Godfairy).

The Broadway Princess Party is the brainchild of New York-based music director Rauhala and two-time Tony nominee Osnes.

Returning home from a visit to Disney World, Rauhala thought, wouldn’t it be fun to have a Broadway Princess Party? What about a show composed of songs made famous by all those princesses, a show complete with some gossip and banter about what it would it was actually like to play these characters.

“I just thought it would be fun to bring all these princesses together in one show,” Rauhala said.

He approached Osnes (who was then playing Cinderella on Broadway) at his birthday party and asked her if she would like to do a show about Broadway princesses. She said yes, and a few hours later Osnes presented Rauhala with a spreadsheet listing of all the Broadway princesses (and her friends), along with their headshots and the specific princess she wished each to play. There were 14 names on the list and all agreed to do the show.

They first staged the concept in a New York cabaret space known as Feinstein’s 54 Below. Tickets sold out instantly. Additional Broadway Princess Party shows at the cabaret sold out quickly as well.

“We didn’t realize how popular it would be,” said Osnes. “Not only for the audience, but also for all the girls involved. It was really an empowering night seeing so many strong, talented females all supporting and loving on each other and knocking songs out of the park.”

YouTube videos of the Broadway Princess Party performances quickly garnered over 100,000 views expanding the fanbase beyond Manhattan.

Osnes, Rauhala and Egan decided to take the Princesses on the road.

The touring show features an online contest for one lucky audience member to join the Princesses and perform onstage. Applicants submit a video of themselves singing one of three Princess songs along with a pitch as to why they should be selected as the “Special Guest Princess.”

Pichler has long been a fan of Osnes and the Broadway Princess Party after discovering it on YouTube.

“It seemed like these talented artists were having so much fun singing these great songs and sharing their stories,” Pichler explained. “So I decided, what the heck. I submitted my video but really didn’t think much about it afterwards.”

Pichler was on vacation in Minnesota when she received a call a few days before the Chicago show saying she had been selected to perform in Chicago.

“We were just blown away by the poise and talent she showed on the video,” explains Rauhala.

“I have been following the Broadway Princess Party on YouTube since it first started,” Pichler said. “I hoped I would be able to go to New York to see one of the shows. I was so excited after I received the call. I jumped up and down with my family and we all hugged. Then a few days later, we drove down to Chicago and I’m in rehearsal with Laura, Susan, Courtney, and Benjamin watching me! Laura Osnes has been such an inspiration for me for a long time. This is a dream come true.

“They were all so kind and supportive,” Pichler continued. “They sat and listened to me sing during our sound check and told me what a great job I did. Benjamin told me he had tears in his eyes after I sang.  I told them the sound check was the best experience I’ve had so far.”

Pichler did not disappoint the audiences during the two Chicago performances. She was rewarded with enthusiastic applause after singing “Part Of Your World” from The Little Mermaid.

During the matinée show, after Pichler finished, Osnes turned to her and said, “You really nailed it!”

Pichler has worked hard on her craft for years to prepare herself to take advantage of this opportunity. She has over seven years of vocal training and 10 years of dance training. She has regularly appeared in Eau Claire Children’s Theater productions and is involved in the Chippewa Valley Theater Guild. She has also competed in musical competitions across Wisconsin.

A few months ago, Pichler performed 10 songs for family, friends and supporters in her senior recital. She also spends hours on YouTube and the internet studying artists’ performances and searching for new music to perform.

“I guess I’m a bit of a music theater nerd,” Pichler said.

Not one to rest on her laurels, Pichler has jumped into the next chapter of her life. She is enrolled as a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point where she plans to pursue her BFA in Music Theater. Her goal is to have a professional career in music theater, where ever that may be.

If her performance as a “Special Guest Princess” is any indication, Pichler has a bright future ahead of her. Maybe then she can follow Osnes, inspiring younger artists to have the courage to follow their dreams.

Grace is the daughter of Jeremy and Julie Pichler.

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