Interviews

INTERVIEW: Caissie Levy Is Gaga for Ghost

The popular star discusses her return to Broadway in the hit musical based on the beloved film.

Caissie Levy
Caissie Levy

Caissie Levy has wowed audiences in such shows as Hairspray, Wicked, Rent, and most notably, the Broadway revival of Hair, in which she played Sheila. Now, Levy has returned to New York to star as Molly Jensen, who is haunted by the spirit of her dead husband Sam, in Ghost The Musical now at Broadway’s Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. TheaterMania caught up with Levy during previews to discuss her return to the Great White Way in this highly anticipated show.


THEATERMANIA: You originated the role in Manchester and London. How did your casting initially come about?
CAISSIE LEVY: I met our director, Matthew Warchus, in 2009 while I was doing Hair in New York. I had no idea that this was happening in the West End. While I was there doing Hair, I was invited to audition, and the next thing I knew, I got the gig.


TM. What’s changed from the West End to Broadway?
CL: The opening number changed drastically. The songs changed slightly. My solo stuff hasn’t changed much. The songs were strong from the beginning.


TM: Would you say Molly’s vocal demands are similar to Elphaba in Wicked?
CL: Yes, it’s a similar score. You have these intense ballads, intense singing. I am also screaming a lot in the show, and there is a lot of crying. Every time I am on the stage, I am rocking out.

TM: How would you describe Molly?
CL: She is a survivor, even before she met Sam. She is independent. Molly is an artist. She and Sam come from two different backgrounds. Molly is very open and sweet. She is a bold woman. The loss of her partner is obviously tragic and breaks her spirit. I get to take her on this incredible journey. She starts off so happy and there’s great chemistry between Molly and Sam. They are starting out their lives together. And then, with this sudden, tragic loss of her boyfriend, she hits rock bottom. She has to go through all of this pain before she can turn her life around.


TM: Did watching the movie help in your research of Molly?
CL: I was a huge fan of the movie. Growing up, I loved it. But I didn’t watch it again when I got the part, because I didn’t want to recreate Demi Moore’s performance.


TM: If Molly had one last moment with Sam, what would would she say?
CL: She would say the same thing that she said all along; I love you. It’s that simple. We all make life so complicated. I think most people would say just that as well. You want that chance to say I love you one last time.


TM: What have been the audience reactions so far during previews?
CL: They have been incredible. People have been so warm, so excited. I think we might be the underdog this season, because there are so many great shows. You also have some people who are skeptical to see a movie turned into a musical, but they want to see what we have to offer. There have been standing ovations, cheering, and lots of crying.

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Ghost the Musical

Closed: August 18, 2012