Danielle Hopkins will star as Caroline in UNCG’s Fall performance Caroline, or Change.
Q: What has been your experience so far with this musical?
A: “So far, the musical has been a very fast paced process. I think that has made for a lot of collaboration and that makes for a cool process because we all need each other to get the job done. So I think everyday is a different adventure and to think we have only been working on it for a little over a week and we are ready to start running the show and putting it together. So it really is fun to see everyone put their hands in for a show that is so dense and so important.”
Q: What’s the biggest challenge about taking on this role?
A: “I think the biggest challenge of taking on this role is that it is unlike anything else. The fact that the show is through composed; there is music throughout the whole show. It’s like a marathon; it’s like running a race. But the coolest part about that is that it really relies on us as the actors to really live in the moment and really be there and be involved. That’s the challenge but that’s also the thrill of doing something like this.”
Q: What have you been doing to prepare for this role?
A: “I did a lot of research this summer. Listened to the soundtrack all the time. I have [been] doing a lot of just asking questions of some of the black women in my life. Trying to get into the mindset of what it’s like to be a mother and not only that but a black single mother. I talked to my mom a lot about sacrifices and what that mindset is like because it’s hard for people to even fathom the sacrifices but also the joys that are involved in that. I think anyone that has come in contact with me in the last three months has heard something about Caroline, or Change. Also diving into the text, Tony Kushner who is the writer is an amazing writer and everything is right there you just have to look for it.”
Q: What are you most excited for the audience to see (without giving anything major away)?
A: “I am most excited for the audience to see that though the show is set in 1963 it is more relevant than it’s ever been. It is not just any old happy-clappy musical. It’s a story that needs to be heard, needs to be seen. And it will resonate with so many people. I am really excited for everyone to see it for that reason. Black lives do matter and I think seeing a story about a woman who is literally living her life just trying to get by, trying to take care of her children and still finding herself in the process. It’s a beautiful story and I think it deserves to have a lens up to it. I think it needs to be seen and I am so excited for everyone to experience it and really go on that journey because it gets you.”
Editor’s Note:
Caroline, or Change opens September 29th with a Pay What You Can Preview. Visit this site for more information.