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“I remember showing my dance teacher the playbill ... and said, ‘This is what I want to do,'" Gleason said about seeing "42nd Street" for the first time.
This first Broadway show left a considerable impression on Gleason, 20, who learned ballet as a young girl and later explored acting, singing and various dance styles.
Gleason earned her spot in the ensemble after trying out against hundreds of other auditioners. The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity also meant taking a leave of absence from studying dance at Pace University.
“It was a big decision to leave school, but I couldn’t pass up this opportunity because the director (Mark Bramble) and choreographer (Randy Skinner) of the tour won a Tony for Best Musical Revival when they did ‘42nd Street’ on Broadway in 2001," said Gleason.
"42nd Street" tells the story of a young dancer who takes over for the injured leading lady of a musical "Pretty Lady" and becomes a star.
Performances will take place at 8 p.m. Feb. 5 and at 2 p.m. on Feb. 6.
For tickets and more information, visit www.42ndstmusical.com.
