Stage to PagePlaybill Mixtape: The Great Comet’s Brittain Ashford Shares Her Road Tour PlaylistThe Broadway star and singer-songwriter offers a mix of her own music and the tunes that spark cherished memories.
Best known for her achingly melancholic performance of “Sonya Alone” in Broadway’s Tony-nominated Best Musical, it turns out Ashford’s personal taste skews towards the somber.
“I admit, I've always leaned towards the melancholy variety of music, taking solace in the sad songs of those I felt really understood me,” says Ashford. “What better way to work through your own sorrows than to marinate in the emotional mess of those who have come before?”
We asked the artist to create a Playbill Mixtape, and the singer-songwriter has delivered. “This is a list of some of my all-time favorite songs, with a few of my own thrown in the mix.”
(For more playlists from Broadway stars and for Mixtapes to match your every mood, follow Playbill on Spotify.)
And while she admits she could write “an essay” about why she chose each track, suffice it to say Ashford remembers the first time she heard each of these artists. “These are all brief snapshots of where I was and what I needed at very specific times: in my parents’ basement, listening to the White Album on repeat; when I was 15, in a dirty venue in a dumpy part of Seattle, seeing the Softies; working at an art supply store my freshman year of college, hearing Iron & Wine's first album; Hedwig on repeat in my headphones my sophomore year of college.”
Ashford’s wish for listeners: “I hope that these songs find you the way they found me—in moments of despair and hope.”
BRITTAIN ASHFORD’S PLAYBILL MIXTAPE
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Spend a Two Show Day at The Great Comet
Spend a Two Show Day at The Great Comet
Brittain Ashford shows us what it’s like to do a double-duty day at Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 at the Imperial Theatre.
29 PHOTOS
Like most mornings, a two show day is no different: coffee.
I'll spare you my morning rituals, after some coffee and breakfast I'm out the door!
I have a fairly pleasant walk to the subway, luckily today is a gorgeous day.
We all know what a subway looks like. A magic tube that takes us to... the theatre!
If you hadn't heard, there are lots of stairs. Lots. Of. Stairs. My dressing room is on the third floor.
I come into my room and say hi to our plants.
A brief assessment of the situation: ugh, my face.
Good thing I have all the tools necessary to navigate this two-show-day...
Introducing: Jeff Feola, Associate Company Manager! I told him to do something that looked official.
Mostly, Jeff just says nice things to us while we get our hair done by our fantastic hair gals, Sara and Carrie. Lots of silliness ensues while Sara asks if she is poking my head.
After hair is done I start to apply my face. We are at HALF HOUR! Gelsey takes this time to better herself by learning Japanese.
Five have been called, these sassy ladies help us snap our various snaps and make sure we look our best.
A brief stop by Cooper, our sound man, to make sure my mic is working right.
I am greeted by magical humans toting baskets of dumplings. These two, Paul and Amber, are my entrance pals for the top of the show.
Ok, the show has started and I get to come off for a moment after Moscow. I always run into Billy and we talk about our morning before he hangs up his viola.
BONUS: we run into Courtney.
Before I sit down for a moment I say hello to Celia, our beautiful dance captain, hard at work tracking all the tracks.
INTERMISSION! I take this time to write some love letters.
And I have nothing to show you for the second act, because I am on stage the entire time. BUT! I do take the bulk of my makeup off before heading out for lunch.
This is Ritchie, one of our trusty door folks, who keeps all the riff-raff out!
Aforementioned riff-raff! I joke, I joke. I love our fans! I always try to sign in between shows.
Most days I just go to get soup or sandwich, but today I have the pleasure of eating with one of my favorite humans, Phillipa Soo! We talk about our shows, and family, and and and... what? I have to go back and do another show? Ok...
Back at the theatre I have some time to kill so I pay Scott and Nick a visit. I ask them to pose nicely and they are hams so what can be done?
Amber and Billy pop their heads in, we drink coffee while Scott noodles on guitar.
Nick is on the phone. But also has a banana. Make what you will of this one.
Repeat all the earlier photos. I AM TOTALLY READY FOR A SECOND SHOW. I swear that's just water in my mug.
Repeat various shots from earlier show. Makeup off, hair out.
Denee and Paul drop by for a wee drink. I give them squeezes. And then I go home! Which I have no pictures of.
Introducing the Playbill Mixtape, specially curated playlists released every other Thursday to fulfill the listening needs of any musical theatre fan. This week, we bring you the vocals of your favorite female villains and vixens.
By
Ruthie Fierberg,
Felicia Fitzpatrick
|
June 16, 2016
Summertime means travel time, and you’ll need music to get you through. Playbill and Subaru teamed up to deliver a playlist of theatre’s songs of the summer.
