Let’s be honest. Christmas is an easy sell. 

If you want an audience to feel certain about their ticket purchase, offering them a warm holiday experience is the path of least resistance. Luckily, I love the holidays and am excited to embark on my 10th Annual Home For The Holidays Tour this season. It’s become as special to me as I’m told it is for others. My hometown has come to know me through these nine years of Christmas memories we made together. And before this summer, holiday shows were all they knew from me.

Broadway is niche. 

I stay humble by reminding myself that outside of New York City and a tight circle of enthusiastic theatre lovers, no one knows the names of any Broadway stars. Unless you’ve crossed over into TV or film, chances are you are an absolute stranger in the minds of most people on this planet. Oftentimes, I even find it’s necessary to keep my concert bookings in cities that have a strong theater community or host a Broadway series. With that said, I was hesitant to book one of my Broadway concerts here in my hometown. After all, many attempts at growing a theater-loving audience in Nashville led me to recently discontinue my efforts there. You can read about that here. Even so, I wanted my hometown folks to see what I do when traveling throughout the year.

Broadway At The Keys Biggie-Sized.

I did every song off of the Broadway At The Keys album and then some. I gave them two, very full acts. And when I saw how engaged the crowd was, I added one or two more to my set. A very different experience from the Franklin Theatre show just weeks before.

This is my theory based on my experience. 

Holiday crowds are inviting you into their world. You are being asked to make their holiday special, most of the time with other family members attending. I take that seriously and I consider it a privilege and a responsibility.

But with a Broadway concert, they’re coming into your world. They are there for your interpretation of these songs and to learn about your experience of this beautiful medium. It’s a different dynamic. And one that feels a bit more edge-of-the-seat. Which I love.

What made it even more special for me was having theater students from Roane State Community College in the audience. I had a master class with them the day before. When I realized they were there, I asked them to sing along with me on “Seasons Of Love” from Rent. This gorgeous three-part harmony filled the room. Suddenly, everyone in the Princess Theatre felt like they had permission to participate and enjoy their evening. It was my favorite show moment of the year thus far.

A couple of LK Crew members attended which always gets me pumped for a good show. Two of them attended soundcheck – a perk for VIP members. Thank you, Jimmy and Michael. And along with Renee and Tom, we had lovely LK Crew representation.

It’s always good to see my old classmates after the show. And of course, mom and dad were there. My mom’s job is to escort people into the meet-n-greet before the show. She’s a pro, ya know.

It may have been a random one-off with no plans thus far for another hometown Broadway show, but this was nothing but pure, relaxed joy. Thank you, home folk. And thank you to Roane State Community College for inviting me into your classroom to have creative fun with the students. What a talented group. 

Below are pictures of me with my old classmates, my new theatre friends and also our new LK Crew member Derek and his lovely wife Kyla who flew in from Iowa to see the show after seeing one of my performances in Hadestown.

Good stuff.