Interview: A Conversation with Tracy Braunstein of LIGHT THE LIGHTS - AN EVENING AT THE TONYS at Centaur Theatre

Tracy Braunstein's love of theatre began when she was just a child. She recalls early memories of performing ANNIE in the basement and singing "Big Spender" into a hairbrush around the age of 6. She soon graduated to school plays and immersed herself in community theatre. When she was 17, she and her mom got on a bus to go to New York City to see Lea Salonga in her last week of MISS SAIGON.

After realizing she was a "small fish in a big pond" in the Montreal theatre community, she chose not to pursue acting professionally. Braunstein got married, had two kids, and began another career as a Certified Sleep Consultant.

Once her kids got a little older, she was asked to perform in a show. At that moment, she realized how passionate she was about performing and started looking in developing a company with her now business partner, Sheila Engel Katz. Knowing that there is still plenty of room in the Montreal theatre community for another English musical theatre company, two years ago, Full Circle Productions was born. I had the chance to sit down with Braunstein to discuss Full Circle Productions and their upcoming sophomore show, LIGHT THE LIGHTS - AN EVENING AT THE TONYS.

HANNIBAL: Tell me a little bit about the birth of Full Circle Productions.

BRAUNSTEIN: We are in a city where we just don't have enough English musical theatre. I had the drive and the vision and reached out to Sheila Engel Katz, who is my producing partner and musical director. As huge as an endeavour as it is to produce a show, it feeds my soul. I love to perform, but I'm also discovering new talents within myself. I have a clear vision in my head of what I want to to accomplish without the benefit of a musical theatre background.

Sheila and I make a good team. Musically, what she does, the arrangements and the harmonies - she's just fantastic. She'll often say, "you see it and I hear it." Together, we put out a good product. We are quality community theatre. Just because it's "community," it doesn't have to look like a basement level production. When people say to me, "we're not Broadway," I say, "why the hell not?" There are people in our cast who are Broadway caliber. Why not strive to be the best you can be?

HANNIBAL: Where do you see yourself in 5 years.

BRAUNSTEIN: I'd like to keep upping the stakes, building our audience and continuing to bring quality theatre to Montreal. I'm also hoping that we start to attract more local talent. Montreal has so much untapped talent, because we don't have a large scene. A lot of our talent leaves to go to other cities. I'd like to continue to give a platform to our local talent. We don't have enough culture, arts and live theatre to go to. I think for children, younger generations, to be able to be exposed to that is super important. I'd like to continue to challenge my creativity.

HANNIBAL: Now that your producing, directing and performing, do you have a preference?

BRAUNSTEIN: Ooh! Tough question! I don't think I would be able to be fully happy if I wasn't on the stage, with the lights in my face. Every role fulfills something else, so the performing is my deep rooted love of being on stage. The producing fulfills my organizational skills, my people skills, my multi-tasking and love of coordinating. The directing is allowing me to tap into talents that I didn't know I had. To be able to take my vision and make it happen on stage, that fulfills something else.

HANNIBAL: What is your favourite song to sing?

BRAUNSTEIN: The MISS SAIGON stuff is such a soft spot for me. So really, anything from that show.

HANNIBAL: What's your current favourite Broadway musical?

BRAUNSTEIN: DEAR EVAN HANSEN changed my life. It was important for me to put snippets of that show in this year's production. Pasek and Paul are geniuses.

HANNIBAL: Would you see yourself doing a book musical, rather than a revue?

BRAUNSTEIN: Book shows sell. Revues are harder to sell. What I like about a revue is the creative freedom and ability to showcase more of your cast. I would love to flip-flop between the two. This show is a massive undertaking. We have been rehearsing since October. I'd like to do some smaller shows, which will help build our audience. My mind is not hard set on anything, but I'm adaptable.

I love how Broadway evolves with the times. That's what's beautiful about it. I think if you are a Broadway lover, you'll be a Broadway lover throughout the ages. The love of theatre - you're never really over it.

Full Circle Productions Presents LIGHT THE LIGHTS - AN EVENING AT THE TONYS runs April 26-29, 2018 at the Centaur Theatre. An incredible two-hour Broadway musical revue celebrating Tony award nominees and winners from the 1950's - present day. Songs from such musicals as, Phantom of the Opera, Guys & Dolls, Hamilton, Chicago, Funny Girl, Beautiful, Matilda, Dear Evan Hansen and much more!

The cast includes the talent of 21 (15 adults and 6 youth) local performers from the West Island, Montreal and off-island. Ages range from 9-60.

Producer / Director: Tracy Braunstein

Co-Producer and Musical Director: Sheila Engel Katz

Choreographer: Amanda Caron Garbacz

Show Dates and Times:

April 26th, 2018- 7:30pm

April 27th, 2018- 7:30pm

April 28th, 2018- 1:30pm & 7:30pm

April 29th, 2018- 1:30pm

Venue: The Centaur Theatre, 453 St. Francois Xavier, Montreal Qc H2Y 2T1

Tickets: $35 Adults, $30 Senior, Students, QDF, Centaur Subscribers (taxes inclu. Service charge extra)

To purchase tickets: https://centaurtheatre.com/light-the-lights---the-tonys.html By Phone: 514-288-3161

Contact: Tracy Braunstein (514)726-3339 fullcirclemtl@gmail.com

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