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Finding their Emerald City: Students shine in Mandy Gonzalez theater workshop

Finding their Emerald City: Students shine in Mandy Gonzalez theater workshop

May 5, 2025

Mandy Gonzalez is an advocate for young artists in many ways.

When she visited the Fox Cities in February as part of the 2024-25 Season’s Boldt Arts Alive! Series in her captivating concert An Evening with Mandy Gonzalez, she also took time to connect with young artists in our community.

In the Kimberly-Clark Theater on February 27, Mandy led a group of engaged seventh- and eighth-graders from Kaleidoscope Academy in an afternoon of growth and development of their skills.

“I'm so happy because I'm huge into theater. So, once we got started moving, I felt like ‘this is gonna be a great experience,’ and she was like, really nice.”
Keylee, student

After their warmups, Mandy drew the young artists closer to sit around a piano and work on a song from one of her most famous roles: the song “One Short Day,” which she’d performed on Broadway as Elphaba in Wicked from March 2010 to January 2011.

“What is your Emerald City?” Mandy asked her rapt audience.

She explained that giving depth to the words of a song means finding a true feeling to connect with. She told them that when she performed the song, she would conjure the wonder and awe that she felt the very first time she visited New York City with her Abuela.

“It did bring up my confidence, especially singing in front of people and stuff like that, because I have a big fear of singing in front of people.”
Gwyneth, student

Mandy provided encouragement and feedback, asking the students to note the feeling of acting through their movements, just like they had practiced emoting through their voices.

“I like that she was very open and… going to each person and having an experience with them specifically, for the most part. And I also liked the fact that we each got to experience something a little different when we were singing.”
Madi, student

Once the young artists’ confidence was at its peak, Mandy instructed them to form two lines and face each other, taking turns singing and performing directly to their peers. She asked them to pay attention to how different their choices can feel when shifting from a hypothetical audience to a real one, right in front of them.

“It was different than what I thought. I kind of thought we were going to be more sitting around and she was going to explain like, kind of the life route you have to do to become an actor. But once we got up and moving around and doing these other activities, it was really fun and engaging. And… it was a way to get out of your shell. And I think that was really nice.”
Mar, student

The workshop concluded with a Mandy Q&A session about her experiences and her plans for the future. One student raised her hand and nervously asked “Can I have a hug?” and Mandy accepted, embracing her young fan.

Supporting those who look up to her is something she believes is very important to do.

As a mother of a now-teenaged daughter, Mandy has launched the social media movement #FearlessSquad to inspire and uplift those seeking a community of support and reinforcement. Her movement shares a name with her debut album and her book series, Fearless.

You can read more about Mandy’s career in an article written by Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program Ambassadors Izzie and Kaisten, Mandy Gonzalez’s journey from Broadway to the page. This was an opportunity in which two Center Stage ambassadors met Mandy on Zoom before her visit to the Fox Cities and interviewed her about her journey to becoming a Broadway star, as well as her foray into authorship.