Ian Weinberger, top, and Nik Walker performing at the Marshall Concert on November 14.
Two musical artists who are part of the company for the hit play “Hamilton” put on an electrifying performance at AFS, telling stories of their own paths to Broadway through songs that were mileposts in their own journeys.
With only a piano and a wooden stool, the Muller Auditorium stage was turned into a cabaret-style setting for the 28th annual Marshall Concert, featuring singer Nik Walker and Ian Weinberger on piano.
Nik, who is in the ensemble and is an understudy for three actors in “Hamilton,” and Ian, who is the play’s associate musical director, performed seven songs. Nik opened with Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” and by the time he got to a full-throated rendition of “Make Them Hear You” from “Ragtime,” there was no doubt why he is performing on Broadway. The duo ended their set with “Wait For It” from “Hamilton.”
In between, they each talked about what led them into musical theater, what it was like to work on a brand new piece and why certain songs resonated with them. They also talked about how difficult it had been to break through to the hit play “Hamilton.”
Nik said he had auditioned for the show 12 times before winning a coveted spot in the company. Likewise, Ian said he had narrowly lost out on a string of five other jobs in musical theater before he was hired for “Hamilton.”
“This career, it’s rewarding and amazing, but it’s hard work,” Nik told the assembly of Upper School and Middle School students, who packed the auditorium and listened attentively to both the music and the commentary.
The students asked the performers a series of questions, including how often an understudy gets into the show, what is the best way to get an audition on Broadway and did they ever flub their lines. For the answer to that one, go to #Burrscorner on Twitter and look at the videos the actors have posted from their own miscues.
The annual concert series is made possible by the generosity of the Marshall family and is given in memory of Diana Parks Marshall ’61 and her mother, Virda Parks Marshall. Diana’s brother, Jim Marshall, and his wife, Nancy, attended the performance on November 14, along with several relatives and family friends.
Jim Marshall responded enthusiastically when asked what he thought of the concert. “Very good!” he said. “And the kids loved it, too!”
After the concert and before returning to New York City for that night’s show, Nik and Ian led a master class with Upper School students. Three students were asked to sing as if they were at a musical audition and Nik and Ian gave them immediate feedback. Then the students performed their songs again, and in each case, they were even better than before.
