How will you spend your Thanksgiving break?
A day after graduating from NYU last December, Liana Hunt received a phone call with great news: She had gotten the job to star as Sophie Sheridan in the Broadway national tour of "Mamma Mia!"
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Liana Hunt (left) plays Sophie in 'Mamma Mia!'
Hunt, 22, started rehearsals immediately after she finished her CAP21 senior showcase.
"It was such a whirlwind at first," she said.
Hunt is now on tour, traveling to a different city and a new hotel every week.
"Tour life itself takes getting used to," Hunt said. "I've learned that it's important to keep it a process for yourself, so that you're always working on something and not letting it become easy for you."
According to Hunt, performing at a new theater each week is an interesting, albeit challenging, experience. The cast and crew do not have time to fully familiarize themselves with the space and sound system before each opening night, and Hunt said she has had to learn how to quickly adjust.
"I have gotten lost backstage during the show many times, forgetting which theater and city I'm in," the actress said. "These are all the fun things you get used to being on tour."
To Hunt, the cast feels like a big family. Sometimes even literally: A few of the cast members have spouses and kids that travel with the group, she said.
Despite large age differences between some of the actors, they spend most of their time together.
"I feel a special bond with Liana and know that we will always be close," said Michelle Dawson, who plays Liana's stage mom, Donna Sheridan.
Hunt said she considers her relationship with Dawson to be very unique; they both grew up in Morrisville, Vt., and studied under the same voice teacher.
Tisch junior Jenna Lipe expressed her admiration for Hunt.
"Every girl in my class idolizes her and thinks she's the most beautiful and perfect girl in the world," Lipe said.
Hunt has some advice for students pursuing a career in theater.
"Once this becomes your job and your life, it helps to have other hobbies to keep your life interesting and full," she said.
When the "Mamma Mia!" tour is over, Hunt plans to return to New York, where she will continue to audition, as well as take classes.
But right now, she's content.
" 'Mamma Mia!' has been such an amazing experience for me," she said. "There's so much that I want to do, and it feels great to have started this way."
