Meet Anne-Lise

Name: Anne-Lise Koyabe

Vocal Range: Mezzo-Soprano

Age: 23

Stage credits: Lutibelle in Purlie (Black Theatre Troupe);  Sarah (u/s) in Ragtime (Mesa Encore Theatre); Dynamite in Hairspray (Arizona Broadway Theatre and Mesa Encore Theatre); Alice in Big River (Mesa Encore Theatre); Aunt Em in The Wiz (Stagebrush Theatre)

Bucket list role(s): Aida in Aida; Sarah in Ragtime (on Broadway); Anything in Porgy and Bess

What inspired you to be a performer?

I first experienced performing when I joined my middle school’s choir (A little reluctantly. I wanted to take home economics, but the class was full. Choir was my second choice). Having just moved from France to the United States, I was shy and didn’t control the language very well at first, so talking to people was difficult for me. However, I found that performing in front of people was very easy to do and made me feel a renewed confidence. This is what first pushed me into performing, the way it made me feel.

As I grew up, however, my focus moved from an inward inspiration to an outward one. I started to notice how my performances not only made me feel but how they made the people watching me feel. Now, the audience is my inspiration to keep performing. Knowing that I made someone’s day with my performance is awesome! When I look out in the audience and see that I am making someone feel something, it’s such an amazing feeling. It’s what is going to keep me going back to the stage.

Why did you want to be a part of The Soul of Broadway?

First of all I had already worked with most of the original members of the cast on other shows so I knew that being a part of The Soul of Broadway would be a great time with really talented people.

On the strictly performing side of things, having the show set up the way it is makes it an awesome experience. I have been able to sing songs from shows that I otherwise might not have had the chance to perform. The Soul of Broadway also provides a great diversity in both the styles of music and the types of roles presented so that during each show the cast has to transition from one character to a completely different one over and over again. I know that personally this has been a great challenge for me. It has pushed me to truly expand my range and my flexibility both vocally and as an actress.

Why do you think like show like the Soul of Broadway is important?

I feel like often, African American singer/actors are only expected to play a specific type of character and sing specific styles of music. I think the Soul of Broadway is a great way to showcase the versatility of African American performers. It also allows both the audience and the cast members to discover songs and shows that they might have not been exposed to otherwise.

Tell me one experience that you’ve had with the show that you won’t forget.

I have experienced so many great moments with the show that it’d be hard to pick just one. What I will definitely always remember from being a part of the Soul of Broadway, however, is the feeling I get performing with these amazing people. Whether we are singing an upbeat songlike “Brand New Day” or an emotionally heavy one like “Black and Blue”, the magic that we can create as a group just blows me away every time.

What has been your favorite song or songs to perform? And why?

That is a really difficult question as I don’t think there is a song I DIDN’T like to perform. I do love singing anything from Porgy and Bess or Ragtime as they truly showcase my classical training. Black and Blue is one of the group numbers that I love because, although it is very challenging vocally, it is such a beautiful piece that you can’t NOT be affected by it. I Know Where I’ve Been is another favorite group number. I have been in three different productions of Hairspray and have performed it a number of times in a cabaret setting including with The Soul of Broadway, and it makes me tear up every time.

Where do you see yourself as an actress in the next five years?

On Broadway? :) Well at least that is my dream. Although I will have reached my goal when I can say that I completely live off of performing.

Outside of The Soul of Broadway, name one of your favorite roles you’ve played and why?

 

Sarah in Ragtime remains one of my favorite roles to date. I just love the show itself. The story is such a powerful one and the music is gorgeous. The role of Sarah is an exciting one to play because there are very few lines and the character only appears briefly during the show but needs to have enough intensity to propel the story forward. As an actress it’s an interesting role to have to play because so much has to be said without words. As a singer, I could sing “Your Daddy’s Son” all day. The duets are also just so gorgeous both in music and emotion. I absolutely love this show and would never get tired of being in it.