The Tony Awards are set for this Sunday, June 12. Whatever surprises are in store, they鈥檒l be hard-pressed to match the thrill that last year鈥檚 ceremony gave to USM鈥檚 Ed Reichert.
Among all the talk of Broadway luminaries, Reichert suddenly heard his own name. The nominees had recorded a series of promotional videos, later released online, about the educators who inspired them. For Broadway star Robyn Hurder, that inspiration was Reichert.
鈥淗e just put full trust in me,鈥 Hurder said in her video. 鈥淎s an educator, that is so important that if you see something in someone and they have a voice and they鈥檝e got an energy and a personality, trust them.鈥
Reichert has been teaching Musical Theatre as a lecturer at the Osher School of Music for 20 years. His involvement in Maine鈥檚 theatre scene extends back even further as a frequent director of regional productions. It was during one of those shows that he met Hurder.
Based on a recommendation, Reichert borrowed Hurder from the Maine State Ballet to dance in the ensemble for a staging of 鈥淐hess鈥 by The Portland Players in 1999. She was 17 years old and had just found her life鈥檚 ambition.
Hurder returned the following season with her sights set on a lead role. Despite Hurder鈥檚 youth, Reichert couldn鈥檛 deny her talent. He cast her as Mary Magdalene in 鈥淛esus Christ Superstar.鈥 Hurder quit ballet to give the role her full commitment.
In recounting his early impression of Hurder, Reichert said, 鈥淭his girl has got that star quality. She鈥檚 got that little bit of something special that鈥檚 just jutting out from her eyes and every inch of her.鈥
Their relationship followed Hurder to college at the University of New Hampshire, where Reichert sometimes worked as a guest director. Reichert鈥檚 decision to cast her as Linda in 鈥淏lood Brothers鈥 didn鈥檛 sit well with some members of the department who objected to giving such a big role to a freshman.
Reichert refused to cave to the pressure and defended Hurder as the best person for the part. His vote of confidence helped convince Hurder that she could still dream big even though she came from a small town like Windham, Maine.
鈥淗e took chances on me and gave me these opportunities that made me believe, 鈥極h wait, I can actually do this,鈥欌 Hurder said. 鈥淚t makes me want it even more, makes me even more hungry, and I want to keep working harder and harder and harder to get more roles like this.鈥
Those roles came soon enough. Hurder left college in her second year and ran the gauntlet of auditions in New York City. Within a few years, she built an impressive r茅sum茅. Her success reached a new level in 2019 when she originated the role of Nini in a new stage adaptation of the hit movie 鈥淢oulin Rouge!鈥
In a show that revels in the decadence of Paris nightlife in La Belle 脡poque, Hurder still managed to stand out. She went to the 2021 Tony Awards as a nominee in the category of Featured Actress in a Musical. She didn鈥檛 win but had faith the next time will be different.
The Tony experience also put Hurder back in touch with Reichert for the first time in years. They reconnected for this story over Zoom to discuss the promotional video about inspiring educators. Once hellos were out of the way, they quickly began sharing memories of past shows and mutual friends.
鈥淩obyn is a perfect example of what I try to teach my kids here at USM, one of the things,鈥 Reichert said. 鈥淭hat is, always be nice to everyone you work with.鈥
Reichert tries to apply that philosophy to his teaching style, as well. As musical director for USM鈥檚 spring production of 鈥淯rinetown,鈥 a light touch helped calm the cast and crew. Emotions were especially high because a musical hadn鈥檛 been staged on campus since before the COVID-19 pandemic two years prior.
One of the final dress rehearsals fell on March 1. A superstition holds that it鈥檚 good luck to say 鈥渞abbit, rabbit鈥 whenever a new month begins. Reichert went a step further by pinning a ball of fluff to the seat of his pants. When the cast needed a pick-me-up, he surprised them by turning around and flashing his rabbit tail.
鈥淥n top of his vast expertise and knowledge as a musician and an accompanist and a teacher, he does a lot for morale and joy,鈥 said Dr. Rachel Price Cooper, director of 鈥淯rinetown.鈥
Reichert makes a big deal of birthdays to connect with cast members on an individual level. One of his favorite tricks is to interrupt rehearsal mid-stream with a chorus of 鈥淗appy Birthday to You.鈥 He鈥檚 also well-known for treating students to baked goods from his own kitchen.
The fun compliments the hard work that Reichert demands from his students. He has their trust when he asks them to make a difficult adjustment to their performance or learn a new skill outside of their usual comfort zone.
鈥淗e likes to work together with his students and it鈥檚 very appreciated,鈥 Brandon Wong said during a break in 鈥淯rinetown鈥 rehearsal.
Wong entered college intending to pursue Classical Voice training, but gravitated instead toward Musical Theatre. He turned to Reichert for guidance about making the change and found the encouragement he needed. By senior year, Wong headlined 鈥淯rinetown鈥 as Bobby.
Two months after playing Pennywise in 鈥淯rinetown,鈥 Meg Walz was a graduate in search of professional acting opportunities. She knows it鈥檚 a tough road, but trusts the lessons she learned from her teachers at the Osher School of Music, particularly Reichert, will help tilt the odds in her favor.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very encouraging knowing that the training he is giving is what鈥檚 expected in the big professional world and that he has been successful in getting people to where they want to be in life,鈥 Walz said. 鈥淚鈥檓 super happy to have made a connection with him.鈥
That connection, along with loads of talent and drive, certainly worked for Robyn Hurder. Her run in 鈥淢oulin Rouge!鈥 ended in February, but her break is almost done. She can be seen next in 鈥淎 Beautiful Noise,鈥 a new musical based on the songs of Neil Diamond. It will debut on June 21 at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston before moving to Broadway.
For the New England native, the show is a homecoming, not that her roots are ever far from her mind.
鈥淚 am still so much the 16-year-old, 14-year-old girl from Maine. I will always have that in my soul and I鈥檓 so grateful. It has never gone away,鈥 Hurder said. 鈥淚 grew up learning from the best, man. I did.鈥