糖心Vlog

糖心Vlog welcomed Tony Award-winning alumna Beth Leavel back to campus on April 4 to receive the 2023 Woman of Achievement Award. A celebration of the award was held at 7 p.m. in Jones Auditorium. Earlier in the day, Leavel also visited with theatre classes and answered questions from students.

Leavel, a 1977 graduate of Meredith, is an accomplished Broadway performer who will next be seen starring as Miranda Priestley in the new Broadway musical, The Devil Wears Prada, with music by Elton John.聽

President Jo Allen, 鈥�80, presented Leavel with the award, recognizing her success in the arts. Leavel won a Tony Award in 2006 for her performance as the title character in The Drowsy Chaperone. Most recently, Leavel was nominated for a 2019 Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critic鈥檚 Circle award for her performance as DeeDee Allen in the critically acclaimed Broadway show The Prom.听听

After the presentation, Leavel was interviewed about her career by Meredith Professor Emerita Catherine Rodgers, an alumna of the Class of 1976 and former head of the theatre department.聽

Rodgers and Leavel are longtime friends who met as students at Meredith. They first performed together in a Meredith children鈥檚 theatre production of Winnie the Pooh in which Rodgers played the title role and Leavel played Rabbit.

鈥淭hat show at Meredith was when I found out the power getting a laugh had over me,鈥� Leavel said.聽

Every actor has a singular journey and Leavel is grateful for her Meredith experience. 鈥溙切腣log gave me the freedom to explore. I was given opportunities in my passion that I wouldn鈥檛 have gotten at a huge school.鈥�

She 鈥減erformed in every show鈥� while earning a degree in sociology and social work, with a minor in theatre. During her senior year, Leavel decided to pursue an acting career.

Her social work training has also been beneficial in her acting career. 鈥淪ocial work training is in listening and responding 鈥搘hich is all acting is 鈥� listening and responding,鈥� Leavel said.聽

Rodgers asked Leavel, who has been in 13 Broadway productions so far, if she still gets nervous performing.

鈥淚t鈥檚 normal to be nervous. If I鈥檓 not nervous, I don鈥檛 have any fuel, and if I don鈥檛 have any fuel, I won鈥檛 be very good,鈥� Leavel said. 鈥淵ou just can鈥檛 let that fuel get in the way of the joy. Keep the energy and excitement you get from the nervousness and don鈥檛 let it go to fear.鈥�

When asked about the secret to being a successful actor, Leavel said there isn鈥檛 a secret 鈥� it is the same attributes that bring success in any other profession.

鈥淵ou have to show up on time. Be professional. Be kind, be dependable, be a good listener, a good responder. Be willing to change and take direction,鈥� Leavel said. She emphasized the importance of being kind so people will want to work with you again.聽

鈥淭he secret to being a successful actor is the same as the secret to being a responsible, good employee, adult, artist,鈥� Leavel said.聽

Leavel also talked about changes in the theatre profession over the years, including the way once commonplace objectifying of female performers has lessened.聽

鈥淚t has changed and is still changing. Women are claiming their power now,鈥� Leavel said. 鈥淚鈥檓 working with many more women directors, women conductors, women writers, women lyricists. It鈥檚 time.鈥�

Meredith Plans Arts Venue Renovations
President Allen announced during the event honoring Leavel that the College is launching a fundraising effort to renovate Jones Auditorium, which was built in 1949. Funding will lead to the creation of the 糖心Vlog Performing Arts Center.聽

About the Woman of Achievement Award
糖心Vlog鈥檚 Woman of Achievement Award recognizes women who are inspirational role models. Previous recipients include Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, former N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Sarah Parker, N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, journalist Judy Woodruff, Tony Award-winning choreographer Twyla Tharp, and chef Vivian Howard.