Iowan makes Broadway debut in "The Music Man"

(ABC 6 News) – If you’ve seen "The Music Man," you’re probably familiar with its story that’s based in Mason City. The show is now on Broadway starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster.

Drew Minard is singing and dancing eight times a week in his Broadway debut at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City. But it’s in Iowa, where his love for theater began.

"I feel like I’m making Iowa proud, and you know, that’s something that I’ve always dreamed of," said Minard, a cast member of Broadway’s "The Music Man."

Growing up in West Des Moines, Minard started his dancing training at three years old. He was only in college for one year before he left to work on the developmental lab for the show. After a couple more rounds of auditions, he landed the role in early 2020. A couple of months later, the whole world changed with the pandemic.

"I had the offer before the pandemic which is something that I can’t even explain how grateful I am for, to have that light at the end of the tunnel during the whole pandemic. Not a lot of people can say they’ve had that so I’m very lucky. I just waited, and waited, and waited, and waited."

The show began previews in December and officially opened last month. When asked what it’s like to work with two Tony Award winners, Foster and Jackman, Minard said: "Every day in the rehearsal room, it’s like you’re just getting these waves of wisdom from them. Whether or not they’re telling it to you in a conversation or just watching them work, I have, I have never experienced anything like this where I can just sit and watch and feel like I’m growing as an artist and a person."

Despite 1,500 people watching him every night, Minard said with the show based in Iowa, the stage feels a little bit like home every night.

He has a one-year contract with the show and will be staying with the company until January. As for what’s next, he’s not sure.

The show is running indefinitely.