Brianne Hoey

Disney World
Kid of the Kingdom

Newspaper Article:

Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA)
September 3, 2006

She's going to Disney World -
The Magic Kingdom beckons Brianne Hoey

by Richard Duckett

It didn't take Brianne Hoey long to figure out what she wanted for a career.

Hoey, of Worcester, started dancing at the Jo Ann Warren Studio when she was 7. A year later, she was competing. "I love dancing," she said. "I always wanted to be a professional dancer."

Now 18, she is about to start her first professional job as a dancer and singer. She will be at Walt Disney World from Oct. 8 through Dec. 31, performing on a stage in front of the famed castle in the production "Celebrate the Season."

It may sound the stuff of fairy tales, but Hoey hasn't breezed along to this point in her life without putting in a lot of hard work. But she doesn't appear to regard the long hours of practice as any kind of hardship.

"I like being busy, and I like being here - and this is what I want to do," she said with a pleasant breeziness during a recent interview at the Jo Ann Warren dance studio at 331 Grafton St., Worcester.

Hoey's nickname is "Breezy,"and everyone at the studio calls her that, including Jo Ann Warren, owner of the studio. Warren and her daughter, Cybill Warren, have been keeping a watchful eye on Hoey's progress. Cybill Warren has been her dance instructor for several years, and recently Keith Rutkiewicz, vocal and theater arts instructor for the studio, has been working with Hoey on her singing voice.

This summer, things have fallen into place. At the prestigious Starpower National Competition, held in July in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Hoey won first place overall as national vocalist. While in Myrtle Beach, she found out that Disney World wanted her.

What does being hired by Disney World mean for Hoey?

"It means that she's beginning her professional career," Jo Ann Warren said. "It's a nice place to work for her first job, and she's on her way."

Hoey has big dreams about where she wants to end up as a performer. "I want to be on Broadway as a dancer and a singer," she said. The ultimate dream would be to have a lead role in a Broadway show. "I'd love to have a lead. I love the musical `Movin' Out.' I'd love to have the lead in that."

Such enthusiasm comes across as engaging when she speaks, but is she being realistic?

Warren has been running her studio for 26 years, so she has seen lots of dancers, some of whom have gone on to successful careers. On the other hand, she is down-to-earth and does not strike one as someone who would encourage a belief in false hopes. Asked about Hoey's chances, she was categorically straightforward.

"I feel Brianne can go to the top," she said. "She has the talent, the desire, the look. And she's realistic and smart."

Rutkiewicz commented, "I see it as hers to lose now - as long as she pursues it aggressively."

Hoey grew up in Worcester and graduated in 2005 from Doherty Memorial High School. In addition to dancing at the Warren studio, she appeared a number of times in "The Nutcracker" with the Festival Ballet of Rhode Island and in 2004 danced in "Dancers' Christmas" with the Boston Liturgical Company of Boston College.

Last academic year she was a student at Worcester State College.

But first things first.

Hoey said that a typical day when she was at Doherty was school from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and then off to the studio to dance and practice from 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. "Plus I assist here, too (as a class assistant)."

To be a professional performer in musical theater these days, a person has to be a "triple threat": proficient in dancing, singing and acting.

"Shows don't have the money just to hire dancers, so dancers have to be able to sing, dance, act," Warren said. "You have to be the complete package or you don't get a job."

In terms of Hoey honing her singing skills, "When we first started, the natural talent and ability was there, and usually with singers, either you have it or you don't," said Rutkiewicz. In his view, Hoey certainly had it. "She has a wonderful range. A very nice soprano voice. She can even do difficult coloratura material."

Nevertheless, "There was room for improvement. There always is room for improvement, and there still is room for improvement."

So winning the Starpower competition was a big boon. "It's really a testament to her dedication," Rutkiewicz said. "Seeing that she could succeed in competitions opened the door for her professionally and technically."

"Winning first place really meant a lot to me," Hoey agreed.

Earlier in July, she had attended auditions for the Disney "Celebrate the Season" production that were held at the Boston Ballet Company in Boston. She was required to dance jazz, pointe and hip hop and sing and sight-read music. "It went very well," she said. She was asked to come back for a second audition, and brought along Warren for moral support.

When she was in Myrtle Beach she checked a voice mail message from Disney telling her they would like Hoey to join the cast. "I was so, so excited," she said.

The performances in front of the Disney castle will be held at different times during the evening. Hoey will sing and dance and be recognizable, not costumed as a Disney character.

While in Myrtle Beach, Hoey auditioned for the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, which puts on lavish entertainment shows on its cruises. It could be plain sailing for Breezy. "She made all the cuts," Warren said of Hoey's audition process. "Hopefully that'll come after Disney."

To make the Broadway port of call, Hoey will likely have to move to New York City at some point.

"I definitely want to. I need to start saving for something drastic like that," Hoey said.

Warren said that some of her former students living in New York could be a valuable resource.

Hoey nodded again.

"I definitely want to be there."