The Associated Press calls her “One of the best voices on Broadway.” Variety wrote, “A magnetic stage presence.” And The New York Times proclaimed, “You had better believe she's on Broadway to stay!” Considered one of Broadway’s favorite personalities, Tony winner Debbie Gravitte was one of the stars in Loving the Silent Tears musical. After making her Broadway debut in the original cast
of They’re Playing Our Song, she went on to appear
in Perfectly Frank (Drama Desk Award nomination), Zorba,
Chicago, and Les Misérables. Ms. Gravitte has appeared
in the acclaimed Encores! series productions at New York City Center.
She won the prestigious Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in
a Musical for her performance in Jerome Robbins’ Broadway. |
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She has sung with over 100 orchestras around the world and has performed with the legendary George Burns, Jay Leno, and Harry Anderson, among others. Ms. Gravitte has released three solo CDs: Defying Gravity, The MGM Album, and Part of Your World: the Alan Menken Album. During an interview with Supreme Master Television, Ms. Gravitte shared about her memorable singing experiences as well as about the unique musical in which she sings “No Place for You,” with lyrics based on Supreme Master Ching Hai’s poetry from Silent Tears and music by 2-time Oscar winner Al Kasha. Following are excerpts from this interview. Interviewer: You've had some opportunities to collaborate with some amazing performers, composers. Have you got any stories that you could share with us about some of those experiences? Debbie Gravitte: I did my first show with Marvin Hamlisch. When I did Jerome Robbins’, I met Leonard Bernstein. I was one of the voices in the movie of The Little Mermaid, and Alan Menken is a friend of mine. And Steven Schwartz, the man who wrote Wicked, I actually do concerts with him. And I got to be the first person to sing “Defying Gravity.” Working on Loving the Silent Tears, this has been one of the most amazing experiences, to work with this diverse group of people from around the world. It is amazing. |
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 As a sought-after concert soloist and musical actress, Debbie Gravitte says she feels fortunate for her diverse experiences. |
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Interviewer: What is this musical about in your interpretation? Debbie Gravitte: Our director spoke to us, Vince Paterson, who is clearly, incredibly brilliant, and this simple idea of how we’re all searching for inner peace, and through enlightenment, through learning, however you want to call it. And that's I guess what the show is about for me. And clearly the whole experience, and learning so much through that, it really has made me count my blessings. Interviewer: Can you share with us what role you are playing? Debbie Gravitte: I represent the United States of America. No pressure that I'm representing, you know, 300 million people, and I look nothing like most of them, but it's okay. I am USA, which is an interesting song in the show, because it's not one of the happier moments. But sometimes the dark stuff leads to the light, and I think that's why it is there. The lyrics to the song I sing, they are for a purpose. You know, ‘The World is full of troubles / Only I’m so full of YOU!’ I’m basically paraphrasing but if everybody knew of You, then the world would be a better place.” Based in Los Angeles, On Air with Tony Sweet on Global Voice Broadcasting is a top entertainment talk show with over half-a-million listeners. The radio host, Tony Sweet, interviewed several cast members from the musical, including Ms. Gravitte. Please enjoy the following excerpt.
Tony Sweet: Loving the Silent Tears,
the more I read and see the promos, I’m falling in love with
it, and I haven’t even seen it. |
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Debbie
Gravitte: Well, you know what, that’s exactly
how I felt. I really mean that. I went to the first day of rehearsal,
and I fell in love with everything about it. To see this room full
of incredibly beautiful, talented people from all over the world.
Like there’s a big, giant Vietnamese (Aulacese) pop star
and the Korean pop star, and Jody Watley and Black Uhuru, and the
Israeli girl, and the Arab girl, and the Persian guy. It was just
like,
“This is too incredible.”
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Radio
interview by Tony Sweet, host of On Air with Tony Sweet show (Global
Voice Broadcasting) |
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Debbie Gravitte: Singing about loving people and finding your spiritual path, I mean, it’s just all like a win-win for everybody. Tony Sweet: Yeah, we were talking earlier about it’s only one night. And to get these stars, it would be difficult to be a long-run musical because you guys are all so busy, you know, Jon Secada, Jody Watley, all these people that are always touring and all over the world. And you guys are always working on projects and new Broadway shows… Is that a lot of pressure, since it’s a one show? Debbie Gravitte: Can I let you know on the 27th at about 9 o’clock, after it’s all over? (laughter) It is a lot of pressure. But I have to say, the people who are putting this on are unbelievably organized for something like this. Because every performer has done their share of benefits, and of course, you know, a benefit, people drop out, they drop in, they drop sideways. You don’t really know who’s going to show up that night. And you sort of show up for rehearsal and you do your thing, and it’s usually something you know how to do. And there's a lot of organization. But for this, to put together this amount of people… I sit in amazement at all of them, I really do. It makes me feel like I am part of something bigger than just me. I really wish that I can convey what it was like to be in that room that first day with all those different people. I can just cry thinking about it because there is conflict throughout the world, not everybody is on equal footing with each country, but the thing that is uniting us all is having better lives, and part of it is through music. Debbie Gravitte: No, this is a premiere of this. So, it’s never been seen. Tony
Sweet: That’s why I am glad they thought
about L.A., the place it needs to be. Because I think it has changed
so much, and again so many talented people are in this, they’re
bringing some top notch talents from Broadway to L.A.
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In-Depth
with
Tony
Sweet: Music is a great connection. I’m
glad that they brought this Loving the Silent Tears to L.A.
I don’t think they played this or brought this to any other
city. 
