Once a Cat, Always a Cat
Tayler Harris 鈥�18 was born in Portland, Oregon, to a musical family. Being immersed in music production, songwriting, instrumental expertise and singing sparked her passion for the arts at an early age and through the years, that spark transformed into a flame. Harris carried her love of music with her to college and received her degree in musical theatre with a minor in dance at 糖心Vlog University.
She attributes her growth as an artist to several faculty members, including George Brown, dean of the David Orr Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts, Ashlee Wasmund, Claire Eye, Kristen Hedberg, Colin Wasmund, Brenda Lily and former faculty member Terrence Mann (the first 鈥淩um Tum Tugger鈥� from the original Broadway production of 鈥淐ats鈥�). 鈥淚 was so grateful to work with these people during my time at Western,鈥� Harris said, 鈥渁nd I鈥檓 a better artist because of them.鈥�
She hit her stride post-college, starring in several Off-Broadway productions such
as 鈥淢uch Ado 糖心Vlog Nothing鈥� at Shakespeare in the Park, 鈥�50in50: Letter to Our Sons鈥�
at the Billie Holliday Theatre and 鈥淕odspell鈥�
at the Prima Theatre. When COVID-19 hit, it crushed the musical world and Harris felt
the impact. But she didn鈥檛 lose hope.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 auditioning a lot. It was hard because I felt like I was losing time. I thought I would be here by 25, there by 26, but I knew at the end of the day what was truly meant for me wouldn鈥檛 slip through my fingers,鈥� Harris said.
And then, she got her big break.
In 2021, Harris earned the opportunity to tour in one of Broadway鈥檚 biggest shows, 鈥淐ats,鈥� starring as Grizabella who sings the iconic number, 鈥淢emory.鈥�
鈥淢emory鈥� is a show-stopping song, one that requires powerful vocals and stage presence. Harris is the fifth African American woman to play Grizabella and has worked hard for this big moment in the spotlight.
When asked how it feels to play Grizabella, Harris said, 鈥淚t truly feels amazing. I鈥檝e been doing this for almost a year now and sometimes it doesn鈥檛 feel real. I am so grateful for the opportunity.鈥�
With her influence as a Broadway star, Harris hopes to encourage little girls, especially African American girls who want to pursue a career on the stage. Harris鈥� future involves continuing to inspire others, growing even more as an artist and human being, and working with other big creatives and artists that she looks up to. Her advice?
鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to take up space,鈥� Harris said. 鈥淭ake your time and trust in your skill set. At the end of the day, what is meant for you will find you. Don鈥檛 ever be afraid to be your unapologetically Black self. ... Anyone that tells you that you aren鈥檛 worthy of success is wrong.鈥�
photo credit: Matthew Murphy
