IU alumnus takes the auditorium stage in 'Mamma Mia!'
Landing a role in the No. 1 Broadway musical is a feat actors dream of, but few actually get to live out -- especially less than a year after graduating college.
Colin Donnell, a May 2005 graduate of Indiana University, is the exception, and he's showing off his role at his alma mater this week as his touring company of Mamma Mia! takes the stage at the IU Auditorium.
It's not the first time an IU grad has come back to perform in a professional role at IU, but it doesn't usually happen so soon, said Doug Booher, director of the IU Auditorium.
"It happens usually once or twice a year that we have someone on tour with an IU tie," Booher says. "In Colin's case, it's unique because he just recently graduated from IU, and it's great to see one of our grads land a spot in the hottest show right now."
Some of his success can be attributed to his experience in IU's Individualized Major Program, Donnell says. Through IMP, Donnell was able to design a musical theater major, which is not yet offered through the theater department.
"The way it was set up, you had to rely on yourself a lot to get yourself motivated," Donnell said. "It's the same way in the theater business. You have to motivate yourself to keep going when you audition and get turned down a few times."
After graduation, Donnell moved back to his hometown of St. Louis for six months and saved money while working in two different theaters. He moved to New York in October where he auditioned for the role in Mamma Mia! one day after arriving. While waiting for call-backs, Donell landed a role three weeks after moving to New York in the off-Broadway show Almost Heaven: Songs of John Denver.
In late December, a day after learning Almost Heaven was closing, Donnell got the news he earned a spot in Mamma Mia!
"There was a moment of 'really?', followed by a huge moment of being really excited to get things going," said Donnell about finding out he got a role in the musical.
Most people who have the desire to perform on a national Broadway tour spend a lot of time auditioning, training and trying to break through, said Booher. Booher is not surprised, though, by Donnell's success.
"He's a phenomenal performer, and he also has the drive and determination to go out and make it as an actor," he said.
During his time at IU, Donnell held a major role in a musical every year and won the "Best Senior Project" award from the IMP for his senior project -- a performance in Pal Joey.
Mamma Mia! tells the story of a girl's search for her father before her wedding day through a collection of songs by 1970s super-group ABBA. Donnell holds a role in the chorus and is the understudy for the character of the fiancé of the musical's main character.
After the tour stops in Bloomington, it will travel to Florida, Memphis and Mexico.
Performances at the IU Auditorium are scheduled for April 11 through 14 at 8 p.m. and April 15 and 16 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
"I can't tell you how excited I am (to be performing at the IU Auditorium)," Donnell said. "I have lots of friends and professors there, and my parents are even coming up for it."
For more information on the show, visit the auditorium Web site at http://www.iuauditorium.com.
