5 Questions with CAROLINE, OR CHANGE's Nasia Thomas

Kevin Ray Johnson

I would like you to meet the amazing Nasia Thomas. Nasia will be playing Radio 1 in the upcoming Broadway Revival of Caroline, or Change. Nasia was recently seen as Mama Rose / Flo Ballard / Tammi Terrell in Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations on Broadway. Other Broadway credits include: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (A show in which she also performed in the National Tour of). Her regional credits include: Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations at The Berkeley Rep, The Kennedy Center, The Center Theatre Group, and Mirvish- Toronto; Beauty and the Beast (TUTS), Hairspray, (MUNY). Caroline, Or Change is a revival I have been so excited for so to have the chance to interview an amazing artist such as Nasia has been so wonderful! 

1.) How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a performer?

I was 15 years old when I was bitten by the “Broadway Bug”'

2.) Where did you study? Are there any mentors that truly helped make you the performer you are today?

I studied at The Governors School for the Arts in Norfolk Va during my high school years. And at GSA I had a focus on Music Theatre. After I graduated high school, I went on to get a BFA in Music Theatre from Elon University. 

3.) Congratulations on Caroline, Or Change! This is a show I have wanted to see back on Broadway for many years! What are you most excited about when it comes to performing in this Revival? 

I am so excited about singing this SCORE. This is hands down for me the score that has EVER been written. Also to learn from, interact with, perform for Jeanine Tesori and Tony Kushner who has been around during the rehearsal process is BLOWING MY MIND. Here I am in the “room where it happens” with these American Stage TITANS. I am also excited about bringing the story of Caroline or Change BACK to Broadway in a time where our country is in desperate need of transformative theatre. The political climate is hot and racism is STILL a problem we are dealing with. Sad to know not much has changed racially since the 1960s. We have so much further to go. 

4.) Are there any other shows that you have done in your career that will always be near and dear to your heart?

Yes! Beautiful: The Carole King Story was my Broadway debut so that will ALWAYS be special to me. And of course, Aint Too Proud which was to date the most special theatrical experience I’ve had. But COC is steady stealing my heart and it’s only week two! I can’t wait to see where we will be further into the run. This show is such a beast. 

5.) What advice would you give performers who want a career in this business?

I say this all the time, but I cannot express it enough. Two things I live by: “NO” is a blessing. Be thankful that you heard the word “no” because a “yes” could have potentially blocked a blessing from your life. Next is “What is meant for you will never pass you up, and what passes you up was NEVER meant for you. It ties in hand and hand with the blessings of no. You heard that “NO” for a reason. You weren’t meant to hear a yes at that moment because there is something bigger and better FOR YOU coming.

Performances for Caroline, Or Change begin on March 13th at Studio 54. To learn more about the show make sure you visit - https://www.roundabouttheatre.org