Mackenzie Lesser-Roy, a beguiling and extraordinarily talented musical theater student at the Boston Conservatory, and a graduate of Mamaroneck High School class of 2013, is living the dream she’s had since age 3. After responding to an open call this fall, Lesser-Roy landed the lead role of “Girl” in the NETworks Presentations LLC 2016 national touring company production of the Tony Award-winning musical “Once.”
“Kenzie has wanted to sing, act and dance since age 3,” said her mother, Dr. Juliet Lesser, a Larchmont psychologist. Now an accomplished actor, singer, dancer and musician, Lesser-Roy studied for years at Dance Cavise in Mamaroneck and the Larchmont Music Academy, in addition to other venues, and “considered the first floor post and the music department of MHS to be her home away from home.”
The musical, an adaptation of the Irish film of the same name, relays the tale of “Guy,” a Dublin street musician who’s on the verge of giving up his music when “Girl,” a Czech immigrant played by Lesser-Roy, hears him play and refuses to let him stop. The ensemble of actor-musicians play their own instruments on stage, the perfect opportunity for Lesser-Roy to also showcase her artistry on the piano.
Directed by John Tiffany, this production of “Once” opened in January in Philadelphia to rave reviews. Bryan Buttler, of Philadelphia Magazine, called the actor-musicians playing the lead roles “simply phenomenal.” Michael Woody, in the Dayton Local, praised it as “musical theater at its best, in its purest form.” And Dayton Most Metro’s Russell Florence Jr. considered the 13 actor-musician ensemble “authentically on par with the original Broadway cast.”
Buttler applauded Lesser-Roy’s performance, saying that she “tackles the complex, at times dark and sarcastic, ingénue with great depth and characterization.” Woody wrote that “Girl” is “played brilliantly by Mackenzie Lesser-Roy” who “is a maestro with the strings of our heart by using all her resources to create a response that resonates deep within us.” And that is what Lesser-Roy loves about her work and this role—that she touches people’s hearts.
“Once” will be performed at theaters across the country, ending with a run at the Denver Performing Arts Complex from May 24 through May 29. Local audiences will have a chance to see “Once” in New Haven, Connecticut, at the Shubert Theatre from Jan. 28 through Jan. 31. For the full performance schedule and to order tickets, visit oncemusical.com/tour/.
