On Sept. 21, award-winning actress Renée Elise Goldsberry performed an extraordinary show at the Staller Center For the Arts’ stage for a packed theater. For any musical fanatics, you may recognize Goldsberry as the original Angelica Schuyler from the hit musical “Hamilton” (2016). 

She performed beloved classics from “Hamilton” such as “The Schuyler Sisters,” beautiful song covers like “Misty” by Johnny Mathis, as well as original songs from her untitled upcoming album which is set to debut in 2025. To say Goldsberry put on a great performance would be an understatement.

With song genres widely ranging from pop, rock, classical and even old freedom songs, the two-hour performance kept the audience on their toes to see which genre would be delivered next. Despite the wide variety of music, Goldsberry made it clear from the start that this performance had a central theme: love. She stated a desire to use the night to persuade the audience to “fall back in love with love.” This goal was evident in almost every song relating to the themes of romantic, familial and self love. 

The performance of “Satisfied” from “Hamilton” was met with immense fervor from the audience, with people happily filling in the parts that Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s titular character originally sang. Goldsberry’s energy breathed new life into the song, quickly changing the tempo and emphasis on her delivery in order to bring a new musical experience. Thanking the audience for their enthusiasm, the singer was quick to regard the audience members as her “new friends.” 

To exclude the ensemble from the praise that accompanied Goldsberry would be downright insulting. Each member brought a unique talent to the performance that made the experience all the more enjoyable. The ensemble consisted of seven members: a pianist, guitarist, bassist, drummer and three backup singers. An unexpected but very well-received aspect of the show were the demonstrations of each member’s skills, with a song giving each of them a moment to shine. Kenneth Salters, the band’s backing drummer, performed an intense minute interlude into a performance of “Beat Out Dat Rhythm On A Drum,” showcasing Goldsberry’s immense talent. Referring to each of her band members as one of “the greats,” Goldsberry never failed to express the immense gratitude and affection she has for them. 

Stand-out moments include the pianist playing the grand piano and keyboard at the same time, the drummer tackling full drum solos and the backup singers joining Goldsberry in a full rendition of “Ella’s Song” by Sweet Honey In The Rock. Needless to say, the talented ensemble was instrumental in making the night an even richer experience.

Throughout the night, Goldsberry brought not only her talented vocals to the performance, but also her fun, extroverted personality which made her more personable to the audience. Several anecdotes were included throughout the show, stories such as a charming story of the actress’s first ferry ride that brought her to Stony Brook’s campus and a humorous argument with her daughter that transitioned to a cover of “Lord Protect My Child” by Bob Dylan. Goldsberry did an exceptional job of filling the theater with vibrant energy.

She also gave the audience a look into her life and the journey that brought her to the Staller Center stage. 

Goldsberry explained how she has had a deep passion for the craft of musical theater since she was eight years old and that it never disappeared. “It saved my life,” she said.

She then went on to talk about the trials and tribulations of her career, sharing the number of rejections she faced in her initial Broadway circuit that led her to pursue education in vocal jazz in Los Angeles, Calif. 

Goldsberry wanted to remind attendees that success is more than just getting on a stage and performing or landing an audition; she discussed how success stories are filled with initial failures that tend to be overlooked.

“I wanted to tell you all about the rejection that paves the way,” Goldsberry emphasized, reminding the audience that rejections and successes remain an integral part of both her and everyone else’s stories. 

Following a series of small roles, Goldsberry landed her first major role as Nala in the Broadway musical “The Lion King.” Reliving the story of how she was called to audition following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, Goldsberry performed an intense rendition of “Shadowland” — cherishing the beauty and love that can still be found within the hard times.

From there, a snowball of roles befell the actress until she landed her most cherished role as Angelica Schuyler in the original cast of “Hamilton.”  

Goldsberry, along with her ensemble, brought an incredible performance to the Staller guests — one that has surely set a goal post for future performances. A highlight to end off with is the actress’ wise advice to take time to truly appreciate the seasons, wishing all the attendees and the Stony Brook students to have the “best autumn of your lives.”