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The 2016 graduate of University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music is currently in New York rehearsals.
She is also a backup to all three Schuyler Sisters in the Tony Award-winning Lin-Manuel Miranda musical based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton, one of this nation’s founding fathers.
Thomas, 22, said she was overjoyed to land such a prestigious job so soon after college graduation.
“Every day of rehearsal has been a complete dream,” she said. “It has been very, very rewarding. It has been humbling.”
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The daughter of Michelle and Randi Thomas of Oxford, Thomas got one of her first parts in “Beauty and the Beast” at the Children’s Theatre of Mason, and had a part in Dayton Playhouse’s presentation of “Bye Bye Birdie.”
Her brothers, twins Maurice and MeKenzie Thomas, are sophomores at Miami University.
Raven Thomas participated in sports, choir and drama in high school.
“I got addicted to it and I thought this is what I wanted to do,” she said of performing. “I kind of had to choose one, and acting and singing and dancing won that battle.”
She credits her Talawanda teachers Ryan Steffen and Timothy Pearson and UC voice instructor, Lisa Ericksen.
She say CCM “really focuses on making that triple-threat performer” who sings, dances and acts.
“I feel like they really prepared me for this,” Thomas said.
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Being in ‘Hamilton’ was one of her goals. She never expected it to happen so quickly in her career.
“Everyone is equally represented on the stage,” Thomas said of the ethnically diverse cast. “It’s a style of music that I grew up on. Rap and hip hop are so ingrained in me.”
Thomas said she is honored to be a part of the show with veteran performers.
Michael Luwoye, the understudy/alternative for Hamilton in the Broadway production, will play the title role in the traveling show, according to Playbill.com.
“They have all been so kind and nice and welcoming and creative,” Thomas said.
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