A Look Back at J. Harrison Ghee & Caroline Bowman Before the Breakthrough Moments

About this episode

The episode features a discussion with J. Harrison Ghee and Caroline Bowman about identity and visibility in the performing arts before their major career milestones.

Identity can feel like a moving target in the performing arts—something shaped not only by the roles actors play on stage, but by the expectations placed on them offstage as well. In this episode, recorded in 2019 at the Muny in St. Louis, J. Harrison Ghee and Caroline Bowman sit down to talk about navigating that balance in a career built on visibility. From starring in productions like Kinky Boots, Evita, and Wicked, both performers share what it means to take on iconic roles while also staying grounded in a sense of self within the world of Broadway, musical theater, and the larger performing arts industry. Looking back now, this conversation captures a moment before major milestones in each career—before Caroline Bowman took on the role of Elsa in the Frozen national tour, and before J. Harrison Ghee won a Tony Award for Some Like It Hot. What comes through is a candid and thoughtful discussion about identity, vulnerability, criticism, and the pressure to fit into categories, both as actors and as people. It’s an honest look at the work it takes to show up fully, take risks, and build a life in theater without losing sight of who you are. Learn more about your ad choices…

People in this episode

Host: Patrick Oliver Jones

Guests: J. Harrison Ghee, Caroline Bowman

Topics covered

• identity in performing arts
• navigating visibility
• Broadway careers
• iconic roles
• vulnerability in theater
• pressure to fit in

Keywords

• identity
• performing arts
• Broadway
• musical theater
• vulnerability
• career milestones
• Kinky Boots
• Tony Award
• Frozen

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Kinky Boots, Evita, Wicked, Frozen, Some Like It Hot

Places: Muny, St. Louis

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