[Dallas, TX – August 28th]
NEW YORK (AP) — Copeland is playing Miss Turnstiles, a love interest for one of three sailors enjoying a few hours of shore leave in 1940s New York. The role requires both acting and singing, in addition to plenty of dancing, including a 15-minute ballet at the end.
Copeland, who recently became the first African-American woman to be a principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre, had only six rehearsals and sang her dialogue out loud only twice before going on, but each time she appeared the crowd went wild, cheering her entrances, big numbers and giving her a thunderous standing ovation at the end. The audience was more diverse and young.
Copeland admitted to feeling pressure before her debut Tuesday, but said she enjoyed herself more Wednesday, after getting that first performance behind her.
