SYRACUSE, NY — Syracuse Stage concludes its 50th Anniversary Season with “Once,” the irresistible Tony-award winning musical based on John Carney’s beloved 2007 Oscar-winning film. The cast features actors who sing, dance and play musical instruments. Most of the accomplished cast is based in New York City. Many are making their Syracuse Stage debut including Rachel Mulcahy who grew up in the Syracuse area.
Rachel graduated from Skaneateles High School and has performed in regional and national theater including four previous productions of “Once”. She plays the character “Ex-Girlfriend” in the show. She is thrilled to return home to perform in front of family, friends and even her fiddle teacher. “This is where I learned to play violin. I started when I was five or six my teachers are in this area. My fiddle teacher is actually playing on our opening night,” said Mulcahy. “I love my Irish Celtic roots. It’s all come from here Irish dancing growing up. So, it really all started here. It’s pretty special to get to bring those unique talents, where it all began.”
She was originally booked for “Once” scheduled for Syracuse Stage in the spring of 2020, but that performance was canceled by the pandemic. “It was very sad that we didn’t get to do that production. But now I understand why we didn’t do it. because this production was supposed to happen,” explained Mulcahy. “It was really meant to be this show and I’m so grateful that I got a chance to do it again here with this group of people.”
Fellow cast member Erica Swindell reprises the role of “Reza” which she first performed on Broadway. Swindell is certain the audience will fall in love with the music and the story of “Once”. “I love that this show is so extremely and unexpectedly universal. I think that it speaks to my favorite element about music in general, which is that usually what makes songs and albums successful is that they invite the listener in to interpret their own story through the songs,” said Swindell. “It has everything to do with their own memories of where they were when they first heard that song or heard that melody and connect their own lives to it.”
Rachel Mulcahy also is the niece of NBC 3/CNYCentral news anchor Matt Mulcahy. He caught up with the musicians while they rehearsed the numbers that will welcome the audience each night about 15 minutes before the scheduled curtain. You’ll want to be sure to be in your seat early to let them warm you up to the musical journey to Dublin, Ireland.
“Once” is directed by Syracuse Stage associate artistic director Melissa Crespo and will run May 1 – 19 in the Archbold Theater at Syracuse Stage, 820 E. Genesee St., Syracuse.
Tickets to see “Once” are still available previews begin May 1 and the show runs through May 19.
