Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz Shares Her Pre-Show Rituals and Backstage Must-Haves at EUREKA DAY

We all know how much hard work goes into the performances that audiences see eight times a week on Broadway. When they're not giving it their all onstage, most performers are backstage doing what it takes to stay happy, healthy, and ready to go between scenes. In Words From The Wings, BroadwayWorld is taking fans behind the curtain to shine a spotlight on the everyday routines that keep Broadway stars moving. 

In this edition, we catch up with Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz, who is appearing in Eureka Day on Broadway. Below, she takes us backstage (with photos by BroadwayWorld's Jennifer Broski) to share some of her favorite backstage routines, pre-show rituals, must-haves and more.

What’s the first thing you do when you arrive to the theatre?

The first thing I do when I arrive at the theater is greet stage door security- usually Darryl or Clyde, they take such great care of us, I like to check in with them and see how they’re doing. Then I head upstairs to the 5th floor to our scorching hot dressing room to shed all the layers, then promptly head back down for a vocal warmup. We’re not mic’ed here at the Friedman so warming up is crucial, and placing my voice in the house helps me. 

What’s the last thing you do before you go on stage?

The last thing I do before I go on stage is swig mouth wash. I have a little intimacy in the first scene- a little L to L contact as our intimacy coordinator Ann would say- and it feels a little cruel to go into it with garlic hummus breath. 

What’s your must-have backstage snack?

My must have backstage snack is hummus and papadum chips from Trader Joe’s! Powers me through the whole show! 

Pre-show ritual that others may think is weird?

My pre-show ritual that others may think is weird is… I talk to the theater… I don’t even know if my cast mates know I do this! I am the only cast member who enters from stage left, so when places are called I’m alone with one of our crew, Peter. When he tells me to standby, I usually put my hands on the bricks of the Friedman and ask the theater for its blessing before walking on stage. 

What are five must-haves in your dressing room?

- My tea stash; throat coat, rooibos chai, echinacea

- My favorite mug that I pilfered from the green room (don’t worry it’ll be going back down there at the end of the run!) 

- Nasal spray; ‘tis the season for runny noses

- 90 second microwaveable rice 

- The equity cot: nap time is sacred between shows in our dressing

What’s your favorite moment from the show to watch from the wings?

My favorite moment of the show to watch from the wings is the final moment of scene five. Without giving too much away, it’s a beautiful, vulnerable moment of connection between Amber and Jess and every night it’s different, every time I catch it punches me in the gut. 

What has been your favorite backstage moment in your time with this show so far?

My favorite backstage moments are between me and Denise, our ASM. She checks to see if I’m standing by before the penultimate scene. Usually we have a dance off, but lately it’s morphed into dancing while she updates me on her progress in reading A Court of Thorns and Roses, my favorite guilty pleasure.

About Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz

Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz is a bicoastal theater, film, and television actress. In Los Angeles, she has originated roles such as Kat in the Steinberg Award-winning How the Light Gets In and Sei Shonagon in Unrivaled. She also recently played Elena in Pasadena Playhouse’s Uncle Vanya as part of their Tony-Award winning season. TV work includes Swarm (Amazon Prime), The Resident (CBS), The Flash (CW), Law & Order: SVU (NBC), Scandal (ABC), Longmire (Netflix), Station 19 (ABC) and Magnum PI (CBS). Recent film work includes Netflix’s Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, directed by John Lee Hancock.  BFA: Boston University. This is her Broadway debut.

About Eureka Day

The Broadway premiere of Eureka Day, a new comedy from playwright Jonathan Spector, takes audiences inside the hotly contested vaccine debate.

The timely new work, presented by Manhattan Theater Club,  is led on Broadwat by Tony Award nominee Amber Gray, two-time Tony Award nominee Jessica Hecht, Tony Award winner Bill Irwin, Emmy Award nominee Thomas Middleditch, and Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz. Read the reviews!

Jonathan Spector’s explosive and timely comedy had its world premiere at Aurora Theatre Company in Berkeley, CA., and has been seen Off-Broadway at Colt Coeur and in London at The Old Vic.

Eureka Day is a private California elementary school with a Board of Directors that values inclusion above all else—that is until an outbreak of the mumps forces everyone in the community to reconsider the school’s liberal vaccine policy. As cases rise, the board realizes with horror that they’ve got to do what they swore they never would: make a choice that won’t please absolutely everybody.

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