Living the Broadway dream

Something magical has been happening at Texas State University. The Department of Musical Theater has been making big dreams come true, and Kaitlyn Hopkins has been a kind of empowering fairy godmother at work behind the scenes.

Since 2009, Hopkins — recently retired and living once more in New York — has guided countless Texas State students on their paths toward a career in performing arts, including San Antonio’s own Preston Perez, now starring as Hans in the Broadway Across America’s tour of Disney’s “Frozen.”

While landing the role of the handsome prince may seem like the ultimate wishcome-true, both Perez and Hopkins are happy to report that the best magic happened along the way, starting with the holistic approach Hopkins wrote into the curriculum at Texas State.

“It’s really important to see them through the entire journey, to be part of their development as artists,” Hopkins explained. “Our industry can be insular and all consuming. You have to have a life outside the theater. You have to be well first and an artist second. This is not who you are. It’s what you do.”

When Hopkins first came toTexas State, these were the guiding principles she put into place while designing the Bachelor of Fine Arts program for musical theater. Based primarily on her own experiences as someone from a show-business family with a successful career as a working actor (check out her list of credits on IMDB), Hopkins sought to shift focus to an artist’s mental health, valuing connections over competition and a more balanced sense of wellbeing.

“In other industries that delineation is much more clear,” Hopkins said. “If you’re an engineer, you do your engineering thing, and then you go home. I really tried to impart in my students that integrity and how you live in the world is as important as what you do.”

Part of that integrity comes in the form of challenging the status quo, a notion that has been taking center stage more and more often as film and TV strive to be more inclusive of diverse voices throughout all aspects of life.

Enter Preston Perez, the first Latino in history to be cast in the role of a handsome Disney prince. Not only is this a crowning achievement for Perez – he graduated from Texas State in 2022 and he’s already starring in a North American tour – but it’s a huge victory for every young Latino actor coming up through the wings.

“San Antonio has a huge Latino population,” Perez said. “I imagine what it would have been like to go see a show in San Antonio with a character who looked like me. We want to see diverse voices in all characters, in princes and villains. So it feels special to play this character.”

Perez’ journey to the role of Hans began with his classes at Texas State, with a final in which Hopkins guided students to perform something called a callback packet in front of the class.

After one of the “Frozen” callback performances by a young woman of color, Hopkins asked her how she felt about her presentation.

“She said, ‘It didn’t feel right, like I couldn’t use my own voice,’” Hopkins recalled.

Students echoed this sentiment around the classroom as many of the actors could relate to this feeling, Perez included.

Hopkins advised, “You have to be authentically you in this world. They said, ‘But what if I don’t get hired?’ I said, ‘Yeah, maybe… But what is going to make you feel better? Going in and doing something for a year, playing as something that you’re not? But if you go in authentically who you are, they will recognize that.”

In his junior year, Perez performed the callback packet for Hans. “It was a role I felt connected to. At the core of the character, I thought it would be interesting for me.”

Still, Perez felt some hesitation in taking on the role. “I imposed my own self limitations on it,” he said.

Fortunately, Hopkins and his fellow classmates walked him through it the process. “Being a prince is more about an essence and how you carry yourself on stage,” Perez realized. “I don’t want to put limitations on characters I can play. The casting director will do that; I don’t want to do their job for them.”

Three years later, Perez auditioned for the role of Hans in the Broadway Across America tour.

“You cannot imagine when he called me and said, ‘I booked Hans in “Frozen.” I was sobbing. Absolutely sobbing.”

The population of Texas State University is a diverse one, with people of color representing 51% of the student body. As they graduate from Texas State, they take with them the tools to challenge the industry as well as the skills necessary to navigate it.

“Texas State was exactly the program I was looking for but didn’t know that I needed,” Perez said. “It was that perfect balance. I joined the honors college. I took really fascinating and interesting classes. I got a really well-rounded education, which informed my artistry more than I anticipated. I minored in political science. She (Hopkins) wanted us to be well-rounded humans with a global perspective.”

Hopkins agreed. “You cannot be a gifted storyteller if you don’t experience the world,” she said. “You cannot interpret the human condition if you don’t have a global perspective. This industry is not going to change unless you change it. You must challenge it.”

For Perez, scoring the role of Hans is not simply the role of a lifetime; for him, it’s just the start.

“He is a strong leader with an artist and activist’s heart,” Hopkins said. “Like Enjolras from ‘Les Miserables,’ but better looking.”

Perez will command the stage as Hans in Disney’s “Frozen” at Bass Concert Hall June 5 - 16, Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m.

“As with all Disney productions, it is a spectacle,” Perez said. “Our set is one of the most magnificent sets I’ve ever seen.”

On top of that, the stage version of “Frozen” includes 12 new songs for the show, so audiences will have a whole new experience with the characters. “I have two solos that don’t exist in the movie,” Perez said. “The stage version allows for a deeper understanding of Anna and Elsa’s psyche. So a lot of spectacle, really great new music and there’s so much that Elsa’s going through in terms of her own self-sabotage that doesn’t get explored in the film.”

During his time on tour, Perez said that he has been greatly anticipating his return to Central Texas.

“I’m going to see my Mom,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll have some delicious Tex Mex. I think I always wondered how I would thank the people who helped me to get where I am today. Getting the opportunity to bring the show for them to see... This is how I can thank them. I’m excited to bring it home.”

Tickets start at $35 and are available at texasperformingarts. org and BroadwayinAustin.com, by phone at 512-4771444 or from the Texas Performing Arts ticket office at Bass Concert Hall. Being a prince is more about an essence and how you carry yourself on stage.

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Preston Perez,

as Hans in Disney’s “Frozen”