March 9, 2020
Nicholas Ward is coming home, and to celebrate, he is putting on a show. Ward, who has travelled the world in show business and boasts four major roles on Broadway, got his start right here in Niceville, Florida at Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC).
“When I was in middle school, the College put on the play ‘The King and I,’ and I got cast as one of the little kids, and that’s what really kicked it off for me,” Ward said of his stage career.
After ’The King and I’, Ward was cast in student productions annually throughout high school. His experiences performing in the student productions played a large role in his decision to further his studies at NWFSC and stay close to home.
After graduation his career skyrocketed, Ward went on to work for Disney and later traveled the world performing on cruise ships before landing several Broadway roles – the likes of King Agnarr in Frozen and Mufasa in The Lion King.
At his concert, Ward will sing his favorite Disney, Broadway and pop songs as well as some classical and contemporary musical theatre pieces. To wrap up the show, Ward plans to open the floor for discussion, in hopes of inspiring local young artists to pursue their own dreams.
As a nod to those who played such a pivotal role in his formation as a young performer, Ward has invited Niceville High School’s Choir Opus One, including long-time Choir Director Michael Dye, who helped shape his musical career to join him on stage for a few numbers during the show.
“This is the debut of the concert that I’ve been wanting to do for years, but I was always hesitant to do it because I didn’t know what to sing or talk about,” Ward said. “I finally pushed myself to do it, thinking, ‘What better way to feed my soul then to come home and see the people who helped me get where I am today?”
Nineteen years after leaving NWFSC, Ward is returning to his Alma Mater to debut his solo show, “For All We Know,” on March 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mattie Kelly Art Center Main Stage.
“Every time I start to think about it I get emotional,” Ward said of his upcoming show. “It’s truly a full circle moment for me; coming from such a small town, I am where I am because of the people out in the audience who helped me get here. There are no words to express what that means to me.”