Michael Iv谩n Carrier was such a shy child that they didn鈥檛 find their voice until they were 鈥渓ike, nine.鈥� Growing up a proud 鈥渟wamp person鈥� in Lafayette, Louisiana, they never envisioned they would make it to the Broadway stage, much less while wearing a full 鈥渟tage natural鈥� copper and violet beat every night in & Juliet at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. 鈥淢usical theatre is something that just happened for me,鈥� Carrier says. 鈥淎nd it didn't stop happening.鈥�
Though they were voted Most Likely to be on Broadway by their Catholic high school, Carrier says the bright lights felt so far away. 鈥淵ou just never think it鈥檚 going to happen to you,鈥� they say. 鈥淚t鈥檚 crazy, right? People where I鈥檓 from don鈥檛 go to Broadway.鈥�
Carrier has been with & Juliet, a retelling of Shakespeare鈥檚 Romeo and Juliet using the music of Max Martin, long enough to have covered 12 roles. All of which they can rattle off by name. They have skillfully skipped, twirled, and swung through nearly every ensemble track in the show since 2022.
鈥淚 truly do believe that anyone can swing,鈥� Carrier assets. 鈥淵ou have to trust yourself. You have to trust your training. You have to trust your rehearsal. You have to trust your dance captains.鈥�
Then, last October, Carrier was promoted to May, Juliet鈥檚 best friend, who also gets a pivotal love story in the show.
鈥淢ay is Juliet鈥檚 rock, essentially,鈥� Carrier says. 鈥淲e are constantly told by the creatives that May is that grounded friend. We鈥檙e so often told not to be that comical gay best friend. That is so鈥asy.鈥�
As someone who identifies as non-binary, Carrier says the opportunity to portray a non-binary principal character on Broadway makes their job even sweeter. 鈥淏eing myself is enough,鈥� they say. 鈥淓specially in a world where people don鈥檛 want people like me to exist. They don't want queer people to exist. Sometimes, seeing someone on stage with blush is going to do the trick.鈥�
They are reminded of the ever-so-shy nine-year-old they used to be when they interact with young theatregoers at the stage door, who are often too nervous to ask for a photo or a signature. 鈥淵ou are saying everything you need to say by being here and supporting,鈥� says Carrier. 鈥淚t means the world to them that I鈥檓 participating and having a conversation with them.鈥�
Adds Carrier with an infectious smile: 鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of myself. And I鈥檓 really proud of everyone who came before me and made this possible.鈥�
Learn Carrier鈥檚 best tips for looking more sparkly than 鈥渟weaty spaghetti鈥� and which Taylor Swift song was cut from & Juliet by watching the video above.
