Software Engineer by day. Broadway Star by Night
Carla Stickler flew from Michigan to New York City with only 24 hours notice. “Wicked.”
“I was like, ‘I’ve got to go. I’ve got to do this,'” she told Inside Edition. “I love this company. I love the show, and if they need help, I would love to help them.”
Stickler was on her holiday vacation from her full-time job as a software engineer when she got the call on Sunday, Dec. 26. By Monday night, she was sitting in the audience at the Gershwin Theatre. Tuesday, she had rehearsals. And on Saturday, Jan. 1, she put on the costume and went on stage in the leading role.
“I’I won’t lie. I think it might have been one of the best shows I’ve ever done,” she said, noting the adrenaline rush might have helped with that.
Stickler was able to nail every line in the role, which is not surprising for anyone who knows her. She is an expert on the whole show. Yes, all the roles.
“I’ve been joking that I will be able to do the show when I’m 100 years old. I can do the whole show from beginning to end, every character,” Stickler said.
Broadway or Broadway is no stranger for Stickler “Wicked,”The musical that prequels “The Wizard of Oz.”In 2015, she starred in the role of the green witch. This was her last performance of the role. She has stepped in over the years as a vacation relief swing and emergency covers other roles, having most recently done so in 2019.
In 2015, she quit her Broadway career to pursue new opportunities. She got her master’s degree in education at New York University and taught in the city for while. She then took up coding. “randomly.”
“It’s been really fun getting to flex a different part of my brain and prove to myself that I am more than just this one thing,”She was referring to acting.
Returning to “Wicked”Elphaba’s role helped her close an old chapter in her own life.
“It was really overwhelming and calming, which is kind of an odd thing to say,” Stickler said. “If I never do it again, I’d be really, really happy. At our curtain call at the end, our Glinda, Ginna Claire, said, ‘I don’t know how you’ve been so calm.’ I was like, ‘I don’t either, but it’s been really wonderful.’”
Stickler was reintroduced to the show for a period of 10 days. This comes at a moment when swings and understudies are more well-known than ever. Many principal actors have been absent due to COVID-19’s spread. Stickler’s last performance is Friday. She worked in a hotel as an engineer during the day.
“They think it’s great,”She spoke highly of the company where she is an engineer. “They’ve been really supportive.”
She hopes to inspire young girls by sharing her story of success.
“I just hope that they take away that they can love science, they can love math, and they can also love theater,”She said.