Broadway 'The Book of Mormon' star started his theater career at a Bellingham studio

A Franklin native is saying "Hello!" to a career on Broadway.

Andrew Stevens Purdy, a graduate of the Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, stars in the Tony-Award winning musical "The Book of Mormon" on Broadway. He performs in the ensemble and is the understudy for the principal role of Elder Cunningham.

In addition to being in "The Book of Mormon," Purdy also appeared in the 2022 romantic comedy "Meet Cute" along with Pete Davidson and Kaley Cuoco.

Before making in his Broadway debut in June 2022, Purdy told the Daily News he had been dreaming about starring there since he was a child.

"I had been dreaming about being on Broadway since I was 3 or 4 years old," said Purdy, now 26. "I've had my eye on the prize for 20 years now. I'd go see Broadway shows with my family as a kid and always want to be one of those people up there, and it's wild to me that I am one of those people up there."

Voice for the arts: Antonio Viva is leaving Walnut Hill to join Boston makerspace Artisan's Asylum

Purdy, who went on to study music theater at Elon University in North Carolina, said his favorite moments as part of "The Book of Mormon" are his Broadway debut in the ensemble and his debut portraying Elder Cunningham.

"I loved my first performance in the ensemble, my Broadway debut, that night was wonderful," he said. "I kind of blacked out for most of it because I was focusing."

However, Purdy said he went on as Elder Cunningham with just a few hours notice.

"I knew the show, I knew the crew, so I really got to take it all in and realize that one of my childhood dreams was coming true," he said. "Everyone was very supportive, I had a lot of friends there that night. It's just a wonderful evening."

Walnut Hill instructor says Purdy 'loves the work and the process'

Purdy's father, Lincoln, said it was surreal to watch his son's debut on "The Great White Way."

"Some people thought we were crazy to let him go to a theater high school and then let him go to college to get his B.F.A. in music theater instead of a computer degree or a business degree," Lincoln Purdy said. "So it was pretty surreal to see him, you know, at the age of 24 years old actually fulfilling his dream."

As a student at Walnut Hill, Purdy studied under Director of Theater Joe Cabral, who takes pride in seeing his students make it on Broadway.

"(Purdy's) a great young man, he has a keen sense of imagination," Cabral said. "He loves the work and the process."

He said Walnut Hill has had several alumni go on to Broadway, and that it feels great to have students who make it there.

"It's definitely something they've worked to achieve," Cabral said. "It's wonderful when hard work pays off and I'm thrilled for Andrew's success."

Purdy has spoken with Cabral's senior students about his journey from Walnut Hill to Elon and the auditioning process for "The Book of Mormon."

Purdy was among first students at Bellingham's Eleve Danse Center

Daniel Kozar, a theater professor at Franklin-based Dean College, also expresssed his pride in Purdy's Broadway debut.

"I saw him before and after the show," said Kozar, who has known Purdy since the latter was a child; the two acted on the same stage then. "It's wild when you've known him since he was 3 or 4."

When Beth Wildes opened Eleve Danse Center in Bellingham almost 20 years ago, Purdy was among her first students. He studied dance there until he began attending Walnut Hill, but always kept in touch.

"The first time I saw him perform at something other than our performances, I was floored," Wildes said. "He's just always been a talented person, he's so hardworking and has a special gift."

In addition to performing in "The Book of Mormon," Purdy teaches musical theater and group masterclasses. He plans to return to the area on March 27 to take part in the "Reach for the Stars" event at Fenway Park, a fundraiser for the Summer Stars Camp for the Performing Arts.

"It really has been a lifelong goal of his, doing theater and making a living doing theater," Lincoln Purdy said.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Franklin native lands 'The Book of Mormon' gig on Broadway