Photos by Ralph Freso
“Props for props,” said Dr. Craig Detweiler, College of Arts and Media dean, which prompted cheering and clapping for the national touring production of Broadway show "Mrs. Doubtfire: The New Musical Comedy."
Grand Canyon University alumnus Pili Fronda visited his alma mater with Tony Award nominee and "Mrs. Doubtfire" lead Rob McClure, Broadway actresses Giselle Gutierrez and Gina Ward, and head of props Will Blair. They spoke to a business entertainment class on how to navigate the entertainment industry.
“It’s an interesting experience to not only be able to come back here but also have a show playing 20 minutes away,” said Fronda of the production, which wrapped up its Phoenix shows Sunday at ASU Gammage. “They can see exactly what is going on in the classroom and how they can transfer to real life.”
Just three weeks before his junior year at GCU ended, Fronda received a call to join "Mrs. Doubtfire" as a drummer on its first national tour.
Fronda initially got his foot in the door when he attended a performance workshop in New York his sophomore year of college. While the show didn’t go far, the same team that worked on that show worked on "Mrs. Doubtfire" on Broadway. Fronda established a connection that would later open doors for him.
“It took time to figure out, but what are you going to do? Say no to this?”
An opportunity like this did not just fall into his lap, Fronda stressed to the room full of junior and senior students looking to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
“I was making sure I was sharpening my tools in the meantime, which doesn’t mean just showing up to class. I was going to practice, finding gigs, playing at Valley theatre with music director Mark Feary all the time. There is a lot that goes on outside of just being in class.
“It came with a lot of preparation," Fronda said.
"Mrs. Doubtfire" on Broadway is approaching its 400th appearance on the road, nationally and internationally.
Alongside 50 cast and crew members, Fronda, McClure, Gutierrez, Ward and Blair have brought fun, laughter and family comfort to audiences. At every location, they are joined by an additional 70 local crew members who temporarily join the team to ensure the show is executed smoothly and successfully.
On most days, the crew will meet at 6 a.m. and work until 5 p.m., when the first sound check starts, Blair said. Most of the day is spent unloading equipment and necessities from five semitrucks while mentoring local crew how to assist in organizing a Broadway show.
“It’s offstage choreography,” Blair said. “Everything in the wing is precisely choregraphed -- where we stand, where they stand, quick changes. It is all measured out every day, and that allows everyone to have a seamless performance if we keep that precision venue to venue.”
Every prop and detail play an important role in major productions, such as "Mrs. Doubtfire," and nothing is onstage without a purpose.
Fronda recalled the moment he saw Blair in his perfectionist element, ensuring all props onstage were carefully organized.
“There is a scene where they are working with butter,” Fronda said. “One day we got replacement butter that is a gram heavier than it’s supposed to be, and I come in and see Will Blair is on a full table with all the butters laid out on a scale, and as he is cutting it, he is like, 'too heavy.’
“It has to be that specific, because one of the dancers is used to, ‘Hey, I am going to throw it this high, this is what my muscle memory is,’ and it’s not going to get to where it has to because not only are they worried about grabbing their props, but there is an audience where he has to emote and sing and do all this other stuff. The math has to be pretty precise behind it in order to be able to pull this off.”
But most importantly, long hours onstage and the road have quickly bonded this crew and allowed genuine friendships to form. Being a family, not only onstage but offstage, has created a sense of home away from home for each of the actors and crew.
“On the road, we go to the same airport, same flight, same hotel, same coffee shops, same restaurants, day after day,” said McClure, who plays Mrs. Doubtfire. “When they say you become a family, it’s not a hyperbole. It’s a chance to bond the way you do in your friend’s basement when you are in high school.”
Students were most interested in hearing how Fronda and Gutierrez, also a college student at the time, managed to stay on top of their college courses while working around the clock on Broadway.
Although Fronda couldn’t resist taking that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join a national Broadway tour, he was certain he wanted to complete his professional performance degree.
“If Giselle Gutierrez and I weren’t doing the show, we were either in the hotel lobby or at a coffee shop,” Fronda said. “People came to get their morning coffee and then came before the show to get their show coffee, and we are still sitting there.”
Fronda completed his degree in 2024 away from GCU while touring in Florida, but he still had his celebratory moment when he put on his cap and gown, and McClure playfully handed him his mailed degree.
Long rehearsal hours and late nights have made everything worth it for Fronda and the cast every night the theatre doors open, and the audience eagerly fills every open seat.
“There is something about the curtain going up on the road where the audience is just as excited to have you as you are (excited) to be in their city,” McClure said. “There is a meeting of gratitude.”
GCU staff writer Izabela Fogarasi can be reached at [email protected]
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