The not-so-new girl in town

Since the moment Caroline Portner received her acceptance letter from Syracuse University — a school she’d been praying about getting into after visiting her sister several times on campus — it seems that her dreams continue to come true.

A 2021 graduate of SU’s drama program, Portner’s budding acting career has included several off-Broadway productions and a turn as Sophie in Mamma Mia at a dinner playhouse in Rock Hill, Illinois.

And now Portner’s latest gig has her returning to Syracuse where she’ll take the Landmark Theatre stage as “Amber Von Tussle” in the touring production of Hairspray.

“This is full circle for me,” Portner said. “I remember being a freshman and seeing alums from tours and Broadway shows visiting and talking about their experiences, and hoping that I would get that opportunity one day.

“To sit here almost three years after graduating, it’s truly a blessing.”

Starting as a competitive dancer, Portner hid her gift for singing and love for theatre from her parents until she decided to participate in a talent competition.

“My parents were like, ‘You want to dance, right?’ And I was like, ‘No I want to sing!’” Portner recalled about her childhood performances. “They didn’t know anything about it, but they saw how much joy it brought me and they were the most supportive.”

Portner’s parents’ support didn’t stop there. At every Christmas and birthday celebration, all Portner asked her parents was to see a show on Broadway in New York, or right at the Bucks County Playhouse in their hometown of New Hope, Pennsylvania, about two hours out from the city. Her parents obliged and one of those Broadway show trips became transformative, helping cement Portner’s career trajectory. 

“I was 15 years old when I saw the original Broadway cast of Kinky Boots,” Portner said. “I was in tears and just blown away by the performances of Billy Porter, Annaleigh Ashford and Stark Sands.

“I realized at the end of the day, finding shows that allow me to do everything from making you laugh, cry and feel something, that’s what I wanted to do. That’s also why Hairspray holds a special place in my heart.”

Since November, Portner has been starring in the most recent national tour of the Broadway musical, Hairspray. The musical, adapted from the 1988 film starring Ricki Lake, Jerry Stiller and Divine debuted on Broadway in 2002. The Broadway musical was then turned into a movie that premiered in 2007 starring Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Queen Latifah and Zac Efron.

Portner credits the 2007 film for making her fall in love with the musical, having dreamt of being in the show ever since seeing it. It turns out her dream would once again come true. 

Set in Baltimore in the 1960s, Hairspray follows the story of an overweight teenager named “Tracy Turnblad” who dances her way to the top of the social food chain and makes it onto the popular (yet segregated) dance television program, The Corny Collins Show.

Tracy faces many obstacles throughout her journey, one of which being her main antagonist and wannabe Ms. Teen 1962, “Amber Von Tussle,” played by Portner.

“Amber is your spoiled bratty princess who’s never been told no in her life and lived vicariously through her mother, Velma,” Portner said.

“She definitely doesn’t have the same morals as I do. I had to find a way to tap into her and realize her only thought is, ‘I have to please my mother.’” 

To help process and understand the overarching tones of race and segregation in this period piece, Portner said the producing team organized a meeting with a diversity, equity and inclusion company to help her and her cast further understand their characters. 

“That was crucial for me,” Portner said. “Amber is a product of her environment and her time, and she’s only 16. She doesn’t know any better, she only knows what she’s been taught. And so, it’s been interesting playing with that and finding her quirks.” 

While Portner had to balance the more crucial themes of the musical, she’s also had fun and taken many lessons from playing the resident mean girl. She said she is honored to join the long legacy of Amber Von Tussles, including the likes of Laura Bell Bundy and Brittany Snow, two women who Portner looks up to. Her fellow castmates, including Caroline Eiseman as “Tracy Turnblad,” Josiah Rodgers as “Seaweed” and Sarah Hayes, who plays “Velma Von Tussle,” have also made this a worthwhile experience for Portner. 

“This is by far one of the most talented groups I’ve met in my life,” Portner said. “And seeing how Caroline leads with so much love is inspiring to see every day.”

One of her favorite stops on their seven-month-long tour has been Boston, where she got to perform at the Colonial Theatre. She is also looking forward to their stop in Morristown, New Jersey, where she will be able to see friends, family and teachers who haven’t seen her perform since high school. 

Portner also can’t wait to get back to Syracuse to reconnect with some of her former professors. After taking some time to reflect, Portner said the best advice she received was from Rodney Hudson, a now-retired SU professor whose guidance she still holds dear.

“It’s supposed to be fun,” she said. “In school, we tell ourselves we need to get the perfect grade; we need to do well because this is a job, and it is.

“But why did we get into it in the first place? It’s supposed to be fun.” 

Fun is certainly what Portner’s been having on tour. From the inside jokes she and her castmates were sharing including “rumors about Amber Von Tussle,” to enjoying her favorite scenes from offstage like “Run and Tell That” and “I Know Where I’ve Been,” “Motormouth Maybelle”’s ballad performed by Deidre Lang. Portner said being able to perform all over the country has been a fun and rewarding experience for the entire cast.

“We love our job. This is a show with comedy but also a heaviness for people who come and see it,” she said. “We find that balance in the material and hope people walk away from the show feeling joyful, inspired, and wanting to dance.” 

Regarding what her moves are after Hairspray, Portner hopes just to keep doing what she’s doing and continue to make her dreams come true. 

“I’ve been doing what I love for three years now, and I am grateful to work consistently as a performer. The biggest goal is to make new goals for myself. I could totally tell you my biggest goal is to play Glenda in Wicked on Broadway one day. But ultimately, it’s to grow as a human being and challenge myself in different ways. I am grateful for where I am right now.” 

Portner’s gratitude has taken her a long way. While she looks forward to seeing her teachers and maybe hopping into a dance class during her return to ‘Cuse, she has a few other go-to spots to visit as well. 

“They’re all food related, but I have to get a cookie from Strong Hearts, I need a cupcake from Modern Malt and everything from Stella’s Diner, and pizza from Varsity,” she said. 

Portner will return to Syracuse with the “Nicest Kids In Town” and perform Hairspray at the Landmark Theatre starting Tuesday, Jan. 30, through Saturday, Feb. 3.