BroadwayRadio: Class Notes

Episode: Stephanie Jae Park in Monte Cristo

Date: March 26, 2026
Host: Lauren Klash Schneider
Guest: Stephanie Jae Park
Topic: Discussing Stephanie’s role in the York Theater’s "Monte Cristo," creative processes, and her career evolution.

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Lauren Klash Schneider welcomes Broadway star Stephanie Jae Park, who discusses her role as Heide in the new musical "Monte Cristo" at the York Theater. The pair delve into the process of originating a role in a new production, the collaborative atmosphere of the creative team, Stephanie’s transition from "Hamilton" to new works, and her journey as part of the artistic duo Saffron Lips.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stephanie’s Character and the Story (00:34–01:47)

• Role of Heide: Stephanie plays Heide, the final character introduced in "Monte Cristo," appearing in the latter part of Act 2. She describes her character as pivotal to the revenge arc of the protagonist, Edmund Dantès (the Count of Monte Cristo).

  • Quote:

    “I'm the very last character to be introduced in the whole show... a big part of Edmund... his revenge story for who I think is the main villain... I'm a big part of the revenge plan.”
    (01:00–01:38)

• Musical’s Theme: The story questions whether justice is sufficient without love, deviating from the original book in ways Park finds intriguing.

2. First Impressions & Adaptation of the Book (01:43–02:52)

• Score and Script: Park was impressed by Stephen Weiner’s lush and romantic music and Peter Kellogg’s condensed adaptation of the expansive novel.

  • Quote:

    “The score really blew me away... original music that is this lush and romantic and grand and epic. And they're earworms, too.”
    (01:47–02:10)

• Adapting the Novel: Stephanie noted how the show skillfully condenses the epic tale to a tight two-hour piece, while also updating plot points, especially regarding her character.

3. Collaboration with Creative Team (02:52–04:24)

• Working with Peter Flynn: Stephanie was brought onto the project by director Peter Flynn, with whom she previously worked at Carnegie Hall. She praises Flynn’s collaborative and respectful process.

  • Quote:

    “If whenever he calls, I'm going to do a show with him... as an actor feeling that spirit of respect and collaboration from your director is really special.”
    (03:02–03:33)

• Input on Character: Park describes the rewarding experience of having agency in shaping a significant Act 2 scene:

  • Quote:

    “There’s a scene in Act 2 that I do with Ciara that I got to have some say in... and for the writers to listen... and actually implement changes was really incredible for me.”
    (03:47–04:19)

4. Creating a New Musical with an All-Star Cast (04:24–06:20)

• Cast Dynamics: Park highlights the mix of seasoned veterans (Norm Lewis, Ciara Boggess, Karen Ziemba) and talented newcomers, noting the warm, drama-free rehearsal environment.

  • Quote:

    “It's really, really awesome to be in a room of such seasoned vets and newcomers... everyone is so kind. There's no drama whatsoever.”
    (04:41–05:36)

• Learning from Colleagues: Ciara Boggess helped empower Park to vocalize her ideas; Norm Lewis brings humor and energy to the company.

  • Quote:

    “Ciara has been incredibly inspiring and empowering for me as a role model woman... Norm Lewis is a fool in the best way. He's so silly.”
    (05:46–06:17)

5. From "Hamilton" to New Work (06:20–07:47)

• Transitioning from "Hamilton": After five years as Eliza, Stephanie sought the creative freedom that developing a new musical offers compared to filling a well-established role.
  • Quote:

    “Hamilton was such a great gift, but it was definitely very strict containers as to what I was allowed to do both as a singer and an actor... being able to custom fit [a new role] to me is very, very special.”
    (06:33–07:47)

6. Saffron Lips: Music Beyond the Stage (07:47–09:34)

• Musical Collaboration with Partner: Joined by her partner Voltaire Wade-Green, Park co-founded the singer-songwriter duo Saffron Lips during the pandemic. Together, they learned production from the ground up.

  • Quote:

    “Over the pandemic... we finally delved into what... had been a lifelong dream of ours, which was to actually create music... We ended up writing this album together. It's fine. This album is called Fire to My Air.”
    (07:59–09:07)

• Expanding Creative Ventures: The duo has built a recording studio and is writing a new musical together, reflecting Stephanie’s drive to expand her artistry.

  • Quote:

    “We have a fully functional recording studio that we're calling Saffron Lips Studio.”
    (09:25–09:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Collaboration:

  “Feeling that spirit of respect and collaboration from your director is really special... you feel as an actor like you are a part of the creation of the show and not just kind of a pawn in the chessboard.”
  (03:13–03:33)

• On Artistic Growth:

  “It's kind of a year of original shows for me, which is kind of great for my artistry and bad for my wallet, but really, really exciting…”
  (07:12–07:20)

• On Peer Reputation:

  “I also have read that among your peers, you're known as Slay. And, yes, I agree. You do slay.”
  (Host Lauren, 09:40–09:49)

  • Stephanie’s delighted reaction captures the camaraderie and support among theater artists.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Heide’s Role & Introduction – 01:00
• Score & Script Impressions – 01:47
• Collaboration with Creative Team – 03:02
• Cast Dynamics & Notable Colleagues – 04:41
• Moving from "Hamilton" to New Work – 06:33
• Saffron Lips: Creating Music with Her Partner – 07:59
• Building Saffron Lips Studio – 09:25

Overall Tone & Takeaways

Stephanie Jae Park’s interview is candid, warm, and insightful, reflecting her gratitude for creative agency and collaboration in new musical theater projects. The episode encapsulates her passion for artistry, both onstage and off, and highlights the empowering experiences that arise from supportive creative environments and partnerships.