Class Notes: Stephanie Jae Park in Monte Cristo

Summary

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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

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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.

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Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Hi, I'm Lauren Klash Schneider with Class Notes for Broadway Radio. I'm here with Stephanie J. Park, a cast member in Monte Cristo at the York Theater. Welcome. Hello.

[C]

I'm happy to be here.

[B]

Well, let's start talking about this story, which tells the epic story of a man wrongfully imprisoned who returns richer, wiser and bent on vengeance. But as his carefully orchestrated plan unfolds, he must face the ultimate question. Is justice enough without love? You play the character of Heide. Without giving away too much, how does your character play into this musical version of the story?

[C]

Yeah, so it's an interesting character because I think I'm the very last, or I know that I'm the very last character to be introduced in the whole show. So I'm not to be seen until the second half of the second act, basically. And I am a big part of Edmund, who's the Count of Monte Cristo. I'm a big part of his revenge story for who I think is the main villain. There's three villains, but I guess I'm definitely biased because this villain is specifically my character's villain. And so I am a big part of the revenge plan.

[B]

Essentially pivotal and much, much needed.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

What were your impressions when you first read the script and heard the score?

[C]

Um, the score really blew me away. I mean, I don't. I don't remember the last time I've heard original music that is this lush and romantic and grand and epic. And they're earworms, too. And hearing Ciara Boggess sing this and Adam Jacobs, Norma Lewis, kind of the entire cast actually is incredible singers. I was really, really blown away when I first heard the score. The script was really interesting. For me, it's different than the book. And I don't. I did a lot of, like, googling about the book and now especially about my character Heide, because I don't want to spoil the ending, but it's different in the show than it is in the book. And so it was fun to see this epic, epic book condensed down to like pretty much a two hour show. And I think he does an incredible job of condensing every plot point into this, this very short show, I believe.

[B]

Let's talk about these folks. Books and lyrics are by Peter Kellogg, Music is written by Stephen Weiner and it's directed by Peter Flynn. Had you ever worked with any of them before?

[C]

Yeah. So I was brought onto the project by the director Peter Flynn, who I did this Carnegie hall concert with a few years ago with American History Unbound or something. I think that's the name of the company. But he is the kind of person that if whenever he calls, I'm going to do a show with him, like anything he wants from me, I'm there because he's so incredibly collaborative and respectful. And I think as an actor feeling that spirit of respect and collaboration from your director is really special. I think it's something that I was especially needing at the time and has been really refreshing for me again for this process. Because 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, in the chessboard, you know. So yeah, it was Peter Flynn that brought me on and then Peter Kellogg and Steven have just been so welcoming and kind and collaborative with me too. There was some. There's a scene in Act 2 that I do with Ciara that I got to have some say in and that was really healing for me as an actor actually to have say in my character and their intentions and the motives and the scene work and the song and for the writers to listen to that and actually implement changes was really incredible for me.

[B]

I'm so happy for you for that and no doubt for the whole outcome of the piece which it includes an all star cast. Sarah Blagges, who you mentioned, Kate Fitzgerald, Norm Lewis, Adam Jacobs. What is it like working with this group and creating a new musical?

[C]

It's really, really awesome to be in a room of such seasoned vets and newcomers. I mean Kate Fitzgerald and Jaden Lopez I believe are two in their 20s. They're young, they're fresh, they're so good in the show. And then we have Karen Ziembo, who's a two time Tony award winner and Norm Lewis and just these epic people. So it's kind of fun for me. I think I'm right in the middle of these like in the spectrum of newer to the industry and seasoned in the industry. And it's been really fun for me to watch the dynamic unfold but basically everyone is so kind. There's no drama whatsoever. I wish there was drama, but I don't. I love that there is none. But I as. I'm like somebody who likes to be on the outside watching drama, but there's definitely none of that happening. And it's just so supportive. And I just want to say, personally, Ciara has been incredibly inspiring and empowering for me as a role model woman. She was the one who empowered me to speak up about the collaborative character changes in Act 2, and that was huge for me. She's so opinionated, and in a way that's really, really good because it makes her character so much deeper and fuller, and it's been very inspiring for me to watch that. And then Norm Lewis is a fool in the best way. He's so silly. He soaks up the attention. He is like his presence is just huge. And he's such a goof. And it's been really wonderful working with him too.

[B]

We're gonna veer to other parts of your career.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

You played Eliza in that little Broadway hit, Hamilton for five years to great acclaim. What attracted you now to the process of a new musical?

[C]

I mean, I loved being in Hamilton. It was definitely maybe the greatest career gift so far of my life. And the thing is, when I joined the show, it had already been open for five years, and because it was such a hit, these characters, people have very, very strong opinions about the characters, how they should be played, about how they should be sung. And so doing that versus a completely new musical where I can change the key to fit my voice, and I can, as I said, have some say in my character. And that was really, really, really attractive to me in this original show. 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 because I get, again, having sei in my character and being able to custom fit it to me is very, very special and something I don't take for granted after being in this amazing musical. That, again, 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, if that makes sense.

[B]

Of course. Of course. The singer, actor. In addition to your work on Broadway and off Broadway, you're one half of a singer songwriting duo. Tell us about the other half and how all this came about.

[C]

Yeah. So saffron lips, it's me and my man, my partner, Voltaire Wade Green. He's incredible. He's a music producer, a choreographer. He's also an actor, singer. He's a man of many hats. And so basically, over the pandemic, when we were both in Hamilton, we met on tour and he was a resident choreographer, and he was in the original cast of Hamilton, where he was the dance captain. So, basically, once the pandemic happened, it was the first time we were unemployed for a while, which is very lucky to say as an artist. And we had all of this energy and all of this time. And so we finally delved into what, for both of us had been a lifelong dream of ours, which was to actually create music. And so, from the ground up, I took some Berkeley classes online. He did a lot of his kind of independent research about Logic Pro, which is the digital audio workstation. And together, over the kind of one and a half to two years, we ended up writing this album together. It's fine. This album is called Fire to My Air. It's on all the streaming platforms. It's our creative baby, and we're both so proud of it, and we've both grown so much from it. And so we look back on it now, and it's like we're actually in the process of writing a new musical now, and we now have this good language as to how to speak to each other and collaborate and create together. And so Saffron Lips is our little baby. And actually, this. We have a fully functional recording studio that we're calling Saffron Lips Studio. Studio.

[B]

Now, expansion, I think, would be a word to describe you.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And I also have read that among your peers, you're known as Slay. And, yes, I agree. You do slay.

[C]

Oh, my God.

[B]

And, Stephanie, I have to thank you so much for your time.

[C]

Absolutely. It was such a pleasure being here. Thank you.

[B]

I'm Lauren Klasschneider with Stephanie J. Park playing Haiti in Monte Cristo at the York Theater. Thank you.