The international hit musical SIX is celebrating its third anniversary on Broadway this month at the Lena Horne Theatre, and drummer Elena Bonomo has been with the production ever since its October 2021 opening.
Bonomo is one of the onstage musicians, the Ladies in Waiting, in Lucy Moss and Toby Marlow's Tony-nominated musical about the six Renaissance women who married King Henry VIII. The all-female-identifying band also includes music director Julia Schade, associate music director Valerie Maze, guitarist Kimi Hayes, and bass player Michelle Osborne plus offstage percussionist Mariana Ramírez.
Also a music educator, Bonomo's theatre credits include the first national tour of Waitress as well as Off-Broadway's A Strange Loop and The Hello Girls. She has also been seen as a guest drummer on Late Night With Seth Meyers.
In the interview below for the Playbill series How Did I Get Here—spotlighting not only actors, but directors, designers, musicians, and others who work on and off the stage to create the magic that is live theatre—Bonomo shares her mentor's most inspiring advice and why she wants to inspire young girls to be musicians.
Where did you train/study?
Elena Bonomo: I studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.
Was there a teacher who was particularly impactful/helpful? What made this instructor stand out?
I am still in touch with my private teacher and mentor, Neal Smith. He
saw something in me from the beginning and has been nothing but kind,
supportive, and encouraging over the years. As a student, he pushed me to
be the best drummer I can be during our lessons. I still live by his
greatest piece of advice: "Take care of the music, and the music will
take care of you."
Most Broadway musicians are not seen on stage. Do you enjoy the
visibility?
I love being on stage! For me, it's so much more fun than being in a
pit. I love wearing a costume and being part of the show. I feel very
lucky because drummers are usually isolated in a separate room for
volume control, so to be able to see the rest of the cast, band, and
audience and interact with them every night is truly a blessing!
Why do you believe SIX has been such a hit all around the world?
I think SIX is a hit because it spreads the universal message that each person is unique and that everyone's voice deserves to be heard.
What has been the most special part of performing in SIX with its all-female-identifying cast and band?
The most fun part about being in SIX
for me is that I truly enjoy coming to work every night. Everyone in
our theatre is there to support each other, listen to each other, and
lift each other up. Luckily, it's becoming a lot more common to see
women playing rhythm section instruments like drums, bass, and guitar—so
I hope that one day, we can be an inspiration to little girls who come
see the show so they know that women can be musicians, too!
What is the most memorable day job you ever had?
My
very first job in high school was working as a sandwich artist at
Subway. I tried so hard to make the sandwiches look as pretty as the
poster! I also worked at Hershey Park for two summers in college, where I
played in a strolling percussion group called the Cocoa Rhythm Factory,
and an all-girl rock band called Pattie & The Peppermints (a little
foreshadow to my first Broadway show, maybe?).
Is there a person or people you most respect in your field and why?
There
are many drummers that I look up to who have had a huge impact on how
I've shaped my career, whether it's through personal connections, or
through admiring their talents from afar. Larry Lelli is an
amazing Broadway drummer and has been one of my biggest mentors in the
theatre world. Terri Lyne Carrington is one of my favorite drummers and
was one of the only female drummers I knew of as a kid—which is a big
reason why I wanted to go to Berklee, because she taught there.
Tell me about a job/opportunity you really wanted but didn’t get. How did you get over that disappointment?
I
auditioned for a very high-profile artist about seven years ago. I spent
time reading her autobiography, listening to her entire discography, and
practicing her songs whenever I had the chance while I was on tour with
the musical Waitress. I flew from Florida to NYC on my one day
off to audition, and then flew back to North Carolina to meet the tour
the next day. After all of that, I didn't end up getting the gig. I was
devastated at the time. But looking back, I don't think I was ready.
Even though it was disappointing, I kept reminding myself that it just
wasn't meant to be, everything happens for a reason, and that the right
opportunity would come for me at another time.
What advice would you give your younger self or anyone starting out?
I
would tell my younger self to keep doing what you're doing, because
everything is going to be okay. If we all spent a little less time
worrying and a little more time being present, we'd enjoy the ride a lot
more. It's not just about reaching the finish line because... It's
never-ending, especially if you want to keep growing. It's all about the
journey!
