2025 Music
Broadway and West End's Ramin Karimloo Talks Performance, Faith and the Creative Process with BYU Students
Broadway and West End star Ramin Karimloo visited BYU as part of the BRAVO! Professional Performing Arts Series, offering theatre students a unique opportunity to learn from his extensive experience. Known for his roles as the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera, Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, and Nick Arnstein in Funny Girl, Karimloo captivated students with a Q&A session and performances.
The day before his concerts, Karimloo engaged with students at a personal Q&A in the BYU West Campus Black Box Theatre, where he answered questions about acting, work-life balance, and creative processes. “He was so impressed with their thoughtful questions about acting, preparation, work/life balance, and so forth, and kept telling me that he wished there had been more time and that he could have seen some of the students’ work,” said BRAVO! Series producer and presenter Lyndsay Keith. “He was gracious and humble in his responses and with his time, greeting and taking photos with students afterward.”
Karimloo shared how his love for theatre began after seeing Phantom of the Opera as a schoolboy in Canada. He also reflected on his role as Jean Valjean, noting how the character’s struggle with spirituality resonated with his personal faith journey. “I don’t try to control my creative path anymore. I’m going to stay ready and see where He puts me,” he said.
During the Q&A, Karimloo encouraged students to embrace creative collaboration and the preparation process. His message left many students, like acting major Kendall Wright, feeling inspired and motivated. “Based on his story if how he ended up in the career, it feels like it's an achievable goal,” Wright said.
In addition to his talks, Karimloo debuted The Broadgrass Band, blending bluegrass with Broadway hits. His concerts featured songs from Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables, along with bluegrass classics. Karimloo’s visit offered students an educational and inspiring experience, leaving them eager to pursue their own creative paths.
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