LGBTQ+ Ohio college grad helps bring Tina Turner's music and story to life onstage

_{Photo Credit: Evan Zimmerman for Murphymade}

As the spread of COVID-19 derailed events and productions across the country, musical theater performer Gordia Hayes prepared to graduate from the acclaimed Baldwin Wallace University Music Theatre Program.

With a fresh degree and a good agent, Hayes landed a swing role in the Broadway production of TINA: The Tina Turner Musical.

Now, the out LGBTQ+ performer is set to return to Northeast Ohio — this time on stage at Cleveland’s Playhouse Square.

Tell me about your time at Baldwin Wallace. You’re a really recent graduate?

I graduated in 2021, and it was still the pandemic. It was different. It wasn’t really a graduation.

I identify as a cis gay man, and I’m still figuring out the binary and exploring the other terms on the spectrum and where I fit in. Part of my journey at Baldwin Wallace was figuring out where I fit in to [the work and process] of making theater more inclusive and less whitewashed.

There’s still so much work that needs to be done.

When I started taking [theater and performance] seriously, I didn’t notice a lack of representation. I had already seen different productions and I was in show choir, but it wasn’t until I was [older] that I realized that non-binary people and the LGBTQ+ community and people of color, their stories are being told by straight and cisgender men and women.

And you were always a performer? You always know you wanted to do this?

I grew up in church and I sang in show choir. I was playing football before I got into theater. I was always interested in singing and performing, but it wasn’t until high school that I started taking it seriously.

_{Photo Credit: Gordia Hayes}

What about landing this role? Tell me about that process.

Baldwin Wallace really prepares you. You get agents from the time you’re a freshman until you’re a senior. Our senior project showcase presents you to industry professionals and hopefully gets you an agent.

I was lucky that I found someone that was passionate about building me up a career rather than just getting me work.

I’ve been with him for two years and he’s been sending me into projects that are super right for me. Not just big stuff, but building a name with directors and offices that they can speak to the credibility of my work. That’s how you build your career.

So what exactly is a swing role?

Swing covers all the male ensemble vocal parts. From night to night, it could be different blocking. I could be performing completely different choreography. I could be on a completely different part of the stage from the night before.

When you see a swing or an understudy, just know that the show is in great hands. You’re in for a special treat because they work so diligently to maintain the integrity of the show, no matter what happens. So please uplift them and support them, because you are really in for something special.

The waiting can be so nerve-wracking, but it’s so, so worth it.

That’s actually incredible! What is something you’re excited for audiences to experience when they see this production?

[The show] is a rock n’ roll concert. It covers all [Tina Turner’s] hits and there are all these cool, incredible costumes.

When you come to see the TINA, you’re in for a heart breaking story, because she faced so much pain and heartache and adversity. It’s heartbreaking but it’s also triumphant. She held onto the strong woman she knew she could be.

She’s older, she’s Black and she’s like, “I know I can do this.” She takes hold of her own story. For me, being a person of color, seeing that story on stage is so important. She just didn’t take no for an answer.

I talk to so many young LGBTQ+ people and so many of them are amazing performers with big dreams. Do you have words of encouragement or advice for young LGBTQ+ people?

Absolutely. The best thing you can do is to learn to bet on yourself! At the end of the day, we’d all like to be given a seat. But sometimes you have to build your own table.

You can make your own opportunities. You can write, perform and direct. You will have so many people trying to invalidate your dreams, but you can thrive. You don’t have to struggle.

Anything is possible. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do this. 🔥