Artist Spotlight: Meet Jeanna de Waal of ‘Anything Goes’

Artist Spotlight highlights one Muny star for you to get to know from each of our seven productions this summer.

For the final show in the 106th season, meet Jeanna de Waal, who returns to The Muny to play Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes. The show runs Aug. 19-25 and is proudly sponsored by the Commerce Bank and Commerce Trust Co.

Jeanna famously descended on The Muny for our 2022 production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins.

She originated and received a Drama Desk nomination for the title role in Diana: The Musical on Broadway, which was filmed for Netflix. Other Broadway credits include Sweeney Todd (star-cast standby), Kinky Boots (Lauren) and American Idiot (Heather). Off-Broadway, Jeanna co-starred in Orwell in America (59E59 Theaters) and Carrie (Chris Hargensen, MCC).

Other credits include Waitress (Dawn), Finding Neverland (Mary Barrie), We Will Rock You (London’s West End) and the national tour of Wicked (Glinda).

We caught up with Jeanna backstage after an afternoon of rehearsals for Anything Goes.

Q • How is rehearsal going so far?

A • Well, I'm having a very good time. I definitely knew what to expect this time. My first Muny show was Mary Poppins, and people had said it was a quick process, but I hadn't fully grasped how quick. And things like tech [rehearsal] being pre-teched was a surprise — that it wasn't the usual slow tech, but it was straight to, like, flying immediately. So this time, I definitely reached out to [Choreographer Jared Grimes] before and said, "Hey, can I have some videos?" and came in a little bit more prepared.

Q • You don't have to fly in this show, though, right?

A • But I fly when I tap — just with my tap shoes.

Q • How did you prepare for the role before you arrived here?

A • I learned some of the tap. I watched the movie multiple times and read the play. And I met with the music director, who told me to channel my best Ethel Merman, which I've been doing, and it's been a very helpful note. Really opened up where the character can go, you know? And here we are at The Muny.

Q • What attracted you to this role?

A • Well, I loved my time at The Muny, so I think I just had a good time with the people here and the place and all of that, and I wanted that experience again.

Q • Is there anything you like to do in St. Louis — if you have free time?

A • I always do love the ooey-gooey butter cake. I might go to Blue Strawberry — shoutout — and go see something. I'm not doing a concert this time. And I want to spend some time in the pool.

Go into the Muny rehearsal studio with Jeanna as she sings a selection from "I Get a Kick Out of You" with accompanist Zach Neumann.

Jeanna visits Show Me St. Louis to talk about her role in Anything Goes and why she enjoys returning to work on the Muny stage. Watch the interview