Artist Spotlight: Meet Kennedy Holmes and Jonalyn Saxer of ‘Bring It On: The Musical’

The Muny’s summer season kicks off with the high-flying energy of Bring It On: The Musical, and two standout performers are at the top of the pyramid.

For Kennedy Holmes, this production marks a full-circle moment. A St. Louis native and familiar face to Muny audiences, she returns for her 11th season — but for the first time, she’s in a starring role.

“I started out as a Muny Kid and then worked my way up to a Muny Teen,” says Holmes, who appeared last season in Dreamgirls. “And then I was given the opportunity to work in the adult ensemble, which I was so ecstatic about. But this show means so much to me, and it is so special.”

Holmes stars as Danielle, the determined and grounded leader of Jackson High’s dance crew — and she’s joined onstage by Jonalyn Saxer, who returns to The Muny for the first time since starring as Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street. Saxer plays Campbell, a top cheerleader forced to find her place at a new school.

“The Muny is just such an uplifting place,” Saxer says. “Everybody is so excited — everything is so supportive. It just makes you feel like a million bucks.”

We caught up with Holmes and Saxer during rehearsals to talk about cheerleading, their characters and what makes the Muny experience so unique.

Q • Did you have any cheer experience before this show?

Holmes • No, I didn’t. But you know what I would love to do? Maybe like a cheer open gym where they teach you stuff. That would be cool. 

Saxer • Not at all. It’s fun. The University of Kentucky cheerleaders [in the ensemble] are so kind and so supportive, which is really helpful. And every time you come down from a stunt, they’re like, “Yeah, yeah, that was great! You’re amazing! That was great!”

Q • What do you love about playing your character?

Holmes • I love the storyline. I feel like in the beginning, Danielle is on one track — she has school, and her goal is to get to college. And then she gives Campbell the opportunity to come on the crew and changes it to a squad to go to nationals. Because again, her goal is college. I just feel like Danielle is such a sweet character, but she also doesn’t take BS from anybody. And I love that.

Saxer • I love exploring who Campbell is. She’s an average teenager, and she’s kind of like an everyman for all these characters around her while going through her own journey that I think a lot of teens go through. And so it’s very easy to tap into. And I think she’s a little bit goofy. She’s strong. She’s a little bit nervous. It’s all sides of the human person.

Q • Were you a fan of the “Bring It On” movies?

Holmes • I’ve watched all of the Bring It On movies, so I literally am obsessed with that and Cheer and the stories. 

Saxer • I was. I’m pretty sure Bring It On was the first PG-13 movie I ever watched.

Q • What’s your favorite number in the show?

Holmes • “Bring It On” is so fun because I’m being stunted up. So I love that one. And I love “It’s All Happening” — that’s a really fun one. The music’s pretty great. Before rehearsals even started, when I found out that The Muny was even doing the show, I was already listening to the cast recording. And I was just listening to it over and over again. And I’m just obsessed with it. And listening to it in the car. I was like: “I would love to be Danielle. I feel like this would be so great for me.” I was like: “I’m going to manifest. I’m going to do my best. I’m going to train. I’m going to focus at school.” And it’ll all work out the way it’s supposed to.

Saxer • Oh, that’s hard. I really like “One Perfect Moment,” but “We Ain’t No Cheerleaders” is so good. And Kennedy is incredible. I’m trying not to smile at her because I really shouldn’t be, but I’m like, “Oh, that riff” — it makes me all goosebumped inside!

Q • What do you love most about the Muny experience?

Holmes • I really love the people. I feel like the people make it what it is. You know, that Muny magic — just being around everyone, getting to meet new people, getting to see friends that I’ve worked with before. And also still seeing some of the Teens and Kids that I grew up with. Like, just a community vibe and us all working together to give back to the audience. It’s just a great experience, and it’s so fun. I always look forward to the summer just to be able to do this.

Saxer • It’s unlike anything else, and it’s so over the top and incredible in a way that is fantastic. And also, The Muny is just such an uplifting place. Like, everybody is so excited and so supportive. It just makes you feel like a million bucks.

Q • Do you have any preshow rituals?

Holmes • When I was younger, something that I was really bad about was always being like, “Oh, but what if this happens?” Like, there was one time I sang the national anthem. And I was like, “What if I forget the lyrics?” And what did I do? I forgot the lyrics, and I sang the wrong part. So something that I always do is I tell myself good things: “You got this. You’re going to do great. You are going to eat down.” Even if I feel something creeping in, I’m like: “Oh, you got it. It’s going to go great.” And then I also have a handshake with my mom that we always do, every time before I perform.

Saxer • I’m pretty strict with my warmup and getting ready for the show. I think my only rituals are I really make sure to apply deodorant and brush my teeth!