Welcome to “My Broadway Hero“, an original FFB series celebrating your favorite Broadway inspirations! Every two weeks, a new Broadway Hero is nominated by you to be featured on FFB with your stories of admiration. We’re constantly discovering the lanterns to light the way on our Fit for Broadway journey, one of these being our Broadway heroes!

This week our Broadway Hero is fierce Broadway princess, Courtney Reed.

Photo by Lumberjack Studios

 So excited to share the amazing testimonies to the inspiration that Courtney sparks daily! Here’s what you guys had to say… (I’ll kick us off!) 

“’I think the best role models for women are people who are fruitfully and confidently themselves, who bring light into the world.’ quoted by Meryl Streep and a perfect description for Courtney. Every time I’m around Courtney, I’m inspired by something new…the way she interacts with people or what she’s wearing or how she carries herself. I’ll never take for granted time spent with her and how influential it is in shaping who I am as a “fierce” female!” -Jane J. 

“I love how Courtney has inspired so many girls and has shown how you can pursue your dreams and come on top with kindness and graciousness. I also love that she makes time for all her fans. She has achieved so much in just 2 years on Broadway. When I got to see her at the stagedoor in New York all of my dreams were coming true. Although I won’t be in a situation where I will have to take time and be patient for people at the stage door, she has inspired me to take time and be patient with the people God has placed in my life.” -Lainey

“Hi ! My name is Jennifer and I’m from Germany. In my opinion, Courtney is a true Broadway hero because she plays her roles, both at stage and tv, with so much passion and love. I saw her on youtube in Aladdin and couldn’t get my eyes off of the video because she lives this role so much. Since then, I love her and her way of acting so much. She plays Jasmine as a brave and strong woman like she’s used to be. And since I love being creative, she inspired me to draw a picture of her as Jasmine which I adore so much.”

Dear Courtney, This is for you :

Love ❤️, Jenny

“Courtney Reed is a Broadway hero because she is one of the kindest, most genuine people I have ever met. Courtney treats everyone exactly the same. Her closest friends, celebrities, waiters, they all get the same amount of respect and kindness. She makes everyone feel so special, and is one of the most selfless people I’ve ever met. Everyone deserves that kind of person in their lives. Courtney loves her job, and knows what an honor it is to play such an iconic role and won’t ever forget it. She exudes love and light and I’m so proud to call her a friend and a hero.” -Abby

“Courtney Reed is one of my favorite Broadway stars ever. I met her a month ago when I went to New York and it is a moment that will live with me forever. Her voice is so beautiful and powerful, and she is one the main reasons why I like Aladdin on Broadway so much. She is so nice and positive all the time, and she inspires me to act the same way every day of my life. Overall, she is just an amazing woman, actress, and singer, and I can’t wait to see her career on Broadway grow.” -Lauryn P.

Photo by Lumberjack Studios

“Courtney is definitely an inspiration for me. She is from my hometown, and Courtney and her family have been *around* my life for a long time (like, a really long time. Her brother beat me in the spelling bee in fourth grade and I’m honestly still a little bitter about it). One of my first memories of her was during a children’s theatre show. She is a bit older than me, so I didn’t know her personally, but she was one of the older kids that all of us looked up to. Not only was she beautiful, had a killer voice, was a great dancer, AND was really smart, she was also incredibly kind. It was easy for the older kids to ignore the little kids during those shows, but not Courtney. She was always so nice to us, and I remember hearing her sing “Thunder and Lighting” and thinking that I really just wanted to be her someday. I still want to be her someday.

I’m still involved in that children’s theatre group from the artistic side, and we did a production of Aladdin in this past fall. She recorded an opening night “break a leg” video just for our cast. Some of them were so excited they started crying. She is helping to inspire a new generation of theatre lovers and I can’t thank her enough for that. I’m happy to see that her kindness has not wavered over the years.” -Lauren T.

Photo by Lumberjack Studios

“Courtney is the definition of a real life princess. She has the biggest heart, a smile that can light up any room, and such a sparkling personality, not to mention an incredible voice. She is so kind to every fan at the stagedoor and on social media, and you can see how much she truly appreciates all the love that she gets. She is one of the most genuine and humble actresses that I have met, and seeing her always puts the biggest smile on my face. She inspires so many people, myself included, to follow their dreams, and I am so grateful for everything that she has done for me. I have been a fan of Aladdin since it opened and seeing how happy and successful she has become while doing this show makes my heart so full.” -Maura

“I can’t explain how much I love courtney. She is the kindest, most sweetest person i have ever met. I’m so grateful that I got to meet such an inspiring person. She is so positive and radiant it’s amazing. Her voice is absolutely incredible; she is truly the definition of a real princess. So thankful that i get to call her a role model. ❤️” -Gabby

Photo by Lumberjack Studios 

Have y’all seen the fun fan shirts for celeb role models? (Hey, Bey & Tay!) Well….I’ve always wanted to rock gear with my favorite Broadway inspirations who inspire my journey so as part of the “My Broadway Hero” series, FFB Apparel will release a limited edition design with each featured Broadway Hero.

Click the pictures above or click HERE to scoop up a “My Broadway Hero” tank (or men’s tee), featuring Courtney Reed. I plan on channeling my inner fierceness with this tank all summer long! (insert salsa dancer emoji)

“Broadway Hero Courtney Reed” OFFERED APRIL 22- May 6 ONLY 

If you’re new to the “My Broadway Hero” series, feel free to click the comment button at the top of this post to add your submission about how Courtney inspires you so she can check them out when she visits this post.

The next Broadway Hero will be featured on May 6th. Comment to nominate Your Broadway Hero or email jane@fitforbroadway.com

CHATTING CONFIDENCE WITH COURTNEY  |  PART 2 of 3

Also, make sure to check out Part 1 of “Chatting Confidence”, an FFB series with Courtney, about confidence! And below Part 2! Basically for this series, we hopped on the phone for an hour and only talked about confidence, here’s what happened……Jane: I feel like one of the biggest ways to diminish confidence, specifically in our industry is comparing yourself to other people.  How do you stay in your lane and keep the mentality, ‘This is Courtney’s lane. I’m not comparing myself to anyone else”?

Courtney: It’s funny how people think that when you walk into an audition room, everyone’s judging each other and they’re not really. A lot of times when you walk into a room, you see a lot of the same people regularly and you support each other. I had a really good friend…we were both up for a really good part on a TV show, and I did’t know she was up for it. I ended up finding out that she booked it and I remember being sad but also thinking “oh, phew. I’m so glad that SHE got it; if I didn’t get it that she got it.” You know? It’s rooting for your team members. The only thing that sucks is when you find out that people who are not really good people are getting things. That’s the hardest. That’s really the hardest. There are so many amazing people in this industry and to have a couple rotten eggs that are getting a lot of stuff, it’s like you guys, you have to be a good person, first and foremost. I feel like most of the time people book things, not just because they’re amazingly talented, but their personality has a lot to do with it. People want to be around them and I think a lot of people get work because they have fun personalities. It’s so important to root for your teammates when you don’t get it though, like “yeah, fierce! I’m glad you got it. I know I didn’t get it, but like, girl, this is fierce for you.”

Jane: It’s such a cool attitude to have towards it. If you’re encouraging them and they get something you want and you’re really excited about it, it just in turn reinforces that they’re going to be cheering you on too! It’s just that back and forth encouragement fueling your journey.

Courtney: Completely. 100%.

Jane: If you had one word to capture where you were five years ago and where you are now in relation to confidence, what would you say?

Courtney: Hmmm. Maybe growth. Because there’s just been so much. People always say you get older and you hit your 20’s, then your mid-20’s.. you start reaching a place where you care less and grow so much more and I think I’ve just grown so much. I keep thinking back at where I was and think “oh my gosh, I’ve grown so much” and you wish that you could go back. That’s why I always think, if people are ever struggling with their confidence, or the way that they look or any of that, we’re so young now! We don’t ever want to look back and say “I wish I would have appreciated the fact that I could take three classes in a day”— that your body could do that! I don’t want to look back- I want to have as much confidence in myself as I possibly can so that I don’t have to regret it later.

Jane: Yeah, totally!

Courtney: I sometimes look back and think “why didn’t I do that?” or “why didn’t I think that?” “why didn’t I give a little bit more in that way?”

Jane: It’s funny because I’ve had people in interviews say, “You know how it is, I was super young and fearless and I didn’t know better so I just did it”, usually in reference to a moment that propelled their career because they took a risk. And I was the opposite. I was always young and timid. I wasn’t the young- high risk type. I’ve grown to understand risk as a positive thing, whereas when I was younger, I was always super cautious and looking back. I wish I would have been like “whatever! I’m gonna do this!” I just didn’t approach life that way. But like you’re saying, you learn along the way how you are and how you’ve always been and how you want to evolve.

Courtney: Yeah, my best friend is actually a huge inspiration in that way! She was a hipster before hipsters existed. She wore whatever she wanted. She doesn’t care at all about what people think about her. Literally at all. She never gets embarrassed. She’s always inspiring me with her fashion… she doesn’t care about what people think. She’s not a person who makes terrible decisions, not like that at all! She was a fashion major and now totally into fitness! She’s an amazing personal trainer. But, she always took those risks as far as clothes go. I remember people saying to her and people will say this to me sometimes because I’ll wear a bold lip or something. They’ll say “you can pull that off. I can’t pull that off.” And I’m like, “no, literally anyone can pull anything off.”. You should never have to feel that way. I had a friend who was saying “I don’t want to wear these heels tonight because I feel like everyone’s going to be wearing flats…” I was like “nobody will ever fault you for looking fierce.” No. If you walk in and you’re overdressed, no one’s going to be judging you for being fierce. Like, never ever. In life. Unless maybe you’re walking in a full evening gown from the Tony’s…

Jane: I mean, so fierce. haha 

Courtney: Yeah, I mean that is ridiculous. But nobody’s going to be judging you for walking around in a heel when no one else is wearing heels. I mean, you look fierce. Own it. You can do anything if you own it. Erin’s been an inspiration as far as that goes, for sure on confidence and owning it and taking risks. Taking risks, as far as with your clothes and make up and anything like that; it parallels in your life. You were saying that you’d be timid about certain things and I think when I was younger, I was like that too. I was more afraid to take a big risk than I was to just…

Jane: Play it safe?

Courtney: Yeah! Just to be safe. Because It’s easier, right?  Then you don’t get any of the  backlash, but why not be strong and wrong?

Jane: Strong and wrong! Yes! I’ve never heard that!

Courtney: You’ve never heard of it?! That’s like, when you’re trying to learn a harmony and you are really timid on it, but people will be strong and wrong all the time. Strong and wrong, honey.

Jane: Obsessed.

Courtney: That’s why I always say it’s the same thing! It parallels your life, right? Everything you do, if you’re trying to work a harmony and you go into it thinking “ ah, maybe they won’t hear me if I mess up.” Why not? Just be strong and wrong.

STAY TUNED FOR THE FINAL INSTALLMENT OF CHATTING CONFIDENCE COMING NEXT WEEK!