Meet Nina White – The Soul of 'The Queen of Versailles'

In the pre-Broadway musical "The Queen of Versailles," Nina White plays Victoria Siegel, the troubled teenage daughter of the titular character, Jackie Siegel (Kristin Chenoweth), and her husband David (F. Murray Abraham). The show centers on the building of an enormous mansion in Florida patterned after Versailles that Jackie pursues is a maniacal zeal, to the detriment of her role as mother, which she consigns to her Filipino nanny Sofia, played with compassion by Melody Butiu.

Victoria is a bit like Elphaba from "Wicked," another Stephen Schwartz musical in which a teenage girl doesn't fit in. Unfortunately for Victoria, there is no magical solution to her issues, and (spoiler alert) in the second act, she passes away from a drug overdose.

The musical is loosely based on Lauren Greenfield's award-winning 2015 documentary that shares its title. But Lindsey Ferrentino's libretto looks at the Siegels' lives both before and after that film. It has a score by Stephen Schwartz, his first since "Wicked," and direction by Tony-award winning (for "Parade") Michael Arden.

Victoria's death came in 2015 from methadone overdose. To this day the grieving Jackie cannot bring herself to pack up her room. Her death led the Siegels to start the Victoria Voice Foundation, which assists parents in dealing with children dealing with drug addiction.

White previously appeared in one show, the Pulitzer and Tony-winning "Kimberly Abimko," both in both its off-Broadway and Broadway runs in which she originated the role of Teresa. But expect her touching performance as Victoria Siegel to be her breakout role. In her two solos – "Pretty Always Wins" and "Book of Random" – she powerfully conveys her growing disillusionment with the excessive lifestyle that had come to define her parents. And, as a queer person, she empathizes with Victoria's feelings of being an outsider.

EDGE spoke to Nina about learning about the Siegels in preparing for the role, working with Kristin Chenoweth and F. Murray Abraham, and being part of a new Stephen Schwartz musical.

EDGE: Please introduce yourself to our readers.

Nina White: My name is Nina White, and I play Victoria Siegel in "The Queen of Versailles," which is currently playing at the Emerson Colonial Theater in Boston.

EDGE: Before getting the role, how much did you know about "The Queen of Versailles?"

Nina White: I had never heard of the Siegels or the documentary before. I had no idea who they were before I got an audition, and it was suggested that we familiarize ourselves with the documentary before sending in the audition video. So, I watched it; it was my first exposure to them.

EDGE: How did you prepare for your role as Victoria?

Nina White: I watched the documentary a handful of times. Victoria's arc in the show is interesting because it's slightly different, and it's not exactly true to what was happening in her life. There was other stuff happening. The writers and director, Michael Arden, talked a lot about how the musical is a representation. We are not doing impressions of anyone in their family. We're making a story out of their lives. I do feel like that's the case with my role. However, a very interesting piece of my preparation is that the Siegels published Victoria's diary, which is a part of the show, so I have had access to her inner life and thoughts through the diary. You rarely have that kind of insight into someone's inner world, real or fictional. It did feel a little bit complicated, morally, to have it. I feel protective over her and want to embody her with the most respect possible.

EDGE: Were you able to have any conversations or input from Jackie?

Nina White: I haven't had any input. I've met Jackie a couple of times, but we've never talked much about Victoria or my portrayal. I've talked a bit with some of Victoria's siblings, and I know it's intense to see someone playing their loved one on stage. I have heard that I'm shorter than she was. They did let me know that. We've never spoken at length about my work in bringing Victoria to life, but they've always been very warm, and they seem to have signed off on it, which is all I could hope for.

EDGE: Do you have a favorite moment on stage?

Nina White: That's a really good question. I have a few, but one that comes to mind is a song I sing in the second act with Jonquil, who Tatum Grace Hopkins plays, and we're burying our pet lizard. We have a really good time having fun with each other during that scene. Tatum is so wonderful, and it feels like a moment of release in an otherwise very intense section of the show for me. Victoria grew up fast in many ways, but that moment feels like she is just a kid.

EDGE: You wake up every morning knowing you will work with Kristin Chenoweth and F. Murray Abraham. What is that like for you?

Nina White: It's both crazy and wild. I have always been a fan of Kristin's, but who isn't? When I first became interested in musical theater in middle school, I spent countless hours watching videos of her. I even wrote a book report on her memoir for a sixth-grade project, and I wrote her a fan letter. After I first got the role, we did a reading, and I couldn't even believe I was doing a two-week reading with her and playing her daughter. Kristin is precisely how you would hope she would be. She is unbelievably hardworking and fastidious. She takes her work seriously, but she's also kind, gracious, and warm. She's so amazing to be on stage with because she's just an incredible actor, and I love acting with her. I also can't believe that I'm doing this show with Murray, who is incredible. He's also a hard worker. He was here throughout the rehearsal process and any downtime. He was always running his lines and walking through on tech days when he wasn't called, but he would always be at the theater, even for the orchestra rehearsals. They both have such a love for making theater, which I think sometimes people lose. Also, they both love being on stage, and they love all of the work that happens behind the curtain. I've just been watching and learning from them.

EDGE: Has that helped you as an actor?

Nina White: Most definitely. They are such amazing examples, and I truly could only hope to be the kind of leader that they are if I were ever to lead a company. I am like a little sponge absorbing everything I can from them.

EDGE: What is it like to sing Stephen Schwartz's music?

Nina White: It's incredible. I can't believe I am part of a new Stephen Schwartz musical. It's very surreal. Stephen is so brilliant, and it's been so amazing to watch his attention to detail. We've had so many little, tiny lyric changes throughout the process. Sometimes, we'll switch back, and then we'll go back to the other version we tried just the other day. I do feel like he cares so much about getting things exactly right, and he's so thorough. He's a genius, and it's been surreal. Mostly, I can't believe I am here. His music is so beautiful. It's so sweeping, and there are so many wonderful genres that play in our score.

EDGE: Are you enjoying Boston?

Nina White: I've been to Boston a few times, but I've never worked in Boston. I'm having a fabulous time. I am someone who feels a little lukewarm about New York, which may be sacrilege to admit. I'm originally from Michigan and I like trees and seeing the sky. I do love so many things about New York, but it's a little tough for me sometimes to live there. Boston's been wonderful because it's a city, and everyone's out and about all the time living their lives, and it's a little bit quieter. I've been riding the blue bikes all over the place, which has been amazing. I will happily work here anytime. I'm a big fan of Boston.

EDGE: How is the LGBTQ+ community going to connect with the show?

Nina White: Another great question. Kristin is going to be a huge draw. Gay icon Kristin Chenoweth. I mean, who doesn't want to see her perform on stage? There's a part of Victoria who I play who has this chronic feeling of not fitting or not being able to herself. She doesn't always feel like she quite fits in. As a queer person myself, I feel like we as a community can really relate to that but also come for Kristin.

"The Queen of Versailles" continues through August 25 at the Emerson Colonial Theatre, 106 Bolyston Street, Boston, MA. For more information, visit the Emerson Colonial website.