Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
I recently spoke with Will Riddle, who returns to the role of Buddy Holly in Musical Theatre West’s (MTW) latest production, 'Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story'. We discussed the challenge and thrill of transporting audiences back nearly 70 years to a time marked by racial segregation, the explosive birth of rock and roll, and the remarkable legacy of a young artist who many believed was poised to become the original King of Rock and Roll before his life was tragically cut short.
Musical Theatre West dives headfirst into this pivotal cultural moment with a production that’s both musically charged and emotionally resonant. Running from July 11 through July 27, 2025, at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 'Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story' blends history and rhythm to capture the spirit of a trailblazing musician and the seismic shifts he helped spark in American music.
Riddle, a Los Angeles native and fifth-generation artist, first stepped into Holly’s shoes as a teenager. He reflected on how deeply portraying Buddy Holly shaped his development as a performer. Reprising the role now, years later, he views it not only as a personal full-circle moment but also as a chance to reconnect with the raw electricity of early rock and roll. For him, it’s about more than the music, it’s about reigniting the cultural spark Holly lit in the 1950s. Riddle emphasized that the show’s intensity is discernible, crediting the production’s creative team and cast for capturing the power and freedom of the era.
Backed by a high-energy ensemble, Riddle is joined onstage by performers who not only act but play their instruments live, lending authenticity to blend of classic standards and originals. Omar D. Brancato portrays bassist Joe B. Mauldin, bringing experience from both the stage and the conductor’s podium. Laura Leo Kelly, an Orange County Theatre Guild (OCTG) Award winner, takes on the role of drummer Jerry Allison. Kelly has built a career on emotionally nuanced performances, recently appearing in Broadway-bound productions and international tours.
Making his MTW debut is Justin Mariel Boyd as trumpet player Tyrone. Boyd, whose past roles include lead turns in 'Ragtime', 'Rent', and 'Dreamgirls', adds further vocal and instrumental muscle to the show. The supporting cast also includes Trent Mills, Elizabeth Curtain, Mia Sempertegui, David Kirk Grant, Janaya Mahealani Jones, Chase Ramsey, Ryan DeNardo, and Lauren Han, who are all seasoned performers with diverse credits spanning Broadway, national tours, and regional stages.
Under dynamic direction, the production pulses with the unforgettable hits that launched Holly into stardom with songs like “That’ll Be The Day”, “Everyday” and the unforgettable “Peggy Sue.” But more than just a nostalgic jukebox musical, Buddy paints a portrait of a musician who defied the conventions of his time. At a moment when American society was rigid Holly’s music crossed racial lines and united audiences under a shared sound and a bold, revolutionary act for its time.
With 'Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story', Musical Theatre West doesn’t just bring the music of a legend to the stage; it reignites the cultural flashpoint that made him one. And with Will Riddle at the center, audiences are in for a performance that’s as heartfelt as it is high-voltage.
Follow Will Riddle on Instagram instagram.com/will_riddle_/.
To purchase tickets for 'Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story' at the Musical Theatre West visit: musical.org/events/the-buddy-holly-story or call the box office at: (562) 856-1999.
Musical Theatre West is located at:
4350 E. 7th St.
Long Beach, CA 90804-5546
#buddyholly #oldies #kingofrocknroll #willriddle #musicaltheatrewest #interview #fanboynation
I recently spoke with Will Riddle, who returns to the role of Buddy Holly in Musical Theatre West’s (MTW) latest production, 'Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story'. We discussed the challenge and thrill of transporting audiences back nearly 70 years to a time marked by racial segregation, the explosive birth of rock and roll, and the remarkable legacy of a young artist who many believed was poised to become the original King of Rock and Roll before his life was tragically cut short.
Musical Theatre West dives headfirst into this pivotal cultural moment with a production that’s both musically charged and emotionally resonant. Running from July 11 through July 27, 2025, at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 'Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story' blends history and rhythm to capture the spirit of a trailblazing musician and the seismic shifts he helped spark in American music.
Riddle, a Los Angeles native and fifth-generation artist, first stepped into Holly’s shoes as a teenager. He reflected on how deeply portraying Buddy Holly shaped his development as a performer. Reprising the role now, years later, he views it not only as a personal full-circle moment but also as a chance to reconnect with the raw electricity of early rock and roll. For him, it’s about more than the music, it’s about reigniting the cultural spark Holly lit in the 1950s. Riddle emphasized that the show’s intensity is discernible, crediting the production’s creative team and cast for capturing the power and freedom of the era.
Backed by a high-energy ensemble, Riddle is joined onstage by performers who not only act but play their instruments live, lending authenticity to blend of classic standards and originals. Omar D. Brancato portrays bassist Joe B. Mauldin, bringing experience from both the stage and the conductor’s podium. Laura Leo Kelly, an Orange County Theatre Guild (OCTG) Award winner, takes on the role of drummer Jerry Allison. Kelly has built a career on emotionally nuanced performances, recently appearing in Broadway-bound productions and international tours.
Making his MTW debut is Justin Mariel Boyd as trumpet player Tyrone. Boyd, whose past roles include lead turns in 'Ragtime', 'Rent', and 'Dreamgirls', adds further vocal and instrumental muscle to the show. The supporting cast also includes Trent Mills, Elizabeth Curtain, Mia Sempertegui, David Kirk Grant, Janaya Mahealani Jones, Chase Ramsey, Ryan DeNardo, and Lauren Han, who are all seasoned performers with diverse credits spanning Broadway, national tours, and regional stages.
Under dynamic direction, the production pulses with the unforgettable hits that launched Holly into stardom with songs like “That’ll Be The Day”, “Everyday” and the unforgettable “Peggy Sue.” But more than just a nostalgic jukebox musical, Buddy paints a portrait of a musician who defied the conventions of his time. At a moment when American society was rigid Holly’s music crossed racial lines and united audiences under a shared sound and a bold, revolutionary act for its time.
With 'Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story', Musical Theatre West doesn’t just bring the music of a legend to the stage; it reignites the cultural flashpoint that made him one. And with Will Riddle at the center, audiences are in for a performance that’s as heartfelt as it is high-voltage.
Follow Will Riddle on Instagram instagram.com/will_riddle_/.
To purchase tickets for 'Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story' at the Musical Theatre West visit: musical.org/events/the-buddy-holly-story or call the box office at: (562) 856-1999.
Musical Theatre West is located at:
4350 E. 7th St.
Long Beach, CA 90804-5546
#buddyholly #oldies #kingofrocknroll #willriddle #musicaltheatrewest #interview #fanboynation
