Kelli O’Hara

Where: Trust Cabaret at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, 980 Liberty Ave., Downtown.

When: 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Tickets: $70-$80; trustarts.org or 412-456-6666.

Kelli O’Hara, possessor of a gorgeous soprano and a glittery Broadway resume, stretches the boundaries of the Trust Cabaret Series Monday with a season-opening concert at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture.

At 492 seats, the venue has nearly double the seating capacity of the usual Trust Cabaret site, the Cabaret at Theater Square, and befits a star nominated for six Tony Awards and a jubilant Tony winner in 2015 for “The King and I.” 

Ms. O’Hara, a 41-year-old mother of two, spent part of her summer working on a new musical with a couple of first-time, big-time collaborators, composer Tom Kitt (a Pulitzer Prize winner for “Next to Normal”) and writer John Logan (an Oscar winner for “Gladiator”; a Tony winner for “Red”). Upcoming are a concert version of “Brigadoon” at New York’s City Center Nov. 15-19 and her second appearance with the Metropolitan Opera, starting March 15, 2018. She also has joined the cast for the second season of the Netflix teen drama “13 Reasons Why,” expected to be released next year.

Ahead of her Pittsburgh appearance Monday, she answered some questions about those performances and more via email, several with a keyboard smile :)

1. What is it like to be part of the process of originating a role with creators such as Jason Robert Brown (“Bridges of Madison County”), and building a new musical with an original concept, such as you have been doing with Tom Kitt and John Logan? 

Originating a role and building it with the actual writers is a pure gift. Especially with such beautifully collaborative writers as these. I love these types of opportunities anytime I can get them.

2. It was such fun watching you really enjoy the moment and dance off the stage when you won the Tony Award after five nominations. Has having the statue now changed anything?

Well, I’m sure it has, but I don’t know how to name it. It was just such a wonderful gift.

3. You have the concert version of “Brigadoon” coming up with Patrick Wilson, Robert Fairchild and Stephanie J. Block — an incredible cast all around. There was a 2010 concert as well, but the last time it was revived on Broadway was 1980. Why do you think that is?

You know, I think there are many reasons. I think we miss these old scores so much but they are often accompanied by books that were made for another time. The challenge in reviving something is always to find its relevancy now. Perhaps it can be done. Perhaps it can’t. We will see. But love never gets old.

4. Which composer who you haven’t worked with would you most like to see writing for your voice?

That’s a very great question, but there are too many great composers to name just one. I like to keep my options open :). But I know this for sure, I’ll be looking for the lyricist in equal measure.

5. I see you are returning to the Metropolitan Opera next year for “Cosi fan tutte” — set in 1950s Coney Island! After you did “The Merry Widow,” did you hope to make the Met a regular stop, or is it the specific production?

The fact that I am going back a second time is a miracle beyond words. I have no expectations of making “regular stops,” but I am thrilled to be doing this Mozart opera in Italian in a new, nontraditional setting. That was definitely a goal. It’s been a huge learning experience to stretch my muscles again during the preparation so far. I think I’ll just take it one step at a time. And be grateful.

6. The Met was a pioneer in putting its work on screen. What do you think of things like National Theatre Live and BroadwayHD bringing stage versions to the screen?

I am one of those examples of someone who never saw a Broadway show until I was 21 or an opera at the Met until I was 24. Growing up in Oklahoma, that was never possible. I grew up on movie musicals but never saw a live performance on my screen. I couldn’t even imagine what these places were like. I think we need this, desperately. There are so many people who should be invited to the arts this way, and then, perhaps, they will make it a bigger part of their lives.

7. Getting back to your concert here, is there a song you sing in concert that is a personal favorite, and why? Along those lines, how do you put together a song list for a concert?

I change my repertoire in little ways for every concert I sing depending on the audience or the story I want to tell, but every solo concert is personal. And there are definitely songs that I sing in hopes that they represent me as an artist but also as a person. One song I usually include is “Make Someone Happy.” I will include it this time because the sentiment (“love is the answer”) feels really important right now.

8. I know you performed at a gala in Pittsburgh before. What are your experiences of the city and its theater scene?

I played Pittsburgh once while on tour and have performed concerts there over the years as well, but I wish I had more time to experience all it has to offer. When I was in college, one of the most coveted jobs to land was at Pittsburgh CLO, and many of the wonderful artists I worked with in my first years of summer stock and then through my years on Broadway came from the wonderful program at Carnegie Mellon. So I know it is rich with art. I am looking forward to being back!

9. Since Pittsburgh is the home of Carnegie Mellon and Point Park and other university theater programs, is there one piece of advice you give when you hold master classes?

Work hard and nurture and respect your working relationships because it is a very small world. Remember, one job begets a lifetime of jobs, if you play your cards right :), and you never know who might be handing them out :)

10. It was announced that you have joined the cast of the Netflix series “13 Reasons Why,” playing an advocate for victims of bullying. Is that a role that appealed to you, in particular as a mother?

Absolutely. I feel like these issues beg conversation, education and representation. I, myself, am learning and feeling and questioning while working on this project. As a mother, I understand these themes are controversial, but fearing them doesn’t make them go away for me or anyone, and I want to be part of art that confronts and informs and, hopefully, ultimately helps. And the artists working on this project are stellar.

Sharon Eberson: seberson@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1960. Twitter: @SEberson_pg.

First Published: September 21, 2017, 11:00 a.m.