In a quiet corner, tucked behind the heavy curtains that separated her from 1,700 concertgoers, freshman Erin Rigby took a moment to steady herself, mentally performing her piece one last time before being called to the stage. And not just any stage—CNU’s Diamonstein Concert Hall stage—where some of the world’s biggest stars have performed.

Rigby was barely two weeks into her first year, and yet here she was at the Ferguson Center for the Arts, about to perform with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra (VSO), alongside two of her favorite Broadway stars, Erika Henningsen and Santino Fontana. Henningsen originated the role of Sandra Dee opposite Jonathan Goff in the current hit, “Just in Time.” She also currently stars as Jenny in Tina Fey’s “The Four Seasons” on Netflix. Fontana is a multi-award-winning Broadway star who received a Tony for best actor in a musical for the stage adaptation of “Tootsie.” In addition to his many television roles, Fontana is also known for voicing Prince Hans in Disney’s “Frozen.”

“I always breathe backstage,” said Rigby ‘30. “I practice meditation and yoga, so that helps, but I was a little nervous for sure. But I was also thinking, ‘You got this, you’re prepared.’ And everyone working backstage at the Ferguson was cheering me on. All of my friends were in the audience. I felt loved. And really excited.”

The backstory of this opportunity still feels a bit surreal to Rigby. A few weeks before the semester began, she received an email from musical theatre professor Dr. Doug Carpenter, who extended an unexpected and extraordinary invitation: Take the stage with the VSO and perform a song during the world premiere of the show, “Broadway Then & Now” with Henningsen and Fontana.

"I could tell from her entrance audition that she'd thrive in a high-profile setting like this concert,” said Carpenter. “This opportunity was a perfect match for Erin's beautiful soprano voice, and we were excited to showcase the extraordinary talent in our new freshman class.”

Her assignment: to sing a part in the fast-paced song “Getting Married Today” from Stephen Sondheim’s “Company.”

“Initially, I assumed I’d be performing with a bunch of other students. But then he told me it was just me, Erika, and Santino,” Rigby said. “I was a little freaked out—I’ve never performed with anyone famous before. I remember the first rehearsal: Erika hadn’t arrived yet, and Santino was singing and playing the piano, and I was just like, ‘I can’t believe Santino Fontana is playing the piano in front of me, and I’m sitting here watching him.’ It was crazy, and yes, I admit I was fangirling out a bit. And performing with the VSO, which I’ve listened to and admired for some time, felt kind of crazy. Their sound is so gorgeous, and the way they follow their conductor so precisely is amazing.”

“When we work with artists to create new work, such as ‘Broadway Then & Now,’ student engagement is baked in,” said Bruce Bronstein, executive director of the Ferguson Center for the Arts. “From our earliest conversations, we ask ourselves: ‘How do we create the best opportunities for our students?’ Santino and Erika are incredibly generous performers who share our values and vision and love coming to campus. They hosted masterclasses for our musical theatre students that were also open to the public. Ten students received one-on-one coaching and direction from Santino and Erika. Because this concert was so early in the season–the Friday of the first week of classes–we were limited in how many students could perform in the show, since they didn’t have a lot of time to prepare. Still, we were able to provide one solo to Erin.”

“Please welcome a CNU music and theatre student who will graduate in 2030… Ladies and Gentlemen, Erin Rigby!”

“When Santino introduced me, and I stepped on stage, the feeling was insane. I keep trying to come up with better words to describe it, but I haven’t been able to fully capture the moment,” said Rigby. “I just took it all in for a split second - there were so many people in front of me! But it didn’t make me nervous at that point. If anything, I was just like, ‘Okay, let's do this.’ And Erika and Santino are such humble people, and they were so welcoming and supportive.”

Rigby said that when she was deciding on a college to attend, she auditioned at several other prominent universities. But she knew right away Christopher Newport would be her home.

“The first time I was here for an audition, I just felt so much love. A lot of students were helping out with the auditions, and they were so warm and encouraging, telling me, ‘You got this,’ which I unfortunately didn’t feel at the other schools. I felt safe here to just do me and perform my art,” Rigby said.

“I decided I’m going to double major in Music and Theatre. I’ve been a vocal coach for a while, and I love teaching,” she said. “I’ll eventually get my master's in music education or vocal pedagogy. But I also want to perform. Attending Christopher Newport keeps my options open to a lot of different possibilities.”

“To think Erin had only been on campus for less than two weeks of her freshman year and found herself standing in front of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, singing alongside two of Broadway’s biggest stars for a sold-out audience,” said Bronstein. “It’s a unique opportunity, and it's exactly what I mean when I say ‘Only at CNU!’”

When the defining moment finally came, Rigby strode confidently to the stage and took her place in front of the orchestra, next to the two seasoned Broadway stars. She didn’t just keep up; she held her own, soaring through her soprano part with precision and poise. She finished to wild applause, a deep bow from Santino and a celebratory hug from Erika.

Rigby may be a newcomer to the big stage, but that didn’t stop her from grabbing the moment and shining brightly.

“The entire experience was incredible. Truly amazing–I just felt so much support and love in that moment.”