by Carrie Hirsch
Beaufortās own Candice Glover, winner of the twelfth season of American Idol, plays the role of āCandyā in the Arts Centerās Southeastern premiere of Saturday Night Fever, based on the popular film starring John Travolta. Gloverās character, donned in platform shoes and glitzy disco duds, belts out upbeat songs and dances alongside āDJ Montyā. Glover, who was launched into the spotlight on television in 2012, began singing as a child at her familyās church on Saint Helena Island.
Glover passionately admits to have been bitten by the musical theater bug and her enthusiasm for her role in Saturday Night Fever is contagious: āIāll do musical theater all day – itās so much fun! I did a Broadway review called āHome for The Holidaysā for about two months, and even though it wasnāt a musical theater show, it still really prepared me for being on stage in front of an audience. We did eight shows a week but weāre doing six here. So I just kind of fell in love with it. The idea of the audience being right there to give you that instant reaction – to cheer or to cry or whatever the case may be and the way we can feed off the audienceās energy.ā Glover has performed for millions of TV viewers and at concert venues, but explains that she still gets nervous. āTo get nervous is a good sign because you want to do a good job. I also enjoy being on stage with Vince Ortega (āMontyā) and the other performers on stage – heās hilarious! He makes me feel a lot more comfortable so I donāt feel like Iām out there by myself! Every night when I finish my performance, itās always in my mind – you couldāve done better. I want to make sure that Iām very good at what Iām doing. My goal in life is to take over the world!ā says Glover, laughing.
In May, Glover released her latest original single entitled āBreak Meā. She also casted and directed the video along with legendary producer Earl Cohen. āIt feels really good that I have creative control over my career because at one point I did not. When I put my first album out after American Idol, that had nothing to do with me. It was just crafted together with me in mind. But I can perform songs that Iāve written like āBreak Meā because I created it from my own heart and my own mind. When we go through dark times, something as beautiful as āBreak Meā can come out of it,ā she adds with a wisdom well beyond her millennial years. The shoot for her new video will be on location on Beaufortās historic waterfront and will feature the permanent highway sign that reads āSt. Helena Island Home of 2013 American Idol Winner Candice Gloverā.
Glover is now planning on how to best give back to her community. āI always say it doesnāt matter where you came from, what matters is where youāre going. Even after I went on American Idol I didnāt know what was in store for me. Iāve always wanted to help young women because Iāve gone through so much. I want to help teach them know what itās like to be confident and what itās like to know yourself.ā
Fame has not turned Candice Gloverās head ā if anything, it has made her appreciate her Lowcountry roots more than ever. āWhen Iām on the road, the thing I miss the most is my grandmaās cooking and I miss my family,ā she says with a smile. āIām really close to my family and I miss being home. But mostly I miss the food!ā
Saturday Night Fever runs through July 29, 2018. Tickets are available at www.artshhi.com or at the box office 843-842-2787.
Photo Credit: Candice Glover and the cast of Saturday Night Fever, Jordan Sturm Photography