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The concept of producing a musical revue to benefit a charitable organization was not new to junior musical theatre major Savannah Fouchi. She singlehandedly produced a similar cabaret as a high school junior in New Orleans, but this time she had help from fellow Broncs Olivia Conti and Matthew Angelaccio, both junior musical theatre majors. Conti served as co-producer and co-director, while Angelaccio joined the team as musical director and pianist.

Together, they created Reclaiming the Crown, a cabaret centered on uplifting women through music, storytelling and sisterhood. The production featured fresh interpretations of songs inspired by classic fairy tales and animated heroines.

Fouchi explains that it was important to her to choose songs with women empowerment themes. She wanted to avoid the typical cliché often found in animated movies where the female is rescued by a male or achieves her dream through help from a man.

With an abbreviated timeline, Fouchi and her collaborators were able to produce the one-night-only show by mid-April — less than seven months from its inception. By November, 250 Zoom auditions were scheduled over three days with performers who selected their own music to perform. By February, the set list and the finalists were whittled down to 16 performers who chose songs which spoke to them personally.

“Everyone is a professional. They came knowing their stuff. We trusted that they would,” says Fouchi. “It was so beautiful the first time we came together. We just got to sit and admire one another singing these beautiful songs. Everyone was there for the same purpose and mission. It was a great environment.” 

In addition to producing the show, Fouchi and Conti each performed a song of empowerment. Fouchi sang “Finish the Fight” from Suffs, while Conti performed “Let It Go” from Frozen. Angelaccio accompanied each performer.

The show sold nearly all 150 seats at New York City cabaret venue 54 Below.

Fouchi decided, after meeting with the organization’s founder, to donate proceeds from Reclaiming the Crown to , a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that supports victims of domestic abuse as they rebuild their lives. The performance raised more than $1,000.

“I perform for a career and in school,” says Fouchi. “When you do something every single day, it is very exciting to perform for a purpose and feel like you are doing this for something greater than yourself.”