It's rare for any performer to go straight from college to working alongside some of the greatest names in acting and music.

In a just a few short years, Megan Hilty has become one of the most accomplished young talents in Hollywood, with extensive film, television, and stage credits including starring roles on Broadway as Glinda in Stephen Schwartz's Wicked & as "Doralee" in Dolly Parton's 9 to 5: Musical. 

In this interview, Megan answered my call to share:

• Performing Sinatra-era classics at Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops & Ryan Silverman
• The moment her debut album It Happens All The Time finally felt real
• What she hopes fans take away from hearing her music
• Returning to SMASH and exploring Ivy’s next chapter
• Cherished memories from Wicked and lessons learned from Dolly Parton
• Being inspired by Bernadette Peters
• So much more

Connect with Megan: Facebook

Connect with The New York Pops: Website, Facebook, Instagram

Megan returns for Season 2 of NBC's SMASH, which premieres on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 with a 2-hour episode.

She will also be performing with The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall on Friday, March 8, 2013 in Luck Be A Lady: Megan Hilty Sings the Songs of Sinatra and More.

On March 12, 2013, Megan will release her debut CD It Happens All The Time, which will feature fresh interpretations of compositions by such contemporary songwriters as Hogarth (Amy Winehouse, Duffy), Wayne Hector (James Morrison, One Direction), Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette, Wilson Phillips), Ne-Yo and Carrie Underwood.

"SMASH" Season 2 Poster
Photo Courtesy of Megan Hilty's Social Media

1. On February 5, SMASH  is returning for its second season. What have you enjoyed most about starring on this show?  What do you identify most with about your character "Ivy"? What hopes do you have for her this season? I'm really excited about this season because "Ivy's" going through huge changes in her life, both personally and professionally. She's trying to turn it around to the point where she's even questioning whether she's going to stay in the business or not. That's a very real question all of us have gone through. Is it worth it? Is this what I need to be doing? She is just going through a lot of life changes, which adds a whole new dimension to her. That's what I've enjoyed most about playing her.

2. On March 8, you will be performing at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops and Ryan Silverman in Luck Be A Lady: Megan Hilty Sings Sinatra and More. What are you looking forward to most about performing with the NY Pops? I am looking forward to hearing the New York Pops play all this amazing music, which is why I wanted to do this type of concert in the first place. I'll get to hear this amazing orchestra play these big band songs. It's fantastic.

Ryan Silverman
Photo courtesy of Dan Dutcher PR

3. What do you relate to most about Sinatra's music and other songs of that era? What do you enjoy most about singing this music? I love his focus on the lyric. I connect to them more. I think they are beautiful and create such gorgeous images. The songs are more about the arc of storytelling rather than how high you can sing and hitting ridiculous notes [laughs].

4. You are releasing your debut album, It Happens All The Time,  just a few days after the New York Pops concert on March 12. What was it like when you realized this dream was coming true? It's funny because it didn't really happen until recently, when I saw all the artwork come together and we were picking out the layout for the front cover and the back cover and things for the insert, that this was really happening [laughs]. I've been working on the album for nine months now, which I guess is kind of fast for an album, but it just dawned on me this was happening and it's very exciting!

Megan Hilty "It Happens All The Time" CD Cover
Photo Courtesy of Megan Hilty's Social Media

5. What do you hope listeners come away with after hearing your album? It's not a musical theatre album which is what I think people would expect me to do, so hopefully it's not a disappointment, but these are songs I really connect to and I'm excited about the arrangements we put together.

Me (Adam Rothenberg): I think being on SMASH has helped people see you can sing more than just musical theatre.

Megan Hilty: Yes, it has helped and that is what inspired the album in the first place. We started doing pop covers on Smash and that started this conversation between me and Columbia records, "Is this album something I really want to do?" and the answer was yes.

I never really wanted to put out a musical theatre album. Not that I don't love musical theatre albums, I own hundreds of them. For me, I didn't want to do that. It Happens All The Time is the exact album I wanted to do.

Megan Hilty as Glinda
"Wicked" Broadway
Photo Courtesy of Megan Hilty's Social Media

6. You have a legion of fans from starring in Wicked. Looking back, what is the one most cherished memories you hold close to you from the show and would you ever consider going back into Wicked? Absolutely, I'd love to go back into Wicked. I LOVE that show. I spent 4 1/2 years doing it. I actually grew up in that show.

To pick one memory is so hard, but I guess it would have to be making my Broadway debut in a bubble, opposite Idina Menzel. It was one of the most magical and terrifying [laughs] night of my life.

Megan Hilty, Dolly Parton
and Marc Kudish
Opening Night "9 to 5" Broadway
Photo Courtesy of Megan Hilty's Social Media

7. You also got to originate the role of "Dorelee" in the Broadway musical 9 to 5. What was the best part about working with Dolly Parton and what did you learn from working with her? It was really incredible and inspiring to watch how she works. For being a living legend, she is the most down to earth and accessible person you could imagine. She's extremely kind and generous. She's also a great businesswoman.

I came up with this saying while working with her, "What would Dolly do?" because if I ever found myself in a tough situation I would think about how she would handle herself. She always treated everybody with dignity and respect, but she also commanded it for herself. It was a really inspiring thing to watch.

8. How do you stay grounded in an industry that has sometimes lead others down a darker road? Having a great family and friends, and my dogs. No matter how glamorous the day was or what famous people I met, I always go home and have to pick-up poop. That's how I end my days [laughs].

Me (Adam Rothenberg): Very glamorous.

Megan Hilty: Yes, glamour [laughs], but that's real [laughs some more].

Bernadette Peters, Megan Hilty
NBC's "SMASH", Season 1, Episode 7: The Workshop

9. What have you learned about yourself from being a performer? I'm constantly learning new things about myself through what I do. In working on characters, I always have to ask myself how do I connect to this and why do I connect to this or how can I connect to this. I'm continually self-examining myself.

10. What's the best advice you've ever received? Be nice to everybody. That's the only advice I give to people. It doesn't cost you anything to be nice.

BONUS QUESTIONS:

11. Who haven't you worked with that you would like to? I am obsessed with Tina Fey. If I could ever be lucky enough to work on something with her that would be it.

Me (Adam Rothenberg): I think you guys would be great together.

Megan Hilty: Oh my goodness, I got to meet her at the Golden Globes and I almost fainted.

12. Who or what inspired you to become a performer? I became obsessed with Bernadette Peters growing up (which is ironic because now she plays my mother on Smash [laughs]).

I was enamored with her performance in Into The Woods. I must have played that CD a million times and then I got my hands on the videotape and that was it. I wanted to do what she did.

Megan Hilty
Photo Courtesy of Dan Ducher PR

More on Megan Hilty:

Born in Bellevue, Washington on March 29, 1981, Megan was drawn to music from a young age, in part because, as she tells it, she didn't have enough of it in her life. At first, Megan was interested in becoming an opera performer.

After learning more about the rigors of operatic training and the limited opportunities for younger performers, she decided to switch her focus to theatre.

She performed in youth theatre programs in her area and attended the Washington Academy of Performing Arts Conservatory High School in Redmond, Washington.

After graduating, Megan moved to Southern Oregon and spent two years waiting tables and working odd jobs while performing in shows such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Hello Dolly!, Suds, and My Fair Lady (as "Eliza Doolittle") at night.

Megan Hilty on NBC's "SMASH"
Photo Courtesy of Megan Hilty's Social Media

Then at the advice of one of her actor friends, she applied to Carnegie Mellon University and got accepted. She performed in a variety of college and regional productions during this time, including Carnegie Mellon School of Drama's production of Kiss of the Spider Woman (as "Molina's" mother) and the City Theatre production of Cafe Puttanesca. She won the National Society of Arts and Letters competition for musical theatre in 2004, performing "I Can Cook Too" from On the Town and "Simple" from Nine, and also won an "Excellence in Performing a Musical Theatre Ballad" award from the Jerry Herman/ASCAP organization. She received CMU's Charles Willard Award and graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor's degree in Theatre.

About two months before her graduation from Carnegie Mellon University, Megan performed in an agent showcase. She was signed by an agent who sent her to audition for the role of "Audrey" in the touring company of Little Shop of Horrors. She landed the part, but soon learned that the production had decided to move in another direction and that she probably would not be staying in the role.

The agents asked her to travel to New York again, this time to audition for the role of "G(a)linda," the role made famous by Kristin Chenoweth in Wicked. Her audition lasted eight minutes. She was on an overnight bus trip back to Pittsburgh when she got the news: she had been hired as the Broadway company's "Glinda" standby.

After a year as standby (during which she made her Broadway debut opposite Tony winner Idina Menzel), Megan took over as principal "Glinda" in the production in May 2005, working with a cast that included Shoshana Bean as "Elphaba," Rue McClanahan as "Madam Morrible," and Ben Vereen as "The Wizard." Eden Espinosa took over the role of "Elphaba" for the last four months of Megan's run. 

Megan Hilty as "Glinda" & Eden Espinosa as "Elphaba"
Broadway's "Wicked", Photo Courtesy of Megan Hilty's Social Media

Upon completing her run in Wicked on Broadway, Megan performed in the TheatreWorks production of Vanities: The Musical at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts in Mountain View, California. She played the role of "Mary," one of a trio of sorority sisters dealing with coming of age in the '60s and '70s.

Then it was back to Wicked, this time with the touring company. With Shoshana Bean, also a native of the Pacific Northwest, Megan performed the role of "Glinda" in Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, and Toronto, Canada.

While she was finishing up her run as "Glinda" on tour and preparing to open the Los Angeles production, she got a call from Joe Mantello, the director of Wicked. He was directing a workshop of 9 to 5, a musical based on the iconic movie, that was being written by Patricia Resnick (co-author of the film). Dolly Parton was writing the music, and Mantello wanted Megan to play "Doralee," Parton's role from the film. Megan found that the most daunting part of the role was walking in Dolly Parton's shoes.

Megan Hilty as "Doralee"
Dolly Parton's "9 to 5: The Musical"
Photo Courtesy of Megan Hilty Social Media

After the initial 9 to 5 workshop, Megan joined Eden Espinosa as lead in Wicked's standing LA production at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. Megan stayed with the production from its opening in February 2007 until May 18, 2008.

During this time period, Megan and former Wicked co-star Shoshana Bean developed a variety show called the Meg an' Sho Show. She also recorded the song "The Dance" for composer Scott Alan's album Keys.

Megan made guest appearances on numerous televisions series: Shark, The Closer, CSI, Desperate Housewives, The Suite Life of Zach and Cody, and Ugly Betty, and provided the singing voice for "Snow White" in Shrek The Third.

In September 2008, Megan starred in 9 to 5: The Musical's world premiere in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson Theatre, alongside Allison Janney as "Violet" (the Lily Tomlin role) and Stephanie J. Block as "Judy" (originally played by Jane Fonda). Marc Kudisch played the villainous "Mr. Hart" (the role originated by Dabney Coleman).

It was soon announced that the show would be moving to Broadway in April 2009. In between the LA and Broadway runs of 9 to 5, Megan returned to Wicked  in LA to close out the show's nearly two year run. Megan returned to New York in February 2009 to begin rehearsals for 9 to 5's  Broadway debut. Dolly Parton's first Broadway musical opened (after three weeks of previews) on April 30, 2009 at the Marquis Theatre.

Megan Hilty at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards
Photo Courtesy of Megan Hilty Social Media

Megan was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, an Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Actress in a Musical, a Drama League Award, and an Ovation Award for her work in the show.

On September 6, 2009, 9 to 5 completed its Broadway run. In November 2009, Megan made appearances in Wicked Divas with the Cincinnati Pops (her symphonic debut), and participated a staged reading of Richard Rodgers' Two by Two for the Reprise Theatre Company.

Megan had a busy 2010, with roles in the films Bitter Feast, The Happiest Man Alive, and What Happens Next, and a guest starring role on the series Bones. She made her solo concert debut at Feinstein's at Loews Regency in New York on April 26, and recorded the role of the China Princess in the animated feature film Dorothy of Oz.

"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Poster"
Photo Courtesy of Megan Hilty's Social Media

She also performed in the concert David Foster and Friends alongside Seal, Donna Summer, Earth, Wind, and Fire, Martina McBride, Lara Fabian, Ruben Studdard, Ne-Yo, and many more. The concert aired as part of PBS's Great Performances series in 2011.

In 2011, Megan made two guest appearances on ABC Family's Melissa and Joey in the role of "Tiffany," and in 2012, she starred in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at New York City Center's Encores! and debuted as a series regular in the Steven Spielberg-produced series SMASH, which also features Debra Messing, Anjelica Huston, Christian Borle, Katharine McPhee, and Jack Davenport.

On the release of her debut CD, IT Happens All The Time, Megan says, "I want to show a different side of me because it’s the first thing I’ve ever done that’s just me and not attached to any character or story line." 

Steven Reineke
Music Director & Conductor of the New York Pops
Photo Credit: Michael Tammaro

More on Steven Reineke:

Steven Reineke serves as Music Director of The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, as well as Principal Pops Conductor of both the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

A sought-after guest conductor, he appears regularly with The Philadelphia Orchestra and has conducted the Boston Pops, The Cleveland Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Ravinia.

His wide-ranging North American engagements have also included performances in San Francisco, Houston, Seattle, Edmonton, and Pittsburgh.

In addition to his work on the podium, Steven has written more than 100 orchestral arrangements for the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. These arrangements have been performed around the world and are featured on numerous Cincinnati Pops recordings released on the Telarc label.

His orchestral works, including Celebration Fanfare, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Casey at the Bat, are frequently performed throughout North America.

He has also composed many works for wind ensemble, published by the C.L. Barnhouse Company and performed by concert bands internationally.

Originally from Ohio, Steven graduated with honors from Miami University of Ohio, earning bachelor of music degrees in both trumpet performance and music composition. He lives in New York City with his husband, Eric Gabbard.

Steven Reineke conducting The New York Pops, Photo Credit: Johanna Weber

More on The New York Pops:

The New York Pops is the largest independent pops orchestra in the United States and the only professional symphonic orchestra in New York City devoted to popular music.

Led by Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke, the orchestra continues to expand and refresh the orchestral pops tradition.

The New York Pops presents an annual subscription series and birthday gala at Carnegie Hall.

Committed to lifelong learning, the orchestra partners with public schools, community groups, children’s hospitals, and senior centers across all five boroughs of New York City.

Through PopsEd, thousands of New Yorkers of every age and background take part in customizable music programs that combine meaningful education with the joy of music.