Tamyra Gray, an “American Idol” season 1 contestant, plays Kate in “If/Then” July 19-24 at Belk Theater.

Theater is where life and art intersect.  

The Broadway musical “If/Then” presented by Blumenthal Performing Arts at Belk Theater July 19-24 illustrates contemporary life in New York through the eyes of Elizabeth. At 40, she moves back to New York to find herself, and the audience follows her in a parallel universe as the show reveals what her life would look like if she made different choices.  

“It’s very empowering,” said Tamyra Gray, who portrays Elizabeth’s friend Kate. “It lets you know that the power really is in your hands. If you are brave enough to really take the time to learn and know what it is that you want for your life and to head in that direction, so many things came happen for you. It’s all up to you, but it’s not up to you to sit there and doubt yourself and to say ‘what if?’ because life does not work and operate on what if.”  

Gray’s character conveys the eternal optimist.  

“Kate is kind of like the person who holds the love in the show,” Gray said. “She believes in the universe. She believes that there is someone for everyone, and that the universe will never fail you.”

An evening of theater can lead to self-reflection and affirmation. “If/Then’s” premise rewards risk-takers.

“In a sense, it kind of congratulates you for being courageous and taking chances in your life, and tells you not to look back with regret, but to look at the lessons that you have learned in your life’s journey,” Gray said. “Take each day, consciously making choices for what you want for your life.”  

“If/Then” challenges the mental cages humans create for themselves, and dares the audience to look at the bigger picture of what future choices could mean.  

“Take a chance on you,” said Gray, an “American Idol” alumnus. “Take a chance on your happiness. Either way, regardless of what the outcome is, you’ll discover something else about yourself. You’ll be a lot stronger. You’ll be a lot smarter. I think ultimately, that is what the journey of life is all about. Each day is a brand new opportunity to do something different for yourself, and to not live life in memory, but to consciously make choices for what you want for yourself.” 

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