Theatergoers from all over the world travel to New York to watch “MJ the Musical” on Broadway, eager to experience a live production that brings Michael Jackson’s iconic music, signature dance moves, and journey as an artist to the stage. What they don’t see are the hours of rehearsal and preparation that go into each show, or the people working behind the scenes to make each performance possible.
Last summer, Laura Hollison ’20 was part of that team.
During her final clinical rotation before earning her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, Hollison worked as the student physical therapist for “MJ the Musical,” providing care for actors and dancers before, during, and after shows.
“A lot of my work was making sure the performers were safe to return to the stage. The actor playing Michael Jackson had to dance in penny loafers for the whole show. Imagine what that does to your body after performing in eight shows a week,” says Hollison, who also provided coverage for other Broadway productions, including “The Lion King” and “Ragtime.”
Broadway performers push their bodies to the limit and navigate physically demanding production schedules, making injury prevention and recovery essential for sustaining their careers. Whether she was helping a dancer tape up a sprained ankle backstage or developing rehabilitation plans between shows, Hollison’s goal was to help performers make informed decisions about their health.
“It’s all about giving the patient autonomy while making medical recommendations based on their injury. If I saw something concerning, I gave them advice, but it was their choice on what they wanted to do with it,” Hollison explains. “A lot of times, these performing artists are overworked and underpaid, so for me, creating a safe space for them was really crucial.”
That understanding came from personal experience. Before caring for performers on Broadway, Hollison was a dancer whose own injury would ultimately lead her to a career in physical therapy.
An accident that changed everything
Trained in ballet, jazz, and hula since she was 3 years old, Hollison pursued dance at Santa Clara University, performing in the dance department’s productions and immersing herself in the local performing arts community.
At the same time, she was also considering a career in medicine. She even founded Santa Clara University’s chapter of Delta Epsilon Mu, a fraternity for students interested in healthcare professions.
