ASU alum returns home for album release, celebratory concert at ASU Kerr
ASU alum Nick Cartell will release his album "A Thousand Spotlights" on July 26, marking the first date of his concert at the ASU Kerr Cultural Center. Photo courtesy of Jeremy Ryan
After touring with the national Broadway production of “Les Misérables” and performing at ASU Gammage, Arizona State University alum Nick Cartell is returning to his home state to celebrate the release of his latest album, “A Thousand Spotlights.”
The album is set to be released on July 26, marking the first date of his concert at the ASU Kerr Cultural Center — and Cartell’s birthday. The second performance will take place on Saturday, July 27.
Inspired by his years of work in the theater industry, Cartell’s album shares his personal story in the release with covers of famous Disney and Broadway songs.
“Every song that is on that album is something that I love to sing and I have a connection with or a connection to,” Cartell said.
“It really is kind of a love letter to my life and where I am in my career.”
Featuring popular songs such as “You’ll Be in My Heart” and “Never Enough,” Cartell’s music selection aimed to please his fanbase who have followed his work over the years.
However, his fans had one more suggestion. They requested that Cartell add “Bring Him Home” to his upcoming album, a song sung by Cartell’s character Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables,” which Cartell has performed over a thousand times over several years (including at ASU Gammage). Cartell obtained express permission to add the song to his album from the musical’s creators.
“It just feels right to have that song,” Cartell said.
Bringing this song onto the album is significant not only because of Cartell’s history with the musical, but because of his connection with the character.
Before his final callback for “Les Misérables,” Cartell’s mother died from ovarian cancer. In the last few months of her life, his mother, still undergoing chemotherapy, visited him while he was in various productions, something Cartell describes as “sacrifices.”
“I would remember those sacrifices, and I could put that into my Valjean and the sacrifices he would make for (his daughter),” Cartell said.
Years later, when Cartell became a father himself, the character held even greater significance.
“I know what it feels like to have my heart outside my body by having my daughter, and I know the sacrifices that I would make for her,” he said.
Although he now lives in New York, Cartell looks forward to his return to Arizona — the state that he considers home — to perform his album and share the characters and songs that remain important throughout his life.
Tickets for the July 26 and 27 performances of “A Thousand Spotlights” are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com.
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