Ravens Insider: Broadway musical to Baltimore playoff game pipeline continues with Ravens

[ExtremeRavens]

The Broadway musical to Baltimore playoff game pipeline is strong.

Orioles fans may remember the name Kayla Pecchioni. She fondly became known as “the understudy” for her role as Daisy in the Broadway musical, “The Great Gatsby.” In late September, outfielder Colton Cowser spent his day off at the theater, then homered the following evening against the New York Yankees, helping sew up a playoff berth.

A gleeful Cowser shouted out Pecchioni during his postgame interview from inside a champagne-showered clubhouse. The whole interaction went viral. And days later, Pecchioni was in Baltimore to sing the national anthem for Game 2 of the American League wild-card series.

With her that fall day was Pecchioni’s best friend and cast mate from Hampstead, Maryland.

Samantha Pollino was the one who first showed Pecchioni Cowser’s viral moment. She tagged along to the Orioles playoff game, starstruck meeting Cal Ripken. Now, on Saturday night, she’ll sing the National Anthem before the Ravens’ AFC wild-card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“They messaged me,” Pollino said, “and I was kind of like, ‘This is too much of a dream for me. I’ll believe it when I see it.’”

Hey @orioles, do you need to come back to our party now that you *officially* have reason to celebrate?

Also: three cheers for wonderstudy @kaylapecchioni #broadway #bwaygatsby #orioles #postseason #coltoncowser pic.twitter.com/ZNTAOXI4Wl

— The Great Gatsby (@bwaygatsby) September 26, 2024

Pollino posted the announcement on social media accompanied by a picture of her as a child wearing an oversized T-shirt of Ravens legends Jamal Lewis and Ray Lewis. And a purple hat with a retro logo drowns her peanut-sized head.

“It feels very full circle,” she said. “I always joke, but it’s true, I don’t know that anybody is more proud of Baltimore than I am.”

Pollino went on to make her Broadway debut in 2006 in the musical “Hot Feet” — she was 11 years old. In 2016, she was an original member of the “Hamilton” Chicago cast. And before Saturday, she’s only sang the National Anthem at a few Johns Hopkins lacrosse games and one Yankees game.

The grass field at M&T Bank Stadium might be her magnum opus as sports fan.

After performing in “The Great Gatsby” Friday night, her and her fiancé will train to Baltimore on Saturday morning in time for an afternoon sound check then a primetime kick off with the Ravens’ season on the line.

“I don’t see a world where they don’t go all the way this year,” Pollino said, after offering her own prognosis of the current team led by a “thrilling” Lamar Jackson with Derrick Henry and Mark Andrews each playing at a high level opposite Baltimore’s upswing defense.

Samantha Pollino catching a glimpse of the Ravens vs. Bengals game during a Broadway performance of “Hamilton.” (Courtesy: Samantha Pollino)

Pollino’s fandom is no joke.

She’s been known to stream the Ravens on her iPad backstage. During shows, dressed in full costume waiting to go back out, she’ll be tuned into Jackson piloting the NFL’s best offense. She grew up going to training camp for a close-up view under the August sun. As a college student at University of Cincinnati during Super Bowl 47, Pollino requested a car full of theater kids, “who did not care about football,” turn the radio dial to hear the Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers.

Even Pollino’s first Ravens game was against their archnemesis of the AFC North.

It was 2002, and her late grandfather was in the hospital. The family had Ravens tickets to a late-season game shortly after Christmas. Her mom had to stay with Pollino’s grandfather, but her father and daughter made it to M&T Bank Stadium on a frigid December night.

“I’ve gone to many Ravens and Steelers games since,” she said. “So it feels kind of surreal that I’m going to be singing at one.”

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.

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