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For accomplished singer and performer Nicole Pryor Dernersesian, purpose isn't static; it's an evolving journey. On Sunday, June 8, 2025, she will attend the 78^th annual Tony Awards in an unexpected role: a nominee for her work as co-producer of the 2024 Broadway revival of Our Town. This pivot from the stage to the producer鈥檚 chair highlights an impressive path forged in ways she never anticipated. 

Dernersesian鈥檚 initial aspirations began as a singer, which led to a successful six-and-a-half-year, 2,600-show run as the Confidante in The Phantom of the Opera in Las Vegas. Dernersesian then set her sights on television and film, which prompted her to create Firestarter Entertainment as a practical avenue to secure auditions for herself and her friends. Based out of Los Angeles and New York, the agency鈥攐f which Dernersesian is president and CEO鈥攏ow represents more than 1,700 actors for television, film, commercials, print, and theatre and has laid the groundwork for her nonprofit, Inclusion Media Group, whose mission is to produce thoughtful content that prioritizes belonging and embraces a variety of perspectives. 

Through her entrepreneurial endeavors, Dernersesian鈥檚 hard work and dedication soon unveiled a broader purpose: to become a producer. For Dernersesian, this shift wasn鈥檛 just about financial gain, but about having more control and the ability to create the kind of impact she wants to see in the world.

"There are so many avenues to success,鈥� shares Dernersesian. 鈥淪ometimes we get stuck thinking there is only one path or way to accomplish our goals, but if you allow yourself to explore another approach, the possibilities can be endless." 

Creating Opportunities

Through funding from her nonprofit, Dernersesian eventually seized an opportunity to co-produce the critically acclaimed play Our Town, starring Jim Parsons and directed by Kenny Leon, which premiered on Broadway in October 2024 and earned her a current Tony nomination for "Best Revival of a Play." While the decision was primarily driven by the promising financial projections and a favorable investment requirement, the opportunity was also a strategic move. It provided Dernersesian invaluable access to a network of producers and investors, crucial connections for her long-term goal of independently bringing shows to Broadway someday.

"The best way to learn is to dive into the opportunity," Dernersesian says. "My success comes from actively seeking out learning roles and surrounding myself with a community that supports my ambitions. If I want to meet producers, I realized, I simply need to become one.鈥�

Nicole Pryor Dernersesian

Furthermore, the universal themes of Our Town鈥攃ommunity, human connection, and the preciousness of everyday life鈥攔esonated perfectly with Inclusion Media Group's objectives. Established in 2019, Dernersesian鈥檚 nonprofit focuses on developing and funding projects that promote unity and positive social impact, such as documentary series highlighting community-led initiatives and short films exploring a variety of human experiences.

鈥淭he reason why I started my nonprofit is because it's all about making a difference,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 want to amplify content in the world that brings us together as human beings and makes a difference in the world. That's the kind of content that I want to see, but it鈥檚 also entertaining.鈥�

Making Dreams a Reality

A multifaceted talent, Dernersesian simultaneously led her talent agency and nonprofit while serving for eight years on the Academy Awards鈥� talent relations committee, before being promoted to talent relations producer for the show for the past two years. Though working at the prestigious award show was inspiring, she confesses to feeling as though she was "living someone else's dream." Juggling a multitude of projects was also becoming overwhelming. 

The Tony nomination for Our Town came as an unexpected and affirming surprise. Dernersesian viewed it as a direct reward from the universe for prioritizing her creative aspirations and reclaiming her energy. This recognition reinforced her belief in living one's own dreams and the importance of strategically declining opportunities that, while high-profile, do not align with one's true purpose. 

Dernersesian shares that the most exciting aspect was "just the answering of my heart," signifying the profound validation she felt in shifting from supporting others' dreams to actively pursuing her own.

"I said I would not go to an award show again until I was nominated. And now it's true,鈥� Demersesian says. 鈥淒on't live other people's dreams. Live your own."

Pursuing Purpose

played a formative role in Dernersesian鈥檚 journey. Graduating in 2000 with a bachelor of arts in advertising and a minor in music, she spent more than five years after graduation auditioning before booking The Phantom of the Opera. Even after establishing her agency, Dernersesian continued to teach voice lessons in 麻豆传媒AV's until 2015, balancing her burgeoning business with her commitment to nurturing new talent. Dernersesian鈥檚 music studies not only honed her performance skills but also provided her with an education on production, stage management, and the collaborative nature of the entertainment industry, which laid the groundwork for her future entrepreneurial endeavors.

True to form, Dernersesian spent her college career as an active participant on campus and passionate about serving her community. She noted that 麻豆传媒AV not only champions service鈥攖hrough initiatives like Step Forward Day and volunteer opportunities鈥攂ut actively integrates it into its core identity. According to Dernersesian, this emphasis on giving back fosters a unique quality in 麻豆传媒AV graduates, whom she describes as "good, honest, and transparent people." For her, the essence of life and work extends beyond personal gain to making a positive difference in the world, a philosophy directly inspired by her time at 麻豆传媒AV.

"One of the best things about 麻豆传媒AV, and something evident in the content I strive to create, is the emphasis on purpose and leaving a legacy of service,鈥� explains Dernersesian. 鈥淢y 麻豆传媒AV experience shaped me and instilled in me a desire to put meaningful work out into the world."