Anise Ritchie Talks ‘Menopause The Musical’, Disney’s ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ and 23 Years on Stage

I had the pleasure to talk with Anise Ritchie. The first time Anise auditioned for Menopause The Musical®, she was told she was too young. She thanked the show’s creator, Jeanie Linders, and prepared to leave. Linders stopped her.

“Where are you going?”

Ritchie had assumed the conversation was over. It was not. Linders wanted her to understudy the women who were old enough for the roles. Years later, when Ritchie had reached the appropriate age and the production began expanding to other cities, the calls came. She has now been associated with the musical for roughly 23 years, performing a role she once had to approach from the outside and eventually came to understand from experience.

“Every time I perform it now, I truly understand the lines we talk about, like brain freeze and hot flashes,” she says. “At the time, I had no idea, but now I get it.”

That long relationship captures something essential about Ritchie’s career. Acting has required her to accept that readiness and opportunity do not always arrive together. A role may be right before an actor is right for it. A rejection may clear the calendar for something larger. A production that initially offers a place in the wings may become one of the central commitments of a professional life.

Ritchie was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, in a family that gave her what she describes as a clear moral foundation. Church was central. She sang in the choir, performed solos, recited Bible verses, and appeared in plays. At Cleveland High School, she joined the Cleveland Airs glee club and became the school’s first African American Rose Festival queen.

The performances mattered, but so did the structure around them. Ritchie credits the steadiness she brings to her work to the faith and discipline of her childhood. When the world feels unsteady, she says, she reminds herself to “settle down, be firm, and stay grounded.” She later carried those principles into raising her two children, who now have six children of their own.

After high school, Ritchie moved to California and worked as a Nordstrom buyer while modeling on the side. Her formal entrance into theater began with the technology available at the time: a newspaper notice. She saw an audition announcement for Ain’t Misbehavin’, went to the theater, and won a role.

The audience’s reaction clarified the appeal. People were applauding, laughing, and responding to what was happening onstage. Ritchie came away with a direct conclusion: “My purpose is to make people happy.” She continued auditioning, continued getting hired, and gradually turned performance into a durable profession.

Her credits eventually stretched across Broadway, regional theater, touring productions, and major musicals. She appeared in the original production of Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame and in Leap of Faith with Brooke Shields and Raúl Esparza. She played the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, Erzulie in Once on This Island, Justice in Rock of Ages, Madame Armfeldt in A Little Night Music, and the Acid Queen in Tommy, among many other roles.

The list is extensive, but Ritchie does not speak about acting as a collection of glamorous experiences. She describes it as a business that demands preparation, stamina, and the ability to keep moving after disappointment. She remembers wanting one unnamed role badly and wondering why she had not been chosen. Soon afterward, her agent sent her to audition for The Hunchback of Notre Dame. She got the part.

“It all comes down to timing,” she says.

That belief does not erase rejection. It gives rejection somewhere to go.

In Menopause The Musical®, Ritchie plays the Professional Woman, a sharply dressed business owner who is direct, controlled, and initially skeptical of the other women she meets in a department store while fighting over a black bra. The character gradually lowers her guard as the four strangers form a bond.

Ritchie recognizes herself in the woman’s seriousness. She is direct in her own life, and she treats acting as work rather than an identity she can afford to romanticize. “Acting is my business,” she says. “I take it very seriously, and I never take it for granted.”

The show surrounds the realities of menopause with parodies of familiar songs, transforming “My Girl” into “My Thighs” and private discomfort into communal comedy. Its message, Ritchie says, is that women are not alone. The same is true backstage. Cast members from different parts of the country have built friendships through years of rehearsing, traveling, aging, and performing together. Ritchie says she feels closer to some of them than she does to her biological sister.

Longevity, for her, is supported by prayer, exercise, nutrition, and the discipline to care for a body that must keep meeting the demands of performance. But there is another kind of endurance in her story: the willingness to let a career unfold without pretending it can be fully controlled.

The young performer who was once too early for Menopause The Musical® now stands at the center of it, playing a woman who learns that self-sufficiency has limits. After decades in an industry built on auditions, uncertain timing, and abrupt decisions made by other people, Ritchie has stayed grounded in a simpler purpose. Make people happy. Take the work seriously. Keep going when the answer is no. And when the audience begins to laugh, recognize that the opportunity has arrived.

Yitzi: Anise, it’s so nice to meet you. Before we dive in and talk about your amazing work, our readers would love to learn about your personal origin story. Can you share with us the story of your childhood, how you grew up, and particularly the seeds and genesis of all the amazing creativity that has come since then?

Anise: Oh, wow. That’s a good question. I’m from Portland, Oregon. I was born and raised there, and I had a wonderful childhood. I had great parents who taught me right from wrong. I went to grade school and high school there, and I was even the Rose Festival Queen of my school. I was the first African-American queen of my school back then, which was a really big thing.

My childhood kept me in church, which is where I think my backbone and strength come from. I sang in the choir and performed lots of solos. In high school, I was in the glee club, and we were called the Cleveland Airs. From there, I just thought that music was exactly where I needed to be. I loved doing plays in school and at church, reciting poems, and reciting verses from the Bible. That has really been my backbone and has made me a strong woman today. I keep that close to my heart because when I see what’s going on in the world today, I tell myself to settle down, be firm, and stay grounded in my salvation. I’m very thankful for how I was raised, and that’s how I raised my children, too.

From there, I got married and had two children, a boy and a girl. They are older now, so we are empty nesters. My son has three girls, and my daughter has three boys. My son lives in Portland, Oregon, my daughter lives in Georgia, and I live in San Diego. That’s a whole bunch right there, but I hope that works for you!

Yitzi: Please tell us the next chapter. Tell us how you entered the entertainment industry.

Anise: I entered the industry, as I mentioned, starting back in high school. After I left high school, I moved from Oregon to California and became a buyer at Nordstrom. I saw more opportunities in the Bay Area. Even though I was a buyer, I was also modeling. One day, I saw a notice in the paper (they didn’t have the internet back then) for an audition for Ain’t Misbehavin’. I thought, “Oh my gosh, let me try that.” I went to the theater, auditioned for the show, and got cast.

That’s when I realized there was something about this that I really liked. When I was on stage, the audience loved everything I was doing, as well as the rest of the show. They were applauding because we were singing and dancing, and they were truly loving it. I realized then that my purpose is to make people happy. So, I kept going to auditions, and I kept getting hired. I figured this must be what I am supposed to do, and that is how I got started.

Yitzi: You probably have some amazing stories from your successful career, and I’m sure it’s difficult to single one out. Can you share with our readers two stories that stand out in your mind from your career?

Anise: Oh, gosh. The most important one, I think, is when I auditioned for The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It was a Disney production, and I auditioned for it in Los Angeles. I was nervous because it was Disney. They give you a script and music, not necessarily to memorize, but to use as a reference so you can sing the song during your audition. I went ahead and did that, and the next thing I knew, my agent called to tell me I got the part. I just screamed! I was so excited because I think that’s every actor’s dream, especially when they want to go to the next level and have an opportunity to audition for a company like that. Performing in that show was one of the most joyous times of my life.

I also read for and got a part in Leap of Faith, working with Brooke Shields and Raúl Esparza. That was another experience I will never forget. I have worked on so many wonderful shows and plays throughout my career.

A long time ago, I looked in the paper and decided to audition for Menopause The Musical®. I didn’t know anything about menopause back then. I thought, “I’m young! What is Menopause The Musical®?” I went up to San Francisco and met the writer of the show, Jeanie Linders. I sang for her, and she loved my look and my voice, but she thought I was too young. I said, “Okay, well, thank you so very much.” She immediately asked, “Where are you going?” That was just how she was. I replied, “Well, you said I was a little too young.” She said, “No, no. I want you to be the understudy for the people I’ve hired who are of age.” So, that became another incredible opportunity.

Menopause The Musical® is the one that keeps going and going for me. It is a purpose that captured my life and has been a part of my journey for almost 23 years. I cannot believe it. I wasn’t on stage the entire time since I started as an understudy for a couple of the ladies. However, once I reached the right age and the show expanded to other cities, they called and asked if I wanted to do the shows. Now, here I am. I’ve done other productions too, but Menopause The Musical® keeps on giving. Every time I perform it now, I truly understand the lines we talk about, like brain freeze and hot flashes. At the time, I had no idea, but now I get it.

Yitzi: There is a saying that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Do you have a story about a funny mistake you made when you were first starting out, and the lesson you took away from it?

Anise: Mistakes, I’m sure I’ve made many mistakes. Because I know I’m not perfect. Perhaps one of the mistakes was not auditioning for something I should have, where maybe I could have gotten the part.

Yitzi: There’s another related idea that “no” is a redirection rather than a rejection. Do you have a story where you received a “no” for a part or opportunity, but it led to an even better outcome or greater success?

Anise: Yes, there was a show I really wanted to do. I don’t even need to mention the name of it, but I truly wanted that particular role. I went in and auditioned, and when I didn’t get it, I thought, “Gosh darn it, why didn’t I get that part?” In this industry, you really have to have a strong backbone because you face rejection a lot.

However, as you said, there is often something better on the other side. And there was. I kept moving forward, and soon after, my agent called and asked me to audition for a different project. That turned out to be The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It all comes down to timing. The timing was right, and I am so thankful for how it worked out.

Yitzi: What has been the most challenging project or role you’ve taken on so far, and why?

Anise: Probably playing the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella. That was a beautiful challenge because it’s such a classic, lovely story, and you want to convey it in a deeply caring way. Seeing the children in the audience applauding made me feel like that was exactly where I needed to be. I wanted to be a wonderful godmother for Cinderella, helping her experience all the adventures she deserved, and I was able to give that to her. It was a challenge because I wanted to ensure I played the role with total truthfulness, but it ended up being a fantastic experience.

Yitzi: Let’s talk about your work in Menopause The Musical®. For those who haven’t seen it, please, in your unbiased, objective opinion, tell our readers why they absolutely have to watch it.

Anise: I want readers to know that Menopause The Musical® is a huge celebration for women of all ages. It’s for mature women, young women coming up, and even those trying to understand what their mothers are going through. The show features four very different women who meet in a department store and end up fighting over a black bra. We sing parodies of classic songs from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, like “My Girl” turning into “My Thighs.” The audience recognizes the tunes instantly, and the lyrics keep everyone laughing as a true sisterhood forms on stage. It’s a big party full of laughter and connection.

Husbands should come too! Men often hesitate at first, but many find they really enjoy the show. It gives them a lighthearted way to understand what’s happening at home, like why their wives are dealing with night sweats or sudden mood shifts.

The show has been running for 25 years, including 19 incredibly successful years in Las Vegas, and it’s still going strong. The production feels fresh every night. When women watch it, they realize they aren’t alone in going through this experience because so many others share it. Everyone should come out, laugh, and party with us.

Yitzi: Can you share a story illustrating the camaraderie and sisterhood among the cast? Tell us about the relationships that have developed.

Anise: We come from all over the United States, representing places like California, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, and Chicago, rather than just one specific region. It’s a wonderful group of women. We built a foundation of friendship first, which grew into a deep sisterhood. We connected through learning about menopause together, understanding each other’s experiences, and supporting one another through challenges. Honestly, I feel closer to many of these women than to my own biological sister.

Traveling together allowed me to meet so many incredible people, including the cast members’ families when they come to see the show. It creates a vast community of goodness that feels wonderful. Given everything happening in the world today, coming out to see a group of women who genuinely enjoy each other, their families, and the audience is a beautiful escape. People really just need to come out, sing, laugh, and have a fantastic time.

Yitzi: Tell us about the character you play in the show.

Anise: I play the Professional Woman, who owns and runs her own company. She wears a sharp black suit and is incredibly direct. She tells you exactly how she feels, whether you like it or not. By the end of the show, she lets her guard down and begins to understand the other perspectives around her, which cements the sisterhood.

The dynamic is fun because you have characters like the Iowa Housewife, the Earth Mother (whose crystals and alternative ideas my character initially doesn’t understand), and the Soap Star. My character is looking at them thinking, “Wait a minute, is that really all you do?” It’s an absolute joy to play her.

Yitzi: How would you compare and contrast your personal character, Anise, with the character you play in the show? How are you similar and how are you different?

Anise: I see a lot of similarities because I am also very direct and right to the point. I have navigated my career as an actor for many years. Acting is my business, I take it very seriously, and I never take it for granted. I work hard to maintain a successful career. Because of that, I feel closely aligned with the Professional Woman: she values professionalism, and I always strive to maintain that standard in my own life.

Yitzi: What is the overall message you hope viewers take away after seeing the show?

Anise: The core message is simply that you are not alone. Women all across the country, including all of us on stage, have gone through this or are experiencing it right now. When you share this show with us, we want you to know that you are going to make it through. We build an understanding that we are all navigating this together. It’s a joyful sisterhood, and we love connecting with the audience. When we get to greet people in the lobby after the performance to thank them for coming, they can truly feel that warmth extending from the stage right out to them.

Yitzi: On a personal note, can you share the self-care routines you practice to help your body, mind, and heart thrive?

Anise: For my self-care, prayer is central; I pray a lot. I also make sure to exercise regularly and eat well. If you neglect those things, it quickly reflects in your body, skin, and hair. I focus heavily on nutrition and wellness to support my longevity. It seems to be working, considering I am still performing in Menopause The Musical® after 25 years! It really comes down to a combination of all those practices.

Yitzi: This brings us to our final aspirational question. Anise, because of your exceptional work and the platform you’ve built, it is entirely accurate to say that you’re a person of great influence. If you could spread an idea or inspire a movement to bring the greatest amount of good to the largest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your insights might inspire.

Anise: A movement and an idea? You’re asking a deep question, so I suppose you want a deep answer! I am not entirely certain about launching a formal movement, but I strongly believe people should come together in unity because we are all fundamentally equal. No one is better than anyone else; we all share our human flaws.

For me, everything centers on love. If I were to champion a movement, it would be centered on cultivating love for humanity, for our children, for animals, and for everything in this world. I always remind my family to look up at the massive sky. God’s love is completely boundless, and I tell my children that they will never find the end of my love for them either, because I carry that divine love in my heart. It is an endless love, and spreading that compassion to all of mankind is the ultimate goal.

Yitzi: How can our readers continue to follow your work? How can they see the production, purchase tickets, and support you along the way?

Anise: Menopause The Musical® has its own dedicated website at MenopauseTheMusical.com. You can visit the site to view our tour calendar and see when the show is coming to your local area. We would absolutely love to have you in the audience. You can easily find the ticket information and booking numbers right there on the platform. Our 25th Anniversary Tour kicked off in Laguna Beach, CA at Laguna Playhouse, running now through July 26.

Please don’t miss it if we come to a stage near you; I promise you won’t be disappointed. To keep track of my updates, you can check the show’s official channels where we frequently post behind-the-scenes photos and performance highlights. (Facebook and Instagram @MenopauseTheMusical) Searching for the official Menopause The Musical® website is the best way to see what we’re up to next.

Yitzi: Anise, it has been an absolute delight to meet you. I wish you continued success, good health, and abundant blessings. I would love to catch up and do this again next year.

Anise: Thank you so much for including me in your features and sharing this conversation in print. I hope our discussion inspires people to come experience the joy of the show and gives readers a wonderful sense of who I am, both personally and through the character of the Professional Woman.

Yitzi: You absolutely have. Have a beautiful day, and I wish you continued success.

Anise: Thank you so much, and have a wonderful day as well. Goodbye! Also, I’m so glad you liked my library.

Yitzi: I love it, it’s incredibly impressive. Take care!