DECEMBER 26 • 2024 | 55
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York City, Kohn completed two 
years at West Bloomfield High 
School and then was homeschooled 
in her junior and senior years 
through Dance Dynamics 
Performing Arts Center in Walled 
Lake.
“That journey really shaped my 
career and gave me the confidence 
I needed,” said Kohn, who was cast 
and went out on the national tour 
of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast 
immediately following graduation. 
She has been working ever since.
Over the years, Kohn, now 29, 
has performed in productions at 
New York City Opera, Pittsburgh 
Civic Light Opera, Paper Mill 
Playhouse in Milburn, New 
Jersey, and Merry-Go-Round 
Playhouse in Auburn, New York. 
She was featured in the “Fosse/
Verdon” series on FX. After four 
years on the first National Tour 
of Disney’s Frozen as the Princess 
Anna understudy, Kohn was in 
the ensemble of South Pacific at 
The Goodspeed Opera House in 
Connecticut when she got the call 
for the Beautiful Noise audition.
“I finished South Pacific on Aug. 
11, and I started rehearsals for A 
Beautiful Noise one week later. It 
was crazy,” said Kohn, who is also a 
certified meditation teacher.

BRINGING YOU BROADWAY
Always one to support her 
community, Kohn and her friend 
Emma Degerstedt started a 
nonprofit during the pandemic 
called Bringing You Broadway. 
Their organization produces 
30-minute Broadway shows over 
Zoom for children with autism and 
special needs.
“I try to do that as often as I can 
on the road. It’s very important to 
us to make Broadway and theater 
accessible to everyone,” Kohn said.
For now, Kohn is grateful and 
proud to be in A Beautiful Noise 
in her first lead role, as are her 
parents, four siblings and the scores 
of friends and relatives who are 
planning to come see her perform 
at the Fisher Theatre.
“It’s going to be amazing. I 
have so many people coming — 
including 40 on one night,” she 
said. “Everyone loves the show. We 
have diehard fans of Neil Diamond 
who keep coming back, including 
somebody I met who has seen the 
show 52 times. 
“I believe this show will transport 
you back to those really joyful, 
uplifting, happy moments. It will 
just bring a lot of light and love to 
your life because it’s a musical for 
all ages, all generations. 

DETAILS
A Beautiful Noise runs through Jan. 5, 2025, at the Fisher 
Theatre. Tickets start at $35, including parking and facility fee, 
and can be purchased online at BroadwayInDetroit.com or at 
the box office. For show times, go to the website. 

Hannah Jewel Kohn 
as Marcia Murphey 
and Nick Fradiani 
as ‘Neil-Then’ in A 
Beautiful Noise - 
The Neil Diamond 
Musical

WEEKLY RECIPE

N

othing says “good morning” 
like the irresistible aroma of 
cinnamon rolls baking in the 
oven. It’s the kind of smell that wraps 
you in a warm hug and lures everyone 
out of bed with a smile 
on their faces. This 
holiday season, why not 
surprise your family 
and friends with a batch 
of these tender, flaky 
cinnamon rolls? Topped 
with a rich cream cheese 
frosting (because, let’s be 
honest, that’s the real icing on the cake), 
they’re a labor of love that’s worth every 
minute. So, roll up your sleeves, sprin-
kle that cinnamon magic and make 
mornings a little sweeter — trust us, 
you’ll be everyone’s favorite baker!

GOOEY CINNAMON ROLLS 
Ingredients

For the Dough:

1 cup warm milk

2½ teaspoons instant dry yeast

2 large eggs

1/3 cup salted butter (softened)

4½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

½ cup granulated sugar

For the Filling:

½ cup salted butter (room temp)

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons cinnamon

For the Frosting:

8 ounces cream cheese (softened)

1 stick salted butter (softened)

2-3 cups powdered sugar

Instructions
Prepare the Dough: Pour warm 
milk (not too hot) into a bowl, add 
1 teaspoon of sugar, and sprinkle 

yeast on top. Mix in eggs, butter, 
salt and remaining sugar. Add 4 
cups of flour and mix until just 
combined. Let the mixture rest for 
5 minutes. Dough should still be 
tacky. Add the remaining ½ cup 
flour only if needed. Place dough 
into a greased bowl, cover, and let 
rise for 1-2 hours until doubled in 
size.
Make the Filling: Combine soft-
ened butter, brown sugar and cin-
namon in a bowl. Mix until smooth.
Assemble the Rolls: Turn dough 
onto a floured surface and roll it into 
a 24- x 15-inch rectangle. Spread 
the cinnamon filling evenly over the 
dough. Starting from the long side, 
roll the dough tightly jelly-roll style. 
Cut into 12 slices. Place rolls into a 
greased 9- x13-inch pan. Cover and 
let rise for 20 minutes.
Bake the Rolls: Preheat the oven 
to 350°F. Bake for 20-22 minutes 
or until rolls are golden and centers 
are cooked through. If browning too 
quickly, loosely cover with foil.
Make the Frosting: Beat cream 
cheese and butter until smooth. 
Slowly, on a low speed, add the 
powdered sugar. Mix until creamy.
Once cooled, frost generously. 
Enjoy! 

Gooey 
Cinnamon Rolls

Pam Turkin

