Tamron Hall Show features CCM Musical Theatre student

Last year, UC College-Conservatory of Music student Erin Morton went viral for her performance of Radiohead's "Creep." Since then, she landed the role of Martha Dunnstock in Heathers the Musical at New World Stages and was recently featured on the Tamron Hall Show.

"She turned one small moment into the start of a dream come true," Tamron Hall says in her introduction for Morton. The full interview is available to watch on YouTube. Morton shares her reaction to her viral moment and how it led to job opportunities in her interview with Hall. She also performs "Kindergarten Boyfriend" from Heathers the Musical on the national talk show.

Presented as part of CCM's Jam Band class recital, a clip of Morton's "Creep" performance was shared via CCM Musical Theatre's TikTok account, and amassed millions of views. The day after the performance video was posted, the casting director of Heathers the Musical reached out to Morton to encourage her to audition for the show. Now in her senior year at CCM, Morton's professional credits include her role in the musical and her work on Hulu's "Don't Get High," a comedy that is currently in development. 

Morton sang the viral cover of "Creep" with music arrangement and direction by Professor Sarah Folsom and student Jacob Priddy, a MM Orchestral Conducting major. Priddy performed on piano with fellow students Sophia Troyer, a BM Jazz Studies major on bass; Micheal Dorst, a BM Jazz Studies major on guitar; and Aaron Coffenberry, a BM Jazz Studies major, on drums. Sound production for the performance was by BFA Sound Design and Technology student Reagan Warvel. BFA Musical Theatre student Syndey Short captured video of the performance. 

Through Jam Band, CCM Musical Theatre students have the opportunity to explore many facets of commercial music performance, such as handheld mic technique, creating covers and mashups, using lead sheets, working with instrumentalists, interacting with an audience directly, and performing a wide range of vocal styles. "Not only does Jam Band provide our Musical Theatre students with an opportunity for skill expansion, but also for collaboration between disciplines and community building within CCM and beyond," Folsom adds. 

The Jam Band certainly lead to more professional opportunities for Morton. 

"It's been a dream," Morton told Tamron Hall. "I feel so lucky. Every day I wake up and go to work and this is the dream. This is what I've wanted to do for so long."

Watch Morton's full Tamron Hall Show interview on YouTube. 

Featured image at the top: Erin Morton and CCM Musical Theatre students perform in the college's production of HAIR in April 2025. Photo by Mark Lyons.