banter
all the world’s their stage Four young local actors make it big in national productions By maura mahoney
Ethan Slater, 24
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Sarah Lasko, 25
Grew up in: Aspen Hill/Twinbrook area of Rockville High school: Rockville High School College: University of Maryland, College Park, Class of 2014 In the spotlight: Lasko is playing Dorothy in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s national tour of The Wizard of Oz, which opened in December and will run through mid-July. “Dorothy is on a journey on which she realizes the importance of family and community. In the last few years, especially, I’ve come to realize how having a community and closeness to your family is what life is about. I love getting to act that story out on stage every night.” Most memorable role: Playing Abigail Williams in the 2011 Ireland tour of The Crucible with The Keegan Theatre. “I got to play a villain—something I don’t get to do very often. You don’t want to become a mustache-twirling, evil-laughing caricature, and I think the way to avoid that is in finding the humanity behind the selfish choices the character makes.” What’s next: Lasko wants to continue working in theater in D.C. and New York City, and also to pursue roles in TV and film. “If Disney ever wants me to voice their next movie princess, I’m in, no questions asked.”
lasko photo by daniel a. swalec for national theatre; slater photo courtesy
Grew up in: Silver Spring’s Woodside neighborhood High school: Georgetown Day School College: Vassar College, Class of 2014 In the spotlight: Slater is playing SpongeBob Squarepants in the preBroadway production of The SpongeBob Musical in Chicago, which runs until early July. “I’ve been really able to delve beneath the cartoon surface and explore SpongeBob’s human core—he has a beautiful innocence and optimism. He sees the good in people even when they don’t see it themselves.” Most memorable role: “I had so much fun playing Leo Bloom in The Producers in high school, and I’ve also always remembered the advice the director gave us: ‘If you have a bad dress rehearsal, it just means you’ll have a good show.’ ” What’s next: In addition to acting, Slater plans to continue writing music, lyrics and scripts for musicals. july/august 2016 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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6/8/16 10:13 AM