Hook in Disney’s Peter Pan JR. Those characters were all kind of big, kind of loud and two of them required a muscle suit. What’s not to love?
those folks. I can’t even read music. So I just let the character take control and guide the way!
What advice would you give to kids who want to pursue musical theater?
What inspires you to get on stage? The idea of transporting a family to a different world and doing it without a screen getting in the way (knowing that one of those families is my own family is a nice bonus). There’s nothing like performing for a live audience and watching people react to a story. In my heart, I’m a storyteller. That, in fact, is how I should have answered the question about what I do. In my heart, whether I’m on TV or on a stage, I’m a storyteller.
Learn your craft. Watch people who are really good at what they do. Be willing to be the nameless, faceless Oompa Loompa in the cast. And, for goodness sake, have fun!!!
What has been your most memorable moment participating in a Children’s Theatre show? Again, it’s so hard to pick just one. I will say watching my friend and TCTC stalwart, Dain Paige, perform a number called “Human Again” in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR. after he had gone through some serious health issues is one of the most moving things I’ve ever seen on stage.
What are the differences between being on stage and being on TV? It’s all about the audience. Connecting with people who are just beyond the fourth wall is more intimate than connecting with people on the other side of the screen. I love the challenge of both, though.
Which is more demanding: singing, dancing or acting? Why? For me, singing is the most demanding. Dancing is something I’ve accepted I’m never going to be great at doing. So I just set shame to the side and boogie like no one is watching. Acting is fun. It’s make believe. It’s becoming, for a moment in time, someone else. Singing is just...tough. In a TCTC production there are so many people who are so well-trained and have such unbelievable voices. I’m just not one of
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