How does it feel to be part of such a big thing as the Spring Musical here at North Allegheny? 

It feels great. It’s such a fun experience because I get to work with so many different people. It spans from tech to cast to parent volunteers to directors. The musical has lots of different outreaches and you get to meet lots of different people. That’s the best thing about it. But at the same time, it’s such a tight-knit community, so overall it just feels like hanging out with your friends after school.

From my understanding, The Little Mermaid isn’t the first big production you have been in, correct? 

No, actually Les Miserables was my very first non-elementary school musical production and the one that got me into theater and performance. I was ten years old when I played young Eponine, and if it weren’t for Les Mis, I would not be where I am right now. That experience showed me how fun and exhilarating theater was, and so I started taking classes, dancing, and taking singing lessons. I have now done all four North Allegheny shows: Legally Blonde, Cinderella, 42nd Street, and now The Little Mermaid.  I also do shows at the Wexford Acting Studio. We performed Beauty and the Beast in the fall and then we did Les Mis last year and Oklahoma! the year before. I have done many more shows but I’m not going to list them all because there are way too many.

Why do you think that you were selected for the role of Ariel?

Well, it definitely wasn’t for my hair. My audition went really well this year. I guess Ariel and I have a lot in common in the sense that we both have a big imagination and we’re both dreamers. Those two things really drive Ariel through her journey and it’s also been a huge part of my life, so I definitely see the parallels. When I sang “Part of your World” at the callback audition, it was very natural for me–I didn’t have to force anything.

Do you have a role model or inspiration?  

I was ten years old when I did Les Mis, and at that time the high school kids were the coolest people on Earth, and getting to see how professional they were even though it was just a high school production and how talented they were and how much effort they put into the show really inspired me. It made me feel like I was part of something bigger than myself. That’s what really resonated with me and inspired me to continue. I would say today, though, my biggest inspiration is my little sister. She was born the year I did Les Mis, and getting to see her grow up gives me a new appreciation for that imagination and childlike wonder that we all had when we were younger. I think a lot of that imagination plays into musicals too because the acting has to come from inside you, so getting to connect with her in that way means a lot to me. She always comes to my shows and she looks up to me, so that inspires me to keep with it.

Do you see yourself doing this as a career? 

I definitely do. However, I have always felt like there were two parts of me: there is the side of me that loves science and wants to become a doctor and then there is the side of me that loves to perform and wants to be on Broadway. I want both lives equally as much and, you know, if something comes my way, I’m gonna take it. I’ll definitely be auditioning for things in the future and trying to incorporate performing into my life as much as I can.

What has been your favorite role to play? 

My first role, Ado Annie, was really fun. She was just a wacky character and it made me push boundaries– my comfort level practically disappeared–and I got to work with a lot of older actors so I had some great role models. But I think my favorite character was probably Eponine because when I did Les Mis the first time I played younger Eponine and then when we did it again five years later, I played Eponine. I always felt like Eponine was my true role, so getting to play her was awesome.

Did you ever struggle with stage fright? 

Every time I get on stage. In fact, any time that I don’t experience stage fright I am surprised. When I was around thirteen or fourteen, it got to the point where I struggled to sing because of it. My throat would just close up and no sound would come out, and it was hard to get past that point because I lost a lot of self-confidence. I had those moments where I would go up to perform and I would know I did badly and my parents would try to tell me that I did well even though I knew I messed up. But stage fright was something that musical theater just taught me to deal with. I haven’t gotten rid of it exactly, but I have definitely become better at managing it. I don’t think it will ever go away for me personally, but now I know how to handle it better and not let it affect my performance.

What is your favorite part of theater/most difficult?

There is so much fulfillment in performing. Not really because of what the audience can give you but what you can give to the audience. It’s a really powerful form of art. The singing, the dancing, and the music all combine to become a vivid representation of a message that the writer wants you to see, so getting to send people that message and teach lessons and connect with people is probably the greatest part for me. As for most difficult, the stage fright is up there, and in every show that I do I always have a moment where I think “I’m not going to be able to do this.” It’s hard to keep going after you have that first thought because then you keep thinking it. With every stumble, you tell yourself “I can’t do this. This show is going to go horribly. Why did they cast me for this role? Why did they give me this responsibility?!” But it all works out in the end. So I guess to sum it up, I would say the hardest part is keeping your self-confidence.

What would you say to the kids who want to participate in the musical who think that they won’t make it or are afraid to put themselves out there? 

I would tell them “you never know unless you try.” And I have to say that everybody involved in the musical is so open and accepting. The directors really want you to succeed and to put your best foot forward, and they are some of the nicest people I know. It’s frightening, but the cast will be with you every step of the way. I know backstage all of the cast members are talking to each other, helping each other, and pumping each other up.  So if you are afraid, give yourself a chance to prove to yourself you can do it, and just know that you will have a support team to help you every step of the way!