AYAA BONUS Dreamcasting: The Last 5 Years

Hi, everyone! This is an AYAA Bonus Dream Casting. Vincent Pugliese proposed this idea to me and due to the limited cast in The Last 5 Years, I didn't want to make it a normal dream casting. I reached out to a number of people who said they would be interested in the project; the responses of the people who met the deadline and mine are below.

The Last 5 Years is a musical by Jason Robert Brown which tells the story of Jamie and Cathy's relationship on reverse time lines -- Jamie's is in chronological order and Cathy's in reverse chronological order, meeting in the middle for their wedding.

Thank you to Nicholas Hambruch, Bailey Gorman, Sam Primack, Konnor Smith, Lina Cappellano, Carter Palumbo, Mark Munoz, Hank Woods, Alyssa Granger, Vincent Pugliese and Summer Farnsworth for their responses! They gave me their pick for Jamie and Cathy and the songs they would be most excited to hear each actors sing.

Nicholas Hambruch:
Jamie: Nathan Sheppard singing "Moving Too Fast"
Cathy: Brittany Howk singing "Still Hurting"

Sam Primack:
Jamie: Vincent Pugliese singing "Moving Too Fast"
Cathy: Payton Bioletto singing "Summer In Ohio"

Konnor Smith: 
Jamie: Kale Burr singing "Nobody Needs to Know"
Cathy: Jackie Brecker singing "Climbing Uphill"

Lina Cappellano:
Jamie: Kale Burr
Cathy: Jackie Brecker
Both singing "The Next Ten Minutes"

Carter Palumbo:
Jamie: Kale Burr singing "Shiksa Goddess"
Cathy: Jessica Sinodis singing "See I'm Smiling" or "A Summer in Ohio"

Mark Munoz: 
Jamie: Dale Mortensen singing "Shiksa Goddess"
Cathy: Nicole Knox singing "Still Hurting"

Hank Woods:
Jamie: Nathan Sheppard singing "Moving Too Fast"
Cathy: Jessie Jo Pauley singing "Still Hurting"

Alyssa Granger:
Jamie: Kale Burr
Cathy: Grace Napoletano
Both singing "I Could Never Rescue You/Goodbye Until Tomorrow"

Vincent Pugliese:
Jamie: Sam Primack singing "Moving Too Fast"
Cathy: Jessie Jo Pauley singing "A Summer in Ohio"

Summer Farnsworth:
Jamie: Adam Bei singing "Shiksa Goddess" or "Moving Too Fast"
Cathy: Heidi-Liz Johnson singing "Still Hurting" or "I Can Do Better Than That"

Mackenna Goodrich:
Jamie: James D. Gish singing "If I Didn't Believe in You"
Cathy: Heidi-Liz Johnson singing "I Can Do Better Than That" or "A Summer in Ohio"

Okay and I saved Bailey Gorman's for last because he wrote an essay:

"So for Jamie and Cathy, I would love to see Tim Eversole and Adyson Nichols play this. They both have such outstanding voices for the roles. I've heard Tim sing these songs before and he rocks them! I think he could put so much passion and emotion and depth into this character. As for Adyson, she knows how to play different characters so I think she could easily play this character who is in love but is hurting at the same time. She would definitely have the voice for it as well. I've heard Tim sing these but I'd love to see him sing "If I Didn't Believe In You" on stage with costumes, makeup, lighting, and a set. For Adyson, I would LOVE to see her either sing "Still Hurting" or "I Can Do Better Than That." Those songs are beasts in the show and I know they could sing them to their full extent!!"

Thank you to everyone who helped out with this bonus dream casting! We will have a regularly scheduled dream casting on Saturday and it's a WONDERFUL one.

AYAA Dream Casting: Les Miserables (It's a big one!)

So excited for this week's dream casting! I asked a bunch of different young actors from around the Valley to help me dream cast the musical voted on the AYAA Twitter polls last week as the Best Musical of All Time, Les Miserables. Les Miserables tells the story of Jean Valjean, a man during the revolutionary period in France convicted of stealing a loaf of bread. The story of Jean Valjean falls in conjunction with a group of politically-minded students responsible for the June Rebellion. It is the longest running musical on the West End.

On AYAA, I am running dreamcasting two ways:

Self-submitted: If you have a dream cast for a show, send it to me at mackenna.azyoungactors@gmail.com or via Facebook. MUST BE WITH VALLEY ACTORS, NOT BROADWAY HUMANS.
Facilitated by me: I will be reaching out to 4-5 actors/actresses periodically. (I will also be participating from time to time) I will give each of them the same show and see the diverse ways they cast the show. I will only be able to ask you if you are friends with me on my personal Facebook. Same thing, it will be with Valley actors, not people on Broadway.

Today, I present to you one of the "Facilitated by me" types of dream casting. I reached out to a bunch different young actors in the Valley (the biggest group we have done) --  Noah Delgado, Noa Gauthier, Erin Kong, Skyler Washburn, Nicholas Hambruch, Alexia Filler and Mark Munoz -- and asked them to dream cast Les Miserables. Their responses and mine are below.

Nicholas Hambruch
Jean Valjean - Brad Cashman
Javert - Alex Martinez
Fantine - Kayla McLemore
Eponine - Brittany Howk
Marius - Nathan Sheppard
Thenardier - Sam McGhee
Madm. Thenardier - Anasofia Gallegos
Cosette - Jessie Jo Pauley
Enjolras - Me (I so wish I could be a lead in this show since it means so much to me, but i feel like this role would be the most suiting for me)
Gavroche - Asher Angel
Little Cosette - Summer Beckman
Grantaire - Kale Burr

Skyler Washburn
Jean Valjean - Joshua Verne
Javert - Brett Aiken
Fantine - Kathleen Berger
Eponine - Alanna Kalbfleisch
Marius - Skyler Washburn
Cosette - Savoy Graca
Thenardier - Jesse Berger
M. Thenardier - Tracy Payne-Black
Enjolras - Nathan Sheppard
Gavroche - Josh Pike
Little Cosette - Macie Thompson

Grantaire - Brandon Smith

Erin Kong
Valjean - Adam Sowards
Javert - Erin Kong
Fantine - Brittany Howk
Eponine - Janine Colletti
Marius - Alex Kunz
Cosette - Sara Sanderson
Thenardier - Miles Plant
M. Thenardier - Anasofia Gallegos
Enjolras - Lane Northcutt
Gavroche - Chris Reah
Little Cosette - Michaela Okland

Grantaire - Michael Devery

Noa Gauthier
Jean Valjean: Julian Mendoza
Javert: Johnny Robaina
Fantine: Sarah Pansing
Eponine: Noa Gauthier (#1 dream role)
Marius: Vincent Pugliese

Thenardier: Ethan Shaker
Madame Thenardier: Sophia Drapeau
Cosette: Benny Cowans
Enjolras: Sam Primack
Gavroche: Vincent Jacovo
Little Cosette: Mackenna Jacobs
Grantaire: Devon Policci

Noah Delgado
Jean Valjean - Danny Blankemeier
Javert - Noah Delgado (One of my dream roles!)
Fantine - Jessica Sinodis
Eponine - Jessie Jo Pauley
Marius - Hayden Skaggs
Thenardier - Joey Sortino
Madame Thenardier - Macy Wood
Cosette - Benny Cowans
Enjolras - Liam Thibeault
Gavroche - Eric Lundgreen
Little Cosette - Laurynn Allen

Grantaire - Kale Burr

Alexia Filler
Javert - Mark Munoz
Fantine - Alexia Filler (goal role haha)
Eponine - Jessie Jo Pauley
Marius - Tom Muglia
Madame Thenardier - Jessica Sinodis
Cosette - Benny Cowans
Enjolras - Sam Ellefson
Gavroche - I suppose Austin Porter is a little old for the role now...but still.

Grantaire - Hayden Skaggs

Mark Munoz
Jean Valjean: Isaac Dowdle
Javert: Me (#treatyourself) or Steven Enriquez
Fantine: Jessica Sinodis
Eponine: Darian Lorain
Marius: Kale Burr
Mr. T: Joey J. Grado
Mrs. T: Macy Wood
Cosette: Benny Cowans
Enjolras: Devon Polici
Gavroche: Casey Likes
Little Cosette: Hailey Palmer

Grantaire: Anson Romney

Mackenna Goodrich
Jean Valjean: Tucker Abney
Javert: Nicholas Hambruch
Fantine: Jackie Brecker
Eponine: Me or Chloe Santos
Marius: Kale Burr
Thenardier: Joey Grado
Madame Thenardier: Jessica Sinodis
Cosette: Emma Welch
Enjolras: Vincent Pugliese
Gavroche: Asher Angel
Little Cosette: Madeline Riggs
Grantaire: Nate Dutson

Thank you everyone! There will be a normal dream casting next weekend as well as a bonus dream casting sometime this week!

AYAA Survery: Twitter Polls

Hello, everyone!

So last night, I tweeted out a bunch of different polls on my Twitter account on theatre related topics. Thank you to everyone who participated and answered the polls. Today, I want to share with you the results. Hopefully, this will shed some light on the theatre opinions in our community.


#1. Best female role in musical theatre

• Elphaba in Wicked - 34%
• Christine Daae in Phantom of the Opera - 11%
• Eponine in Les Miserables - 31%
• Belle in Beauty and the Beast - 24%

Well, the Elphabas have it, closely followed by Eponine. If I had a vote, I would have gone with Eponine.

#2. Musical you want to see made into a movie

• Book of Mormon - 41%
• Spring Awakening - 14%
• Fun Home - 13%
• In the Heights - 32%

People love Book of Mormon! I think it would make a nice movie, but I've had a lot of dreams about a Spring Awakening movie. 

#3. Best leading man on Broadway

• Aaron Tveit - 30%
• Jeremy Jordan - 24%
• Ramin Karimloo - 14%
• Jonathan Groff - 28%

The Tveit love is still alive and well even though he hasn't been on Broadway in a while. He was most recently in Grease Live here in the states, but spent a few months as John Wilkes Booth in Assassins off-West End. I'm in agreeance with this one.

#4. Best modern Broadway lady

• Laura Osnes - 18%
• Idina Menzel - 33%
• Sutton Foster - 32%
• Audra McDonald - 17%

This was a super tight race! But in the end, Idina won out. I am not a fan of Idina and have to go with Audra McDonald here.

#5. Best Andrew Lloyd Weber musical

• The Phantom of the Opera - 63%
• Cats - 15%
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - 12%
• Evita - 10%

Not a surprise here: the longest running Broadway musical has it. This one wasn't even close. I actually don't like Phantom and am much more of an Evita fan, but c'mon! this wasn't a contest.

#6. I am most excited for _________ to be on Broadway

• American Psycho - 48%
• The Crucible - 17%
• Waitress - 14%
• Tuck Everlasting - 21%

YES AMERICAN PSYCHO! What a great movie and it's a Duncan Sheik musical and AHHHH! I'm going to New York soon and I won't be able to see it, but I am seeing Tuck Everlasting which is also super exciting.

#7. Best play of the 2010s

• Peter and the Starcatcher - 39%
• Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime - 25%
• War Horse - 25%
• All the Way - 11%

Yep, the fun, fantasy play has it. It's a beautiful story. I'm partial to Curious Dog, but I can totally see why Peter won.

#8. Dream role in Hamilton

• Alexander Hamilton - 22%
• Aaron Burr - 13%
• One of the Schuyler sisters - 50%
• King George - 15%

Alright, granted it's three roles to choose from instead of just one, but the Schuyler sisters have it. Out of these choices, I'd pick Burr, but I would actually love to be Jefferson/Lafayette.

#9. Best musical of the 2000s

• Wicked - 35%
• Next to Normal - 12%
• Spring Awakening - 15%
• Book of Mormon - 38%

I am actually surprised by this! Wicked is such a megamusical that I thought for sure it would blow away the competition. But no! it's Book of Mormon that comes out on top. Even though Spring Awakening is one of my favorite shows, I think Book of Mormon wins this one because like Hamilton, people outside of just the normal theatre circle love Book of Mormon.

#10. Best Broadway flop that deserves a comeback

• Bonnie and Clyde - 63%
• Bridges of Madison County - 6%
• Big Fish - 30%
• Parade - 1%

Bonnie and Clyde blew away the rest of the competition! One of the biggest wins by far. However, I have to disagree; I would rather see Big Fish remount. I think with a few tweaks, it could be a really successful show with stronger themes than Bonnie and Clyde.

#11. Best Disney musical

• Beauty and the Beast - 17%
• The Lion King - 29%
• Aladdin - 32%
• The Little Mermaid - 22%

Aladdin wins it! The Lion King has been such a Broadway staple for such a long time that I find this surprising. I definitely prefer the Aladdin movie, but I don't know about the musical... The ingenuity of Lion King holds a special place in my heart. 

#12. Best Stephen Sondheim musical

• Into the Woods - 42%
• Sweeney Todd - 17%
• Company - 10%
• West Side Story - 31%

Into the Woods is the victor here. It was actually back and forth between West Side Story and Into the Woods for a while, but Into the Woods definitely pulled ahead. I guess I agree with this one. I like West Side Story better, but considering Sondheim only wrote the lyrics for West Side, I'll give it Into the Woods.

#13. Best musical written by an otherwise famous person

• Kinky Boots (Cyndi Lauper) - 34%
• Lion King (Elton John) - 50%
• Bright Star (Steve Martin) - 3%
• Spamalot (Eric Idle) - 13%

Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba! Lion King for the win! I'm partial to Kinky Boots, but Lion King obviously has a lot of love since it has been on Broadway for this long. We'll also see how Bright Star fares once it opens on Broadway.

#14. Best musical with teen angst

• Heathers - 40%
• Spring Awakening - 13%
• American Idiot - 16%
• Footloose - 31%

Heathers was definitely the musical of the moment most recently (before it got ran over by the Hamilton train). I think if it goes to Broadway, the love for it will explode even more. I'm a fan of Spring Awakening though.

#15. Best show featuring kids in the cast

• Annie - 25%
• The King and I - 4%
• Matilda - 42%
• The Sound of Music - 29% 

I am actually very surprised by this one. Annie and The Sound of Music are such well-loved classics that I thought for sure they would have the edge. But no, it's the newer Matilda which wins this little battle. I'm sticking with the tried and true Sound of Music here.

#16. I would most like to perform in:

• Next to Normal - 14%
• Hairspray - 34%
• The Little Mermaid - 25%
• West Side Story - 27%

Woo! Hairspray has it. I think it won because it's fun and modern, but not as childish as the Little Mermaid. I totally agree here; Hairspray all the way. (Granted I would love to be in all of them.)

#17. Best Broadway show of the 2015-16 (so far)

• Hamilton - 71%
• Deaf West's Spring Awakening - 14%
• School of Rock - 9%
• Color Purple - 6%

Probably the most obvious race of them all, the love for Hamilton is global. It has broken out of just love from theatre people into mainstream media. The world loves what Lin-Manuel Miranda and his team has done.

#18. Best jukebox musical

• American Idiot - 31%
• Beautiful - 10%
• Jersey Boys - 46%
• Rock of Ages - 13%

Jersey Boys is continuing to kick butt on Broadway and people are still loving it. I am partial to American Idiot as I grew up on Green Day's music, but as a musical, I think Jersey Boys has the broadest appeal.

Finally... #19. Best musical of all-time

• Les Miserables - 36%
• Wicked - 17%
• Phantom of the Opera - 28%
• Rent - 19%

Do you hear the people sing?! Because they're singing the music of Les Mis! Even though Phantom is the longest running show in the US, Les Miserables is the longest running musical on the West End. The movie kicked butt (unlike the Phantom movie) and it's a global phenomenon.

Well, that's all I have for this week! I think I will be doing something like this again in the future :) Thank you again to everyone who participated. Just a warning: tomorrow, I am entering my final quarter of high school, so things may get hectic from time to time. But I will still be working hard to bring you awesome content!

AYAA Dream Casting: Beauty and the Beast

Hello, everyone! Welcome to another week of Dream Casting! This week, AYAA is happy to present Beauty and the Beast! Beauty and the Beast -- based on the Disney movie of the same name -- tells the story of a prince who is transformed into a hideous beast as a consequence of a magical spell punishing his vanity. When he meets a beautiful girl named Belle, he finds a chance to become human again if he can earn Belle's love.

On AYAA, I am running dreamcasting two ways:

Self-submitted: If you have a dream cast for a show, send it to me at mackenna.azyoungactors@gmail.com or via Facebook. MUST BE WITH VALLEY ACTORS, NOT BROADWAY HUMANS.
Facilitated by me: I will be reaching out to 4-5 actors/actresses periodically. (I will also be participating from time to time) I will give each of them the same show and see the diverse ways they cast the show. I will only be able to ask you if you are friends with me on my personal Facebook. Same thing, it will be with Valley actors, not people on Broadway.

Today, I present to you one of the "Facilitated by me" types of dream casting. I reached out to three different young actors in the Valley --  Lauren Anderson, Steven Enriquez and Julian Mendoza -- and asked them to dream cast Beauty and the Beast. Their responses and mine are below.

Julian Mendoza

Beast: Julian Mendoza (one of my dream roles)
Belle: Sarah Pansing
Maurice: Jacob Browning
Gaston: Jeremy Yampolsky
Lefou: Devon Policci
Lumiere: Adam Hays
Cogsworth: Sam Primack
Mrs Potts: Sophia Drapeau
Babette: Addison Bowman
Monsieur d'Arque: Connor Baker

Chip: Owen Watson

Lauren Anderson

Beast- Kale Burr
Belle- Jackie Brecker
Maurice- Reed Daniel
Gaston- Brandon Bellerson
Lefou- Devon Policci (hilarious in Studio 3s)
Lumiere- Kevin Kennedy
Cogsworth- Grey Smith
Mrs. Potts- Gabi Guisti
Babette- Grace Napoletano
Madame de la Grande Bouche- Jessica Sinodis
Monsieur D'Arque- Daniel Milbauer

Chip- Jordan Osness

Steven Enriquez

Belle: Lina Cappellano
Beast: Steven Enriquez
Gaston: Mark Munoz
Mrs. Potts: Jessica Sinodis
Chip: Eric Lundgreen
Lumiere: Kale Burr
Madame de la Grande Bouche: Haley Reed
Lefou: Anson Romney
Maurice: Konnor Smith
Cogsworth: Joey Grado
Monsier D'Arque: Isaac Dowdle

Babette: Jackie Brecker

Mackenna Goodrich

Belle: Jackie Brecker
Beast: Isaac Dowdle
Gaston: Nicholas Hambruch
Mrs. Potts: Sarah Pansing
Chip: Eric Lundgreen
Lumiere: Kale Burr
Cogsworth: Dale Mortenson
Madame de la Grande Bouche: Jessica Sinodis
Lefou: Joey Grado
Maurice: Bryce DiLullo
Monsieur d'Arque: Danny Blankemeier
Babette: Caroline Jackson

Thank you for reading this week's dream casting! See you all again next week :)

AYAA Interview: Vincent Pugliese

Vincent Pugliese is a 16 year old actor from Chandler, AZ who rocked the West Valley this year withSpring Awakening. Although relatively new to theatre -- only starting in our little community about a year and a half ago -- Vincent has performed at many theatres, from getting his start at VYT to performing at Desert Stages and Spotlight. Vincent loves to play guitar, ice skate, eat goldfish and have Nerf wars with his brother, Corey. Vincent says he met some of his best friend through theatre -- Joey Grado, Sam Primack, Devon Policci and Julian Mendoza. He would also like to thank "Kenny Grossman and Bobb Cooper for giving me confidence in theatre."
his portrayal of Melchior in Spotlight's production of

Full Real Legit Name

Vincenzo James-Augustus Pugliese

Where were you born?

Chandler, AZ

What’s home like? Brothers? Siblings? Parents? Pets?

Life is pretty normal at the Pugliese household. I have an older brother named Corey, who people don’t believe is real, two Miniature Pinschers named Harlow and Chevelle, and a loving mother and father.

When and why did you start performing?

I did an original educational school play in fifth grade at St. Mary Basha Catholic School, and even though my role wasn’t intended to be funny, I thought the role would work a lot better if I delivered some of the lines differently. Once the show ended, my teacher told my parents I should start doing theatre. Eventually, my mom put me into a musical theatre camp where I learned stage terms and a little bit about how things work in the theater. I got the role of the Dodger in Oliver at that camp. After the camp, I decided it was something I wanted to do. However, it wasn’t really cool at that time in my life to say, “I do theatre.” So I tried doing basketball and baseball and all these other things I sucked at. Eventually, I returned to theatre when my mom looked up local theatre auditions on the Internet. I went in and auditioned for West Side Story at Valley Youth Theatre and was cast as Snowboy. I absolutely fell in love with it after that and did show after show.

First show you ever saw?

The first show I ever saw was The Lion King.

First Broadway show you ever saw?

The first Broadway show I ever saw was Jersey Boys, but I was very young and I didn’t know what was going on.

Most influential show you ever saw? Why was it so influential?

The most influential show I have ever seen is Into the Woods. There is a message for everyone in that show. It appeals to me personally because it teaches forgiveness and understanding, which I believe are some of the most important qualities someone can have.

Vincent with Payton Bioletto during Spotlight Youth Theatre's
Spring Awakening. (2016)

Favorite show you’ve ever been in? Why?

My favorite show I have ever been in is Spring Awakening. It was the first time I got to portray a character that had so many ups and downs and emotional depth. I had to go from singing one of the saddest songs in the show “Left Behind” to singing “Totally F*cked”

Most challenging acting experience? Why?

Playing Melchior in Spring Awakening was my most challenging experience. It was my first time being in the spotlight and I was very worried how people would react to my portrayal of the character. I wasn’t doubting myself, but there is always that itching feeling of wanting to be accepted. Melchior’s emotional setup and thought process was also new territory for me. I had to do more character development than ever before to try to find myself in the character.

Last year, you played the Hollywood Agent in VYT’s The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley. That show contrasts with the more serious, darker roles you have played recently. What did you enjoy about that show? What do you think are the advantages of performing in more light-hearted roles?

Most specifically, I enjoyed tapping for the first time in Flat Stanley. I absolutely love dancing and tapping seemed to come easily to me. The advantages of performing in light-hearted roles is that you can kind of let yourself go and just be seriously weird. It’s in these light hearted-roles where you have an excuse for being super goofy and strange; it really gives you an escape from the judgements of reality.

What was the experience of being in the Narnia musical like? How did you prep for your role as Tumnus?

Narnia was an AWESOME show for me; it was my first supporting role in community theatre and I was so excited to start rehearsing. My most memorable moment of prepping for the show was when Bobb Cooper had me do the Tumnus walk even when I wasn’t on stage, so my legs wouldn’t tire.

Vincent performing "Mirror-Blue Night" in
Spotlight's Spring Awakening (2016).

Most recently, you performed as Melchior in Spotlight’s production of Spring Awakening. How did that role differ from the one’s you had played before? What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of having teenagers play Melchior, Wendla, Moritz, etc. rather than 20 year olds?

Melchior was my first lead role, and it was the first “serious” character I had an opportunity to play. It just doesn’t make sense that 20 year olds would play teenagers, Other than the fact that older actors are not tied down by driving restrictions and have more freedom when it comes to school, it makes no sense to cast an adult. As Kenny Grossman said, “20 year olds don’t look or sound like teenagers, why would they play teenagers in the first place?” One major point of Spring Awakening is to show the problems children experience and that these problems are still around today. Having adults play these teenagers rids of the contrast between the actual adult characters in the show and the children.

You performed in West Side Story with VYT in 2014. Many theatres are doing West Side Story this year. What do you think makes that story so popular?

I think that West Side Story is so popular because it is a mixture of the theme of Romeo and Juliet, singing, and dancing. Not to mention it has a slightly different twist than Romeo and Juliet at the end of the show. It’s a perfect example how if you take an awesome story, add musical theater qualities, acquire good directors, music writers, and choreographers, you have a Broadway hit.

Vincent backstage at the first dress
rehearsal of DST's The Addams Family
(2015).

What was playing Lucas Beineke in Addams Family like? How did you make your portrayal of him unique? (A/N: I played Alice recently, so it’s really cool to interview someone who was also in it recently.)

Lucas was such a wacky role to play because I always felt so isolated and awkward due to being the only “normal character” in the cast. I thought I played Lucas as kind of a scaredy-cat who had to realize his mistakes and face his fears in the end, which I thought was unique.  

What was your experience of playing The Wolf in VYT’s Into the Woods like? Do you think this show will continue to be popular after this season even after the movie hysteria quiets down? Why or why not? And silly question: what did you think of Johnny Depp’s costume in the movie?

The Wolf was such a challenging role for me to play. I tried to imitate Robert Westenberg voice and it was..well..painful. Either way, it’s my one of my favorite shows and I had a great time being a part of the production. I believe Into the Woods is a hit or miss with a majority of the people who watch it. If you don’t like the story it’s a very hard show to sit through because it’s so long, and I think this is why most people had so many bad things to say about the movie. So, to be honest, I don’t think the show is going to continue being popular after this season. It’s been overdone in the past couple years and the movie didn’t seem to revive the interest in the show. I absolutely loved Johnny Depp’s costume in the movie, I thought it was symbolic of what the Wolf actually is and I thought it looked a lot better than putting a CGI wolf in the movie would have.

Favorite character you got to play this year?

Technically, I’ve only played one character this year and that was Melchior. However, that’s a part that stays very close to me and will most likely be my favorite role of 2016.

Vincent with Sam Primack and Payton Bioletto
performing "Those You've Known" in Spotlight's
Spring Awakening . (2016)

Favorite person you got to play opposite of this past year? (Romantically or otherwise)

Romantically Payton Bioletto, otherwise Sam Primack.

Dream role? Dream role of the opposite sex?

My dream role is Gabe Goodman in Next to Normal, but if I was a girl I would want to play Nabulungi in The Book of Mormon for sure.

Theatres in Arizona you would love to work with, but haven’t?

Actors Youth Theatre and Greasepaint! I have seen multiple shows there, but I have never been in a show there.

Craziest stage experience (mishap, funny improvised joke, etc.)?

I threw up in my mouth while I was singing during a matinee show of Narnia at VYT. This was due to my post-opening night ritual of eating mozzarella sticks even though I’m lactose intolerant. Ever since, I have lowered the count of mozzarella sticks to about 6.

Weirdest show you’ve ever been to? (Whether it be the nature of the show, casting decisions, etc.)

To be honest, the weirdest show I have been to was Deaf West’s Spring Awakening. I never knew where to look, and half the time, I found myself looking at the singing actor rather than the signing actor. It was one of the best shows I’ve seen on Broadway, but it was just so different and strange to watch.

Favorite costume you’ve ever worn? Least favorite?

My favorite costume was the costume I wore during the last scene of Spring Awakening. The boots, long socks, knickers, white shirt and suspenders looked so badass. However, it took so long to get out of for some reason. So, in a way, it was my favorite and least favorite all in one.

Best youth production you have ever seen?

The Scarlet Pimpernel at Actor’s Youth Theatre. I fell in LOVE with this show and the music as soon as I saw it. Frank Wildhorn who also wrote the music for Wonderland and Bonnie & Clyde is truly a genius. Jessica Sinodis made me cry both nights that I saw it and I thought Liam Thibeault gave such a strong acting performance. Good job, AYT; keep doing you.

What is your go-to audition song?

I don’t think any performer has a “go-to” audition song just because every show has a different nature and specific style of music, but recently I have used “I’ve Been” from Next to Normal for most of my auditions.

Advice for young performers? Auditions? Behavior? Life?

Don’t scare yourself. It’s natural to be afraid of failure or not getting the part you wanted but don’t go in and let yourself do a bad job because “so and so,” is auditioning or the theatre you are auditioning for only “picks their favorites.” It’s true that directors cast people they have worked with more often because that person has continually proved themselves to be consistent and efficient. However, almost every show has a new kid to the theater in it. In the end, if you don’t get the part you wanted or into the show, don’t start by blaming other people. To start you should ask yourself, “Did I even put much effort into my audition to begin with?” Just remember, that there’s always something you can improve on whether you’re on Broadway or not.

Favorite actors and actresses? Stage? Screen?

Stage: Jonathan Groff, Aaron Tveit, Curt Hansen, Adam Pascal Jennifer Damiano, Elle McLemore, Lauren Looze.

Screen: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Jennifer Lawrence, Mila Kunis.

Favorite plays?

I saw an original play called Windfall at Brelby Theatre Company with a couple friends and it was better than any play I’ve seen on Broadway. I thought the show was so goofy and had so many ups and downs that I never lost my interest. I had only heard of this theatre once before I saw Windfall, but I would advise everyone to go check out their shows.

Vincent performing "Hello, Little Girl" with
Alex Kirby in VYT's Into the Woods (2015).

Favorite musicals?

Into the Woods, Spring Awakening, Parade, Next to Normal (in no specific order)

What is the best showtune of all-time?

It isn't really a show tune but I think "Bitch of Living" is the best musical number of all time. I saw the Deaf West production of Spring Awakening twice and this number was so hype, my jaw dropped in awe.

(A/N: "Bitch of Living" is the best song in Spring Awakening. Facts.)

Musical/play on Broadway currently you’re dying to see?

It’s not on Broadway yet but AMERICAN PSYCHO. It’s another Duncan Sheik musical and it has some of my favorite actors/actresses in it.

Favorite movie? TV Show?

My favorite movie is Treasure Island. I’ve watched it about 7 times with my dad; it’s our movie. I’m not really into TV shows to be honest, but when I was a kid, Pokemon was my favorite show.

Secret guilty pleasure?

I’d have to say anime. Not a lot of people know that I watch it, and no one really suspects me, but I love the storylines and the effort put into the development of the characters.

Personal mantra(s)?

Whenever I’m in an awkward situation or I see something strange happens around me, I always say, “what the.” Anyone who has known me for a long time knows for a fact that I say these words at least 200 times a day.

Performer you would die to perform with?

Norbert Leo Butz, hands down. The guy is a legend.

How do you feel about the atmosphere of youth theatre around Arizona? What do you like about it?

I LOVE the atmosphere of youth theatre in Arizona. It’s so exciting seeing how all the different theater companies have different vibes and ways of doing their shows.

Most underrated show?

Parade or Next to Normal.

What’s your “adult” plan? Keep performing professionally or…?

My plan is to perform professionally in the future, but I would love to be a director or be a news anchor if things don’t work out.  

Upcoming projects?

Currently I’m back at VYT in Pinkalicious!  

Young actor/actress in the Phoenix area you'd love to perform with

Joey Grado, Devon Policci, Kale Burr, Dale Mortensen, Nicholas Hambruch Jessica Sinodis, Grace Napoletano, Johnna and Breagh Watson, and Ali Whitwell.


Thank you Vincent for doing this interview for AYAA! We have a TON more interviews lined up, so once we get everything put together, they will be coming out!

AYAA Dream Casting: Into the Woods

INTO THE WOODS! INTO THE WOODS!

I love this show and I was super pumped to do it for dream casting this week. Into the Woods is a Stephen Sondheim musical which is an amalgamation of a ton of different classic fairy tales. It primarily follows the Baker and his Wife as they try to regain the ability to conceive a child after their Witch of a neighbor steals that ability from them. It also includes the tale of Cinderella trying to escape her evil Stepmother and Rapunzel trying to escape the Witch. In the second act of the show, it shows the aftermath of everyone's "happily ever afters."

On AYAA, I am running dreamcasting two ways:

Self-submitted: If you have a dream cast for a show, send it to me at mackenna.azyoungactors@gmail.com or via Facebook. MUST BE WITH VALLEY ACTORS, NOT BROADWAY HUMANS.
Facilitated by me: I will be reaching out to 4-5 actors/actresses periodically. (I will also be participating from time to time) I will give each of them the same show and see the diverse ways they cast the show. I will only be able to ask you if you are friends with me on my personal Facebook. Same thing, it will be with Valley actors, not people on Broadway.

Today, I present to you one of the "Facilitated by me" types of dream casting. I reached out to three different young actors in the Valley --  Audrey Coleman, Tiana Marks (who we hope is recovering from her procedure!), and Macy Wood  -- and asked them to dream cast Into the Woods. Their responses and mine are below.

Audrey Coleman
Narrator- Dale Mortensen
Jack- Austin Porter
Cinderella- Brittany Howk
Baker- Steven Enriquez
Baker's Wife- Macy Wood
Stepmother- Jessie Jo Pauley
Florinda- Olivia Nienstedt
Lucinda- Kate Nienstedt
Jack's Mother- India Chudnow
Little Red Ridinghood- Brittany Peters
Witch- Jessica Sinodis
Wolf- Carter Palumbo
Mysterious Man- Josh Wiesler
Rapunzel- Lydia McCloskey
Rapunzel's Prince- Joey Grado

Cinderella's Prince- Joey Sortino

Tiana Marks
Narrator: Connor Baker
Jack: Thomas Muglia
Cinderella: Isabella Conner
Baker: Skyler Washburn
Baker's Wife: Carly McClain
Stepmother: Addison Bowman
Florinda: Kaleigh Feuerstein
Lucinda: Julia Jordan
Jack's Mother: Olivia Smith
Little Red: Olivia Feary
Witch: Noa Gauthier
Wolf: Brandon Brown
Mysterious Man: Jacob Browning
Rapunzel: Sedona Ramonett
Rapunzel's Prince: Steven Ricks

Cinderella's Prince: Nathan Sheppard

Macy Wood
Narrator- Carter Palumbo
Jack- Andrey Lull
Cinderella- Adyson Nichols
Baker- Jacob Shore
Baker's Wife- Becca Bauer
Stepmother- Nikkolina Kamouzis
Florinda- Madi Volker
Lucinda- AJ Marshal
Jack's Mother- Sarah Davidson
Little Red Ridinghood- Saylem DuPont
Witch- Jessica Sinodis
Wolf- Noah Delgado
Mysterious Man- Riley Wood
Rapunzel- Benny Rose
Rapunzel's Prince- Adam Lundgreen
Cinderella's Prince- Thommy Long

Mackenna Goodrich
Narrator: Bryce Dilulo
Jack: Nick Pauley
Cinderella: Jackie Brecker
Baker: Nicholas Hambruch
Baker's Wife: Brie Wadsworth
Stepmother: Harley Barton
Florinda: Grace Napoletano
Lucinda: Caroline Jackson
Jack's Mother: Gillian Elliott
Little Red Ridinghood: Jessica Wastchak
Witch: Jessica Sinodis
Wolf: Grey Smith
Mysterious Man: Carter Palumbo
Rapunzel: Summer Farnsworth
Rapunzel's Prince: Joey Sortino
Cinderella's Prince: Kale Burr

Thank you to everyone who participated in this week's dream casting! Also, if you have more time and are looking for more content, feel free to read our latest interview with Spencer Claus or do some reading about Broadway costumes.

Important and Memorable Broadway Costumes

Hi there!

So for my 18th birthday, my aunt bought me a poster with a plethora of various Broadway costumes on it. And as I sit here at 12:30 AM trying to think about something to write about and watching Project Runway, I decided to do a little post about important and memorable Broadway costumes, from Showboat to Hamilton. If you want to purchase the poster this post is based on you can click here.

The slide show is rather long as it features almost 100 costumes. I also included little tidbits about myself and my dream roles throughout the slideshow.

But first a quick word about quick changes (as per the request of Bryce Dillulo):

Many Broadway musicals feature elaborate and astonishingly rapid quick changes. Most of this work is due to hardworking dressers standing offstage, ready to go and ingenious thinking by costume crew members. Here are some recent examples of impressive quick changes.

• Book of Mormon - In Turn It Off, the Elders all the sudden appear with vests on during the tap number after a black out. There is no definite answer I could find about how the quick change occurs, but the most widely held belief is the vests are tucked into their pants throughout the number like a cummerbund and then pull them over theirs heads in the black out like a halter top.
•  Shrek the Musical - Fiona becomes an ogre very quickly. Esentially, in the Broadway production, they use a body double for Fiona and lighting tricks while they get real Fiona (Sutton Foster) ready off stage. Off stage, its the magic of the make up artists and dressers who get is done. 
• Cinderella - Ella's dress transformation is absolutely stunning. Esentially, the ball gown is wrapped up in the rags and when Ella pulls a pin, it unfurls the skirt and the top part gets swept down into the skirt. 

In addition, I feel like as we get closer and closer to summer, I want to share a little bit more about myself with all of you theatre people. So along with the costumes on the slides, I put little notes about dream roles on some of the slides. 

Aside from those little tidbits, here are some important Broadway costumes.

Iconic Broadway Costumes from Mackenna Goodrich

Thank you to everyone for checking this out! I love Broadway and theatre history, so this was a fun one for me.

AYAA Interview: Spencer Claus

Hello, everyone! Today, AYAA is proud to present an interview with Spencer Claus. Spencer has performed at many theatres around the Phoenix area as roles like Link Larkin in Hairspray (Desert The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee (Desert Stages). In addition to his time in the spotlight on stage, Spencer also does make up for shows. This year, he did the make up design for Spotlight's Spring Awakening and DFT's The Crucible. Spencer does make up freelance for theaters and personal clients.
Foothills), Ren in Footloose (Desert Stages), and Steward in Into the Woods (Valley Youth Theatre). At this year's NYA awards, Spencer was nominated for his roles as Ren, Link, and Mitch Mahoney in

Full Real Legit Name

Spencer Casement Claus

Where were you born?

Scottsdale, AZ!

What’s home like? Brothers? Siblings? Parents? Pets?

I live at home with my parents and no siblings -- although I sometimes fight for attention from my pets like we were siblings. I have two cats, three dogs, four horses, and twenty chickens. We used to have a goat too, but the coyotes (or a mountain lion) got to her two Novembers ago. She was mean, anyways.

When and why did you start performing?

My first show was a school show in first grade, but really in fifth grade I played the Emperor in the Emperor’s New Clothes during a summer camp. I had also been a total ham and I think my parents -- both actors who met in Shakespeare class -- knew that this would be a good path for me. Before that, I was a dancer for nine years, so the transition from dance to theatre wasn’t too much of a shock - I was used to being onstage.

First show you ever saw?

I think I was three or maybe four and I saw Beauty and the Beast at Rocky Mountain Repertory in Grand Lake, Colorado. I don’t remember any of it, but my mom tells me that when the show was over I leaned over to her and said “make them do it again!” I think that’s pretty adorable. The first show I remember seeing was The Tempest at Oregon Shakespeare Festival -- the best theatre in the whole world. It was amazing and I’m sure I slept through most of it, but I have a very specific image of sitting in the third row watching Antonio sink into the stage.

First Broadway show you ever saw?

I went to New York for the first time in 2013 and my first real Broadway show was Pippin! I love saying that was my first show because it’s one of my absolute favorites (if not my favorite) and I saw the entire revival cast. After that, I saw Wicked, Book of Mormon, and Matilda, but technically Pippin was the first.

Most influential show you ever saw? Why was it so influential?

I have to say Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. It was the first time I really remember seeing Shakespeare (a year after the Tempest) and the way that it was staged was so amazing. It was set in a disco nightclub atmosphere and was very mod. It was my first exposure to Shakespeare being done differently and wildly and I think that gave me the ability to imagine anything on stage. The next night I saw a Western-style Comedy of Errors which was pretty amazing too. I think OSF as a whole has been absolutely formative in my theatre career.

Claus with the cast of Spotlight Youth Theatre's Spring Awakening.

Favorite show you’ve ever been in? Why?

Oh don’t make me answer that! I love every show for a different reason! I think I’m picking two: Spring Awakening at SYT and Hairspray at DFT. Both shows were very, very, very different but had important meanings. If I had to pick one, maybe Spring Awakening just because I’m in love with the music and story. It ended about a month ago and I still can’t listen to the soundtrack without crying. The cast became so close, and I think that happens with any show that is so controversial. Every cast member will always hold a special place in my heart. Shout out to my dressing room sisters!

Most challenging acting experience? Why?

Playing Lady Macbeth in my school’s production of Macbeth! I have always loved the show as the classic thriller. I had a chance to meet with the amazingly talented Robin Goodrin Nordli (who played Lady Macbeth in OSF’s production of Macbeth) to go over how to play the part. There are so many intricacies with the character alone and playing it as a man adding so many different layers to it! It was hard to get into the groove of the character but eventually had a huge payoff. Especially when I came onstage in my high heels, blood, and my underwear (for a school show!).

Favorite character you got to play this year?

Well technically I’ve only played one this year, but I think it would be my answer no matter what. I loved playing Georg in Spring Awakening. Our director (Kenny Grossman) sat with us individually and talked to us about our characters. Even before that I had imagined Georg as the bullied nerd who had grown cold to others and internalized most of his emotions and as a result became very bitter and quite mean. Kind of like of a Chip Barfee, but whose friend kills himself.

Favorite person you got to play opposite of this past year? (Romantically or otherwise)

You can’t make me do this!!! I haven’t really had a chance to play opposite someone romantically for a while since Hairspray, with the AMAZING Lily Castle. However, each Spring Awakening show, Jasmine Bassham and I would jump opposite each other each “Totally Fucked” and it was AWESOME. So I guess Lily for romantic and Jasmine otherwise.

What was the experience of playing Ren in Footloose at Desert Stages like? What are the qualities of Footloose that you think make it such a popular show?

It was so fantastic. I hadn’t worked at Desert Stages for quite a few years before that and I was asked to come in and sing for the parts of Ren and Chuck. I sang my Liza Minelli song and got the part on the spot. You’d never think that Liza would convey Ren, but hey, it worked. I made so many fantastic friends during the process of that show. There was a group of about seven of us that just became inseparable. I met the love of my entire life forever and ever and always with rainbows, Anissa Griego. I think Footloose is the lite version of Spring Awakening actually -- it’s teen angst, but without the suicide or abortion. Plus, the score is fantastic. Although I’d maybe pass on singing tenor while doing flips again.

You were nominated for an NYA for playing Link Larkin in Hairspray. Why do you think the story of Hairspray still resonates today? You also won a Broadway World Award for this role. What do you think were the advantages and disadvantages of the Broadway World Awards this year?

I think that racism is still very important in everyone’s life today, whether it affects you directly or not. We see on the news what happens to black youth around the country and I think that Hairspray does a fantastic job of capturing that dynamic. It’s easy to digest but not sugarcoated.

I actually had never been nominated for the BroadwayWorld Awards before, so I don’t have a lot of context! I think everyone who was nominated alongside me were all just as deserving of the recognition and the award. But honestly, I have no idea what happens. Do I get a trophy? A puppy? I want a puppy.

Claus backstage at BASIS Scottsdale's
 The Crucible as John Proctor.

You did make up and hair for Spotlight’s recent production of Spring Awakening and Desert Foothills' the Crucible. Do you enjoy the technical aspects of theatre? What was your design concept for those shows?

I enjoy certain technical aspects of theatre. I don’t think I could ever be a lighting designer or a set constructor -- the really technical stuff. The artistically technical side of theatre is what I really love. I’ve done almost everything: I’ve directed, choreographed, set designed, costume designed, and styled shows. The only thing left is musical direction, but I can’t play the piano so I think that’s right out. I’ll leave that up to Mark Foreman. While I love being onstage, there are some shows that i just feel very passionate about and want to communicate a certain message about.

I loved loved loved working on these shows. The Crucible was fun for me to design because a couple months prior I finished up a run of playing John Proctor at my school, so I had a really good grasp of the show and it’s characters. I’ve also been obsessed with the play and the movie for years, so that helped. My concept for The Crucible was largely sickness and tiredness. I wanted the audience to see how the characters became increasingly sick and weak throughout the show. There are a lot of makeup tricks used to make someone appear sicker than they actually are which I loved making use of.

Spring Awakening was my favorite show to makeup design for. I had the chance to work alongside the beautiful and talented Angel Demichael working on hair. I actually had the most trouble deciding what direction to go in with that show. Part of me wanted to go totally punk - boys with eyeliner, girls in dark lipstick. Then the other part of me wanted to go plain and shiny and idyllic, lots of shine and pale faces with dark lips. That’s the direction I ended up going with. I think it was the best choice because that appearance of beauty and idyllicism is what so beautifully juxtaposes with the darkness and anger of the show. A lot of highlighters on the actors. My favorite part was adding a certain product to each actor as they became “tainted” by the darkness. It was a blue highlighter (Monster from ColourPop, if anyone cares) that when onstage under the lights creates a very blue and ethereal glow. Ilse and Martha started off the show with the product on since their ruin took place before the show begins. At the beginning of Act 2, after Wendla and Melchior consummate their relationship, they are revealed to have the same glow. Before Moritz kills himself, the audience sees he has the same glow. I doubt anyone in the audience or in the cast noticed, but it gave me some sort of personal artistic satisfaction.

You play a lot of “male ingenue”-y type characters. What do you enjoy about these types of roles? What do you think are the disadvantages of these parts?

These parts seem to be very 2-Dimensional so I always do my best to add depth to them, whether in comedy or some kind of drama. In Footloose, I tried to make obvious Ren’s distress over the absence of his father and add some depth in that way. Link was actually really hard to work with. I tried to add as much humor as I could but there isn’t a lot written into the part. It’s all about the delivery and reaction!

Claus in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with
Peyton Woolf and Stokley Berg at Desert Stages.

It seems like The 25th Annual Country Spelling Bee has been re-popularized around the Phoenix metro area. You recently played Mitch Mahoney in Desert Stages production. What was that experience like? What makes this show popular? What’s your favorite part of the show?

I think what makes it so popular is that it’s different every time you see it! Not only that, but it is BRILLIANTLY written. I have never disliked a production that I saw. Playing Mitch Mahoney was amazing for two reasons. One, because I got to riff, play a gay dad, and sing the most heartbreaking song in musical theatere (The I Love You Song). And two, we got to do a weekend remount of the production, which is kind of unheard of for youth theatre. We sold out every single performance of both runs. My favorite part of the show has to be the finale of Act 1, when I got to sing my big song. Mitch stays quiet for almost all of Act 1 and then comes alive with this huge 11 o’clock number which is crazy fun and gospel. I loved it.

Orin Scrivello (the Dentist) in Little Shop of Horrors is an awesome comedic villain role. How did that experience differ from other parts you played last year?

For a very long time, being a pretty young kid with a bass voice, I was cast in the all of the villain roles. When I got the chance to play Orin, I had to combine the character traits of the classic archetype villain with an actual human -- you can play 2-Dimensional Disney villain with a show like Little Shop. It was definitely the wackiest part I got to play and I had so much fun playing opposite of Hannah Whited as Audrey. My favorite part was "Do It Now", flailing on the floor with the gas mask my mom made me (from real dentist masks). Poor Zach Zupke, I scared him every night.

Dream role? Dream role of the opposite sex?

Oh sooooo many! The biggest dream role I have is the Leading Player in Pippin. For a really long time I just wanted to be Thenardier in Les Mis, which I would still love to play. After that, the Emcee in Cabaret (a very Leading Player part), Moritz or Melchior is Spring Awakening, and Audrey II in Little Shop. Any part in Putnam. Of the opposite gender, in a play I would love to be Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible. In a musical, Lenora in Cry-Baby or Pamela in Head Over Heels. OH! Martha or Ilse in Spring Awakening. That would be amazing.

Theatres in Arizona you would love to work with, but haven’t?

I honestly want to work with every theatre! I would love to work at ABT and Hale the most, I think. And PT!

Craziest stage experience (mishap, funny improvised joke, etc.)?

I’ve been fortunate enough to not have any major disasters! I think the funniest one was having to not come on in my shoes for the finale of Footloose. I have a super quick-change between the last scene and the final number and it was always close and one night I just didn’t make it! Other than that, Putnam always had some kind of improvised line. There’s a part in the show right before my big song where the whole stage is frozen except for me and I’m just kind of screaming. Every night, I would sit down next to one of the audience members and get quiet and then yell and usually they would jump a little bit. One time though, this guy really jumped, like out of his seat. The audience loved it and I got to riff on that for a little bit.

Weirdest show you’ve ever been to? (Whether it be the nature of the show, casting decisions, etc.)

At OSF, they do some original shows that are pretty wacky. Two stand out. A show called Willful and a show called Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land. Actually, the last one made some sense after reading some articles on it, but still didn’t make a lot of sense. Willful was just ridiculous.

Favorite costume you’ve ever worn? Least favorite?

Claus as Link Larkin in DFT's Hairspray with Emily McAtee and
Kiara Adams

I really like my Link Larkin sharkskin suit that I wore during the finale. It was very form-fitting and slimming and it was easy to move in. That was a tough quickchange though!

My costume for the Steward in VYT’s Into the Woods was always riding up, but it was super easy to take off which is something I always appreciate.

Best youth production you have ever seen?

Is it bad to say Spring Awakening? Because if it is, then Spring Awakening. If it isn’t … Spring Awakening.

What is your go-to audition song?

It’s so bad because it breaks all of the rules! My go-to is always “My Own Space” from the Act. It is not my age nor my gender. It was originally sung by Liza Minelli. That should give you some idea. It is amazing though and I nail that E at the end every time, so it works.

Advice for young performers? Auditions? Behavior? Life?

Put yourself out there! Don’t be afraid to e-mail directors and ask about auditions or ask if you can come in late, don’t be afraid of them. The worst that can happen is they say no, the best that can happen is you end up being in an amazing show. I think that’s a pretty good payoff.

Before I go to auditions and callbacks, I listen to a playlist I made for myself awhile ago to get me psyched up. It’s kind of like my “I’m the baddest b*tch here and I’m gonna win it.” I listen to Candy Store from Heathers a lot on that soundtrack. But at the same time, go in to auditions and callbacks humble and with no preconceived notions about your talents relative to the others in the room. It’s a weird dichotomy but it works for me.

Rest your voice!!! I’ve been on a month long voice rest and my throat has never felt better. Drink lots of water, stay away from too much salt or carbonation, drink tea, stay away from spicy stuff (which is always the hardest for me). Work out every once and awhile, take some random dance classes. It’s always good to feel good.

Favorite actors and actresses? Stage? Screen?

Stage? Julia Murney. Forever and ever. Her vibrato is to die for. Also, Bonnie Milligan has the best voice of any rising star today (in my opinion). Billy Porter, Mandy Gonzalez, Saycon Sengbloh, Lilli Cooper, Jonathan Groff, Matt Doyle … too many to name.

Screen? I’m a sucker for Tina Fey. I love Amy Poehler, Adam Devine, Mindy Kaling, Samantha Bee, John Stewart, Amy Schumer, and Matt Damon. I always like anything Melissa McCarthy is in.

Favorite plays?

Failure: a Love Story, The Crucible, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, A Streetcar Named Desire, All the Way, the Great Society. So many more.

Favorite musicals?

Pippin, Head Over Heels, Cry-Baby, Hairspray, Spring Awakening, Into the Woods, Good For Me, Little Shop of Horrors.

What is the best showtune of all-time?

It’s not very “showtune”-y, but I think Dark I Know Well from Spring Awakening is the best song to be written in musical theater. The I Love You Song from Putnam and Screw Loose from Cry-Baby come close.

Musical/play on Broadway currently you’re dying to see?

I guess Hamilton! But if I can go into the future a bit, Waitress. I am Sara Bareilles’s number one fan and I’m in love with the music. For a play, I’m going into the future to see The Crucible. I’ve waited so long to see actors of color in the show outside of the role of Tituba. I also would kill to see the Color Purple!

Favorite movie? TV Show?

Movies: Heathers, Young Frankenstein, Obvious Child.

TV Show: 30 Rock. Forever and ever and ever and ever. And X-Files!

Secret guilty pleasure?

Salt and pepper pistachios (which are terrible for my voice!) and Trader Joe’s cookie butter. Not together. That would be gross. And Starbucks. And Baby Mama (the Tina and Amy movie). And Fanta soda. And spicy food. So many. But I try not too feel too guilty.

Personal mantra(s)?

If you f*** it up this time, you can kill it the time after that. Theater is a momentary experience and people are more likely to remember something amazing over a complete biff.

Performer you would die to perform with?

Bonnie Milligan, ugh to be onstage with her while she was belting her face off … I think I would die. Her, Billy Porter, or Jonathan Groff, Lilli Cooper. I have so many people that I think are so talented, I would love to.

How do you feel about the atmosphere of youth theatre around Arizona? What do you like about it? What do you feel like can be improved?

I feel like there’s a growing sense of competition among theatres. Everyone knows that certain theatres have their certain actors -- “Oh yeah, s/he’s a ____-kid.” There’s growing animosity between these groups and it’s kind of unsettling. Just last night, there was a Twitter feud between two theatres, which I regret to say I got involved in. It’s not fun for anyone and whoever gets involved feels kind of guilty and dirty afterwards. I think people need to realize that we’re all in this business because we love theatre and we love performing and we’re not here to create disturbances in the peace. People might have individual histories with each other, but I think it’s important to remember that we all love each other. There really is no other community like the theatre community. I support all theatres and all actors and I think every other young performer would say the same. Part of the reason why I love theatre so much is because of the community aspect.

Claus as Charlemagne in Pippin at Desert Foothills Theatre

Most underrated show?

Failure: a Love Story. It was written a few years ago by Philip Dawkins and is the most beautifully and cleverly written play I’ve ever read. It’s very hard to explain, but I would say that it’s a romantic comedy all about death. That sounds weird, but it doesn’t do it any justice. I would love to direct it.

What’s your “adult” plan? Keep performing professionally or…?

I’m also a makeup artist, so I plan on keeping some income flow during college by doing that, but my longterm plan is to absolutely remain a performer. Whether it takes me to screen or stage or even writing, I’m not sure, but performing is my life.

Upcoming projects?

I’m in rehearsals for Failure at my school right now where I’m playing Mortimer Mortimer. After that, I have some auditions, so we’ll see where that goes!

Young actor/actress in the Phoenix area you'd love to perform with?

Kale Burr, Jessie Jo Pauley, Dale Mortenson, Tatum Zale, Cami Benton, Ali Whitwell, Carly Grossman. I think I’ve already performed with everyone else!

Thank you to Spencer for doing this interview with me! His has been one of my favorites (if not my favorites) to read. We have a few more interviews lined up, so hopefully I get some responses soon. :)