Theatre performs their UIL One Act play Thursday at Memorial High School. The cast started rehearsals back in January.
Kameron Askew
Grade: 10
Future college: Pace University, NYU, or Elon University
Future Job: musical theatre actor on broadway
Years in theater: 3
Inspiration: Gavin Creel and Sutton Foster
Wingspan: When and why did you start theater?
Askew: “I started theatre when I did the musical Once Upon a Mattress and after that moment I knew what I wanted to do with my life.”
Wingspan: What is it like to balance school, choir, and theater?
Askew: “Some may think that it’s challenging to balance the three, however I find it quite easy, I usually just plan heavy and stay organized with my calendar and what not.”
Wingspan: How is the dynamic different from choir different from theater?
Askew: “Choir is a more independent environment where it’s mainly focused on putting singing voices together to make a balance, whereas in theatre you have to have more of a connection with all the people that you work with due to the fact that you spend so much time on stage working with them you just need to be able to trust the people you act with.”
Wingspan: What does theater mean to you?
Askew: “Theatre means so much to me. The theatre is a place where I can create magic and tell a story on a stage in-front of others. Theatre pushes me to constantly work hard and the environment makes me beyond happy because the people are phenomenal. Being able to step into different parts in the theatre not only allows me to gain experience and grow and an actor but it also plays an effect on my life because I take things from every part that I play.”
Wingspan: How has choir helped you in theater?
Askew: “Choir helps so much in theatre especially musical theatre because being able to know all of the basics with voice is important. It makes learning songs so much easier and faster and having choral knowledge gives me more time to work on the acting part since I have the singing already down.”
Wingspan: What’s the biggest challenge of being so involved?
Askew: “The biggest challenge would definitely have to be time management. This year I did four shows at the same time and I had to learn how to balance my time spent working on each show daily. Also it’s important to balance rehearsal schedules and making sure everything works together perfectly fine.”
Wingspan: As theater has already been quite time consuming on it’s own, what made you want to add choir on top of your plate?
Askew: “Well I feel that for college I need as much training as possible because the top schools only accept ten to twenty kids for musical theatre so I feel that it is crucial to have training in every aspect of the subject. Next year I plan on adding dance to my plate because I feel that every person needs to have experience with dance, acting, and singing in musical theatre, because college auditions consist of all three and you only get one shot.”
Wingspan: What have you learned about yourself through the arts?
Askew: “Through the arts I have learned so much including how to have my own creativity, how to bring characters to life, and how to be a better person.”
Wingspan: What is your advice to anyone who wants be so involved in the arts as you?
Askew: “To anyone wanting to join the arts my biggest advice is to just do it. All fine art programs at our school are so good about making the experience good and I think that it’s all worth the try if you have the time.”
Kennedy Williams
As part of varsity choir, junior Kennedy Williams finds choir a happy place that she enjoys being part of. Through her time in choir, she has learned much about herself and her singing.
Grade: 11
Future college: Texas Southern University
Future Job: vocal trainer
Years in choir: 6
Inspiration: Dr. Allen Hightower, Ariana Grande
Wingspan: What is it like being in varsity choir?
Williams: “I find it very exciting because there is a such a great mix of people. We are the only mixed choir at Liberty so we have boys and girls. We also have everyone from Freshman to seniors, who have to audition to be in the choir. Due to the requirement of auditioning prior to being admitted into varsity we go in to the year knowing what everyone is capable of.”
Wingspan: How has it affected your life?
Williams: “Choir has made me happy to come to school because it gives me something to look forward to, a place where I can do what I love with people I love. It’s also made me tremendously better at my craft. Choir has taught me everything from how to warm up my voice, how to sing in a way that wont damage your voice, and even singing music that I have gotten 30 seconds to look at.”
Wingspan: What’s been your favorite memory?
Williams: “My favorite choral memory was earning two one’s at UIL this month. The Mixed Ensemble of Liberty High School made history this year. With the help of our gorgeous director, Toni Ugolini we were able to take home the first sweepstakes of a redhawk mixed choir.”
Wingspan: How do you prepare for a show?
Williams: “Well, as a group there will be multiple rehearsals in class and outside of class leading up to a performance. Individually, I will make sure my water intake is solid at least three days prior show so I am sure my vocal chords are getting everything they need before i put an hour and a half restrain on it.”
Wingspan: What have you learned about yourself through the arts?
Williams: “I have learned that I love to be apart of big things. I love singing in a group, I love the production leading up big performances. In my eyes, being a stage is the most comfortable and nerve-wracking place in the world because you get to show everyone who you are while getting the opportunity to choose to be in your own world living your own story on stage.”
Wingspan: Are you considering to pursue a musical career?
Williams: “Yes, I am fascinated by the technique used for vocal performance. Up until this year I was insecure about my voice I never felt I was good enough; but it was only because I was not consistently using good technique. I would love to be a professional vocal trainer so I can show people they’re ability to shine by teaching them proper technique like breath control, vowel tone, and the importance of consonants.”
Wingspan: How do you handle your mistakes during a performance?
Williams: “During solo performances I will usually just smile to myself and muster on through, but I would be lying if I told you I did not think about that one mistake for the rest of the day and performance.”
Wingspan: What’s the biggest challenge of being in varsity?
Williams: “Remembering that we are setting the example for the women’s choir. We have to be sure we are labeling solfege when she requests us to do so, refraining from talking during transitions.”
Wingspan: What is your advice to anyone who aspires to be in the arts?
Williams: “I would just tell you not to give up when things aren’t right. I promise you your teachers know how to make you better and what approach to take.”