What’s In My Rehearsal Bag: Lucy R.

A festive #FrontRowFriday to all of you, friends! We’ve got a special Front Row treat for you heading into the long weekend. Perhaps you’ve seen her in some of our past Musical Theatre Intensive or summer musical productions. This fall, you’ll have a chance to take in Lucy Rocchio’s performance as Queen of Arendelle in Encore’s production of Disney’s Frozen Jr. With all of her experience, we can’t wait to hear Lucy’s tips for building the perfect rehearsal bag!

Hello all! My name is Lucy Rocchio. I’m a senior at T.C. Williams High School and I’m going to be playing Elsa in Encore’s production of Disney’s Frozen Jr. this fall! I’m beyond ecstatic to be a part of this show and can’t wait for everyone to come see it.

As a matter of fact, this is the first regular season show I’ve done with Encore. Previously I’ve been involved in Encore’s Musical Theatre Intensive (MTI) program where I did The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Godspell, and James and the Giant Peach.

I’ve also participated in summer shows with Encore like Mary Poppins, The Music Man, and Seussical.

Clearly I’ve always been ready to play a princess.
Dress your best for our Frozen Princess Ball on October 19th!

This makes Frozen Jr. my seventh show with Encore, which I’m so excited about! I have done 13 other plays and musicals with my schools and with a local symphony. The more shows you do, the more you learn from creative staff and other performers sharing their ideas and experience.

Encore asked me to share what I have learned about getting ready for rehearsals. I’ve learned to always be early and never forget to have what you need in a rehearsal bag. It’s crucial to be prepared and to have your bag packed with all the necessities.

• First is the script. Without this item, I wouldn’t be able to follow along the important storytelling and learn my part.
• Second are pencils. Pencils are a must in order to write down blocking (stage directions) in your script and notes from your directors! Having one pencil is good, but having a bunch always comes in handy if one breaks or if a friend needs to borrow one.
• Third is a water bottle. I always make sure to grab a reusable water bottle and fill it up so when I’m at rehearsal and we do choreography or sing a song I can take refreshing sips to stay hydrated the whole time.
• Next is cough drops. Sounding hoarse is never fun, so if my throat feels dry or sore, I can just pop one in my mouth and keep going.
• Also, I always have a couple of snacks with me. Snacks are helpful whenever there’s a break to boost energy and give a pick-me-up. They help me stay energized, focused and are also super tasty. I usually bring peanut butter crackers and some type of fruit.
• Lastly, character shoes. While playing a queen I must be sure to have the proper shoes. Character shoes are perfect because they’re meant for the stage and are heeled so they give a bit more of that royal flare. It’s also great to start wearing them early on in rehearsals to practice how movement for the part will feel in heels.

I am excited to grab my bag on rehearsal days. It means I’m going to end the day on a fun note!

Thank you for sharing all of your royal wisdom, Lucy! We look forward to your performance as Elsa in Encore’s production of Frozen Jr. this October. We’re sure it’ll give everyone chills.