Welcome to Encore’s New Student Editors!

This #FrontRowFriday we’re thrilled to announce a new program here at Encore. We have students involved in so many aspects of theatre: onstage, backstage, in the booth, on the design team, and at front of house. As of today, we’re welcoming students into the realm of arts administration. Please give a warm welcome to our new team of Encore Student Editors!

Pranav C.

Grade: 9th
Past Encore roles/shows: Pinocchio (Coachman), Seussical (Front of House), Ghostchasers! (Horace)
Favorite Encore memory in five words: Relationships I built in Pinocchio
Dream role onstage and/or behind the scenes: JD in Heathers
When I grow up… I want to be a lot of things: a theatre teacher/children’s theatre director, a math teacher, a foreign language teacher, or a school board member.

Hannah K.

Grade: 10th
Past Encore roles/shows: I started working with Encore in 2014 playing Citizen #1 in Cinderella. Then I went on to play Humpty Dumpty in Alice in Wonderland that same year. The next season, I was part of the Animal Chorus in Snow White. Then I was in Mary Poppins over the summer as Mr. Punch/Ensemble. The following year, I played Lavinia in A Little Princess. After that, I appeared as Jolene Fairchild in [Night at the] Wax Museum. Then I was Mrs. Murphy in Madeline’s Christmas. In that February, I was in The Lion King Jr. as Scar. Then, most recently, I was an ensemble Jungle Creature in Seussical this summer. I’ve been in a few crew shows here and there like Treasure Island, The Jungle Book, and not too long ago I was Sound for Ghostchasers.
Encore classes or camps: A couple years ago I attended Broadway Bootcamp learning how to sing and dance to “Food Glorious Food” from the musical Oliver!. And I’ve also volunteered at a couple day camps over the years. This summer I was the production assistant for Encore’s [Stage Door] Shrek Jr. camp. I got to be the stage manager and learn a lot more about tech in the process.
Favorite Encore memory in five words: My very first opening night.
Dream role onstage and/or behind the scenes: I’ve always admired the character Eponine from Les Miserables and have been in love with her songs for a long time. Getting to play her would be an amazing experience.
When I grow up… I want to be involved in performing arts in some shape or form. Whether that be onstage singing and dancing or behind the scenes designing all sorts of stuff.

Xander T.

Grade: 9th grade
Past Encore shows/roles: The Three Musketeers (Guard 1, Thug 3), Hansel and Gretel (Fredrick), Cul de Sac (Petey Otterloop), The Best Haunted House Ever (Knightfal), Night at the Wax Museum (King Henry VIII), Just Like Us (Director), Madeline’s Christmas (Front of House Crew), Sherlock Holmes (Skeleton II Puppeteer), Fairytale Network (Jimmy Links/Papa Bear), Pinocchio (Spruce), and Seussical (backstage crew).
Encore Classes or camps: Arabian Nights (class), Incredible Improv (class)
Favorite Encore memory in 5 words: Opening Nights with Encore family
Dream role onstage or backstage: My dream role onstage would be PT Barnum from The Greatest Showman.
When I grow up… I want to be an actor or maybe a director in the film business. I like using my imagination to bring characters to life onstage. I love the bond the cast always has and it is truly a family.

Welcome, once again, to our Student Editors. Plan to see their smiling faces and wise words on the blog and Instagram in the coming months. We can’t wait to see what this new perspective on the student experience will bring!

Come visit many of our awesome student volunteers tomorrow, Saturday, October 27th, at Encore’s 3rd Annual Costume Caper 5K and 1K Kids’ Fun Run! Our volunteers do a marvelous job entertaining our young Encore fans with themed games and crafts that you won’t want to miss. Register today to save yourself time on race day!

Photos by Larry McClemons, Aileen Christian, Cindy Kane Photography Student head shots provided. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.