Stagelight student Cole Thompson, 11 years old, was one of the performers in last Christmas’ The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker at The Music Center in Los Angeles. This was the 7th year the show ran, and it was produced and directed by Debbie Allen herself. Stagelight Performing Arts caught up with Cole last week to discuss his role in the show:

SPA: What is your favorite part about this role?

CT: It was something so different! I’ve never done anything like it before. It was so great to try something new.

SPA: What was the most difficult thing about this role?

CT: The hardest thing was probably trying to get used to something brand new and starting fresh while not knowing any of the people there. I had to make friends and work with choreographers I didn’t know. Getting used to the new vibe of everything was hard.

SPA: What roles did you play in the show?

CT: I was in the HipHop Candy Cane number, one of the people in the opening party scene, and a toy soldier in Toyland–which was a tap number. I was also in the Flamenco piece!

SPA: What is one special memory you’ll treasure from doing this show?

CT: Probably that I was dancing with Debbie Allen, which is not something many people can say they’ve done! That was an amazing experience to dance with someone who is so highly ranked in what they do.

Today is a day we celebrate one man’s dream. The work isn’t finished yet, but we are proud to be a part of the work by promoting inclusiveness, love, and understanding.

This piece, filmed by Glass Eye Productions, was inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The tap rhythms and grooves, choreographed by Alyssa Gramer,  are set against selections of King’s speech laid over a piece of music by DeVotchka.

Bonnie QuaasBerryman, 14 years old, is becoming quite the triple threat– dancer, singer, and actress. Enrolled in 14 classes at Stagelight Performing Arts per week, plus 3 private lessons and two hours as a Teacher’s Assistant at Stagelight, this super star fits in multiple productions a year too. We caught up with her recently to discuss her role as the Scarecrow in Stagelight Productions’ Wizard of Oz, running from 1/12-29 at The Curtis Theatre in Brea.

SPA: What is your favorite part about this role?

BQB: My favorite part about the role is actually the falling. It is kinda funny seeing everyone’s reactions, and if after I fall, if I have trouble standing up, it is in character.

SPA: What was the most difficult thing about this role?

BQB: The most difficult part for me is being loose in my legs and my arms because I am so used to dance. In dance, everything is precise. Now, it is all about being loose.

SPA: What do you and the Scarecrow have in common?

BQB: Scarecrow and I are similar in one obvious way: we are both very clumsy. Some of those falls are unscripted!

SPA: Did you do anything special to prepare for this role compared to other roles you’ve played?

BQB: For this role, I watched two movies, watched a YouTube video, made faces in the mirror, worked in my private lesson with Ms. Lindsey, and got knee pads. That was different.

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