Ella Caraway and Eli Tafoya represent two of the small selection of students who got accepted into OCSA for the next school year. Both of these young stars will be studying Musical Theatre at the brand new OCSA campus in the fall. We chatted with them about the audition process and their excitement for their futures.

SPA: Ella, what was the most challenging part of the audition process?

EC: The most difficult part was the audition, going in by myself, because I’ve never done such a serious audition before. It was really nerve-racking.

SPA: Was there anything in your Stagelight classes that helped you prepare specifically for that audition?

EC: Yeah, the technique of learning a monologe correctly and singing technically correct!

SPA: Eli, do you know how many people auditioned?

ET: I don’t, but there were only 30 spots available when I auditioned!

SPA: What are you most excited about when thinking about your future at OCSA?

ET: I’m most excited about being at a school where I can study what I love and become a better performer.

These two Stagelighters are off to a bright future, and we are so proud of both of them!

Cadence Lusinsky has been a student at Stagelight Performing Arts for three years, and she has participated in numerous Stagelight Family Productions’ shows. She is now embarking on a new journey: college! Cadence will be attending Cal State Long Beach as a film major. We wanted to hear all about Cadence’s thoughts on her new adventure:

SPA: What interests you most about studying film?

CL: I love how film allows people to tell stories and connect with one another. I feel like it’s a creative way of learning who we all are. Film allows you to see things from different perspectives. Then you can use those perspectives to make sense of things in the real world and in your own life. I think it’s such an incredible process!

SPA: What types of activities or programs were you a part of in high school that encouraged you to become a film major in college?

CL: I was really involved in theatre. I was in my school’s theatre program for all four years, and I did shows with Stagelight Family Productions. Theatre played a huge role in my decision to study film, because it taught me to appreciate art as a way of communication. On stage, everything from the way you speak and move to the sets and lighting become pieces of art that help tell a story.

SPA: How did your training at Stagelight help you in your pursuit of attending college?

CL: Training at Stagelight has helped me realize that hard work really does pay off. By putting in time and effort, I’ve seen myself grow as a performer. I’ve come to know the importance of perseverance. I’m certain that this sense of endurance will help me throughout college.

We are so proud of you, Cadence!

Sofia Candela, 11 years old, recently played the lead role of Gertrude in Suessical the Musical at Golden Elementary. Sofia takes over four hours of classes a week at Stagelight Performing Arts, including Acting, Jazz, Musical Theatre, and Vocal Music private lessons. We at Stagelight have had the privilege of watching Sofia grow as a performer over the last two years, so we wanted to hear more about her role as Gertrude!

SPA: What do you have in common with Gertrude, the bird?

SC: Gertrude and I are both very dorky, and we both have our own sense of style. We don’t really go along with what the majority does–like Mayzie and the Bird Girls with their giant tails. Gertrude wears Converse and has her own style.

SPA: How did your Stagelight classes help you prepare?

SC: My Stagelight classes really helped because Gertrude is a big character, but she also has times where she is serious and sentimental. My Acting classes really helped with that. My Dance classes helped because Gertrude dances with very precise movements.

SPA: Did you do anything specific to prepare for this role?

SC: I watched, I’m going to say, 10s of 100s of videos of different productions of Suessical to find out what the pool of characters was for Gertrude! When I saw Gertrude, I just fell in love with the character. I’m embarrassed to say I knew all the songs, like, 6 months in advance before auditions!