interviewed by Gabriella De Brequet

How did you get involved with Stories that Soar!?

I was apart of Stories that Soar!’s high school program at Desert View High School when I was 17 or 18, I ended up loving it and planned to audition for the ensemble, but I got a school scholarship, so I went away for two years. As soon as I came back this summer I auditioned and got in, and I don’t regret it at all. It’s so much fun!

What has working with Stories that Soar! taught you about your community?

That kids are very aware of everything that happens to them. They are a lot smarter than we think they are. Adults underestimate youth especially, so I’ve learned to accept everyone no matter their age. I don’t necessarily agree with the statement “The older, the wiser”, I think with age comes experience, but a child can be just as wise.

What do you think every performer can benefit from being part of an ensemble?

You learn how to collaborate and especially in Stories that Soar!’s case you play a variety of roles in the same show. As a performer you learn how to to use your body to create multiple characters. Are you everything and every one.

Photo courtesy of Stories that Soar!

Do you have an all time favorite story that has been adapted for the stage?

Yes! A few shows back we did Lemonade. We performed it entirely in silhouette. This little girl wrote this story about this old man who would drink lemonade and eat toast with jam on the porch every day to remember his wife who had dementia that passed away. This little girl’s writing was incredible; her vocabulary was out of this world.

What are you looking forward to sharing with your audience on Saturday’s 2019 Best of Stories that Soar! show at the Fox Theatre?

All the work that the kids have put in! In total they wrote 15,000 stories this year. All the dedication they have put in to feed the Magic Box is incredible. They are invested in the Magic Box. It’s become something that’s essential to their school. Writing becomes less of a chore for these kids and that’s really powerful.

Magic Box at the Fox: Best of Stories that Soar! 2019 show will be Saturday May 11th from 3pm to 5pm at the Fox Theatre (17 W. Congress St.). For tickets visit foxtucsontheatre.ticketforce.com. For more information about Stories that Soar! visit literacyconnects.org.

The spotlight series is an on-going series where we spotlight local female and non-binary artists in the Tucson Community.