#TAABeauty Young Artist Spotlight: Featured Dancer Kaylynn Gardner!

Kaylynn Bonnie Gardner is an eleven year old sixth grader at Monroe Elementary School in Hanford, her favorite subject is math and we at Theater Arts Alliance have known that "KK" was a girl to watch ever since she walked into auditions for the Nutcracker Ballet!  We hope that this talented and enthusiastic young woman continues to be a fixture in our productions!  Here are some of her thoughts on life as a young person in the performing arts! 
 
 
How long have you been studying the performing arts? 
I have danced since before I could even walk, competing with Dancer's Edge in Hanford and the past year dancing with Ruby Slipper in Visalia. Last summer I was in my first production, Annie, where I was a lead dancer. It was so much fun and it truly sparked my desire to be on stage! Last fall I was privileged to be in Nutcracker with TAA. I played the part of Fritz, Clara's brother, and also danced as a soldier, Peppermint and Gingerbread. That was my first real experience with a professional theatre company and I loved every minute! Madama Butterfly with TAA was my first opera experience and it was amazing! With Ruby Slipper, I also performed in Mulan. I am now involved in TAA's Beauty and the Beast as a featured dancer which will perform later this month. I actually learned to walk in my first ballet class in Kings Dance Center in Hanford! I have been dancing ever since! When I am dancing, I feel inspired and happy. I am also an ambassador for a dance company, Sugar. This has been a fun experience and I get to promote their company and share my dance experiences with friends on Instagram.

Can you tell us about some of your latest adventures?  There seems to be a lot going on for you right now!  This summer has been filled with new, exciting experiences for me. I have auditioned for a movie which will start filming sometime this fall, I performed in a music video with Talia Perez, a new Christian artist, performed live with her in Los Angeles, and filmed the music video on top of the L.A. Athletic Club in downtown Los Angeles! That was such a crazy fun experience. Saturday night, after rehearing for Beauty in the Beast in Visalia, I attended my very first Red Carpet event in Hollywood, hosted by the producer and casting directors I am currently working with. It was an event to expose new film makers and actresses to the Hollywood elite! I also spent two days the past week filming a movie in Los Angeles. This was a UCLA Student film production where I was a classroom kid and a playground kid. The start was Zackary Arthur (The 5th Wave). I was on the movie set for two days. I met a lot of people. This summer I also had the opportunity to do some stock print modeling, and I had two professional photo shoots in Los Angeles. My mom is in negotiations for two new projects, however, I'm still waiting on those! 
 
Who should come and see TAABeauty and why?  I would encourage everyone to go experience Beauty and the Beast. It's going to be awesome. The singers are all amazing and the acting is very professional. I'm honored to be a part of this production. I think when people experience the performing arts, they can let the cares of the day away and you can relax and be pulled into the story for a couple of hours. The cast for Beauty and the Beast is the largest cast I've worked with and I'm loving getting to know so many new people. My dream is to someday have a lead part in a production so I can showcase the experiences I have had and perform for my family and friend. My dreams are coming true thanks to TAA and my parents and family who support me in this 100%.

Come meet Kaylynn "KK" and the rest of the fantastic
TAA Beauty cast this August 18-21 at the 

LJ Williams Theater in Visalia! 

For Tickets call 559-972-8417 

or go to http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2561633

TAA Butterfly Spotlight: Ensemble Member Brittany Uggla!

Meet Brittany Uggla! Her lovely voice and unfailingly positive personality are assets to every cast she is in, and she brings a huge amount of focus and energy to her role in the ensemble. We are so glad she is part of TAA Butterfly.  Here are her thoughts on Madama Butterfly and her work in theater as well as in the "real world!"

What brought you to TAA Butterfly?
I decided to join the Butterfly cast because I thought it would be a great experience, challenging, and fun! This is my first opera and now I can take what I have learned in voice lessons to the stage.

You've done several shows -- what is your favorite part of the rehearsal process?
My favorite part of the rehearsal process is the journey. Being in a production you get to see it from the beginning and watch it slowly transform from "some people singing" to a spectacular production!

How is this production different from other theater projects you've done?
Madama Butterfly is different from other musical productions that I have participated in that it is completely sung in Italian. I had to do some research to figure out what the characters were saying.

What is your favorite section?
My favorite section to sing is "Cio-Cio-San!" where Butterfly's uncle crashes the wedding and we all turn against her.

What is your "day job?" 
My day job is I work at College of the Sequoias in Accounts Receivable. I am also getting ready to apply for a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy at Fresno Pacific and hope to one day get certified as a drama/art therapist.

Other interests?
My hobbies other then performing are anything and everything in the arts from photography to make up design to painting to making random videos for fun.

What is your next theater project?
I am not sure what my next theater project will be. I got married during the summer and have been busy adjusting to married life but I'm sure I'll be involved in another production soon.

See Brittany and the rest of the #TAAButterfly cast tear up the stage on March 4th and 6th at the Main Street Theater in Visalia! 
Tickets at Brown Paper Tickets: Madama Butterfly

TAA Butterfly Cast Spotlight -- Elizabeth Hampton, "Il Cugina"

Elizabeth in the TCOE production of "Peter Pan"

Elizabeth Hampton is what we call a true "Triple Threat" -- she can act, she can dance, and wow can she sing!  She played the Ballerina Doll in TAA's production of the Nutcracker Ballet and at fifteen has already been in many dance shows and musical theater productions.  
In the Theater Arts Alliance production of Madama Butterfly, Elizabeth plays "il Cugina" -- Butterfly's young and outspoken cousin. 

You've done a lot of dance and musical theater -- what about opera? 
This is my first opera production.  TAA gave me the opportunity to audition along with the rest of the season and I thought, "why not?!

What is your favorite part of the rehearsal process? 
My favorite part of the rehearsal process would have to be singing with such a talented cast. 

How is opera different from other things you've done?
Madame butterfly is very different from any other shows I've been in for many reasons but the main reason is it is in a different language!

What is your favorite section as a singer?
My favorite part to sing is O Kami! everyone sounds phenomenal there and its just fun to sing!

You obviously spend a lot of time on singing -- what are your other interests? 
I practice all genres of dance, study many different musical instruments, and oil paint.

Future goals?
My goals are to continue my career in theatre and move to New York!




 
What can we see you in next after TAA Butterfly?
My next show is Billy Joel's "Movin' Out -- the Musical" produced by TCOE

See Elizabeth Hampton and the rest of the TAA Butterfly Cast March 4th and 6th at the Main Street Theater in Visalia
Tickets at: Brown Paper Tickets: Madama Butterfly 
 

Elizabeth has the same exuberance on stage and in life!

 

 

TAA Butterfly Spotlight: Ensemble Member Scott Rogers!

Ensemble member Scott Rogers is one of the best people to work with in the Tulare County theater community, and we are grateful whenever we win the fight with the Ag Show or planting or harvest and get to have him in a show!

Why did you decide to be part of Madama Butterfly?  
A different experience. I have never done an opera before, and what a great one to start with! 

What is your favorite part of the rehearsal process?
When it all starts to come together. I know that when I get the chills during rehearsal we are there and the audience is going to feel it too. 

You've been part of many shows; how is this one different? 
Butterfly is very different for me, not only is the music difficult, but memorizing and pronouncing Italian is hard! 

What is your favorite section as a singer?
I enjoy the men's chorus entrance section; not only do we (the tenors) get to trade off with the women, but also with the baritones as well. Then we swell together and hit the big high notes.

Scott in "real life" as a thriving Tulare County Farmer

What else interests you besides music and theater? I love to travel, especially with my family. I would like to visit all the great theaters around the world someday. 

Do you have any future goals in theater work? To keep working and getting better. I hope I can continue to do what I love. Live theater is so much fun. So much work but the rewards are great. 

Why perform?
 I love to make a connection with the audience, and make them feel what the composer wanted them to feel. 

Future theater projects? Not sure yet, "Chicago" would be a blast! We will see what the future brings.



See Scott Rogers and the rest of the #TAAButterfly cast March 4th and 6th at the Main Street Theater in Visalia! 
Tickets at:  Brown Paper Tickets: Madama Butterfly

 

Scott in the "Master of the House" scene in the LCA production of Les Miserables

TAA Butterfly Spotlight: Ensemble Member Kat Goodin!

How many people can say that their first experience doing theater is in an opera?  This is true for beautiful mezzo-soprano Kat Goodin.  Though she has sung choral masterworks such as Handel's Messiah, this is her first time putting on a character for the stage -- and it seems like she has been doing it all her life!

Why did you join the TAA Butterfly cast?  I wanted to join the cast because I love to sing! 

What is the best part of the rehearsal process?  I really love that moment when the group is working on a vocal piece and it just clicks, everything comes together. 

What are your other interests?  My day job is Speech-language pathologist, working in the school district with kids. Interests are music, cooking, and spending time with my family. I'm also a little addicted to clothing, shoes, and accessories. 

Why opera?  I believe music is universal. It brings dimension, healing, and purpose to life.

See Kat and the rest of the #TAAButterfly cast March 4th and 6th at the Main Street Theater in Visalia!  Tickets at Brown Paper Tickets -- Madama Butterfly

TAA Butterfly Spotlight: Tiffanie Trujillo, "Suzuki"

Tiffanie Trujillo is an outstanding emergent professional mezzo currently studying at Fresno State.  Tiffanie is simply a treasure on stage.  Her acting is incredibly detail-oriented and her voice flawlessly rich and beautiful.  It will be very exciting to see where this young singer goes in her career, but for today, here are her thoughts on playing "Suzuki" in the Theater Arts Alliance production of Madama Butterfly.

Tiffanie playing the title role in "Carmen" at FSU

Tell us about your role in TAA's "Madama Butterfly:  I play Suzuki, Butterfly's faithful servant. Suzuki is an important character because she fuels the emotional direction of the audience in many situations. She is a subtle voice of morality and sympathy through her very being which, in turn, highlights the tragedy. Her sympathy toward Ciocio-san functions as an extension through which the audience can relate to as a third-party while her unique relationship to Ciocio-san gives insight into the world of Madama Butterfly.

What are some other roles you have played?  In the recent past, I've performed the role of Carmen and premiered the role of Ortensia in The Secret of Luca. This year I will be premiering the role of Mamà Guadalupe Lucinda y La Flor de La Nochebuena.

Tell us about your operatic training:  My operatic training has its roots in the Vocal Performance program at Fresno State, but I have also taken part in masterclasses and programs outside of my university performance studies. At the NOA convention in 2015, I had a masterclass with maestro Willie Anthony Waters, and that summer I participated in Lingua e canto -- a summer program in Italy. This summer, I hope to return to Italy to continue studying opera and the Italian language.

What are your future goals?  My short term goals are to graduate and enter a masters program in opera performance at a conservatory either in the USA or in Europe.

What is your favorite moment in Madama Butterfly?  One of my most favorite moments in Madama Butterfly is the duet between Pinkerton and Butterfly. How tender, glimmering, whimsical, and intensely passionate! Puccini paints all sorts of motion and color that truly capture the moment when love flourishes for the first time between lovers and Nature looks at itself with new eyes.

Who should come to see this opera and why?  Anyone should come to see this opera because it is a story that will both tenderly caress and jar your heart; therefore, it will nourish your sense of being.

 
Come and experience Tiffanie Trujillo and the rest of the TAA Butterfly cast on March 4th and 6th at the Main Street Theater in Visalia!




Tickets at:  Brown Paper Tickets: Madama Butterfly

TAA Butterfly Spotlight: Ensemble/Uffiziale Adrian Oceguera

The Theater Arts Alliance production of Madama Butterfly is starting to take beautiful shape, and over the next few days I want to introduce the members of the cast, especially the fantastic chorus that provides some of the most exciting moments of the show! 

This spotlight is on Adrian Oceguera, an extremely talented tenor from Selma.  This is his first work in opera, and he has dived in wholeheartedly, even to the point of covering for the lead tenor during ensemble rehearsals!  Adrian also plays the secondary "Uffiziale" -- the official that oversees the marriage between Pinkerton and Cio-Cio San.  

What made you decide to join the Butterfly cast?
I have never, nor did I ever think I would, perform in an opera, and it seemed intriguing to me, so I took a jump and joined the cast. Plus, it was an easier decision knowing I could get my niece involved as well.

What is your favorite part of a rehearsal process?
My favorite part has always been learning a new song. The songs in this show have proven to be challenging, but are definitely helping everyone grow as musicians and people. 

How is Butterfly different and/or the same as other shows you've done? Well there's singing! While I've not been in many shows, almost all of them have involved singing. That's how they'd be the same. How they're different? Well, I'd say the difficulty has definitely been turned up a few notches, as well as it all being in a different language. 

What is your favorite section to sing? My favorite section is the one that starts with "Bello non e' in verita bello non e'," sung by the chorus. There are so many different parts going on at one time and you have to be perfect rhythmically and tonally for it to sound well. The challenge has been accepted by fellow singers and I. 

What is your "day job" and what are your other hobbies in life? I am a Software Developer for Madera Unified School District and I also own my own karaoke business. I consider myself a craft beer connoisseur and am also a competitive bowler. I've played in multiple bands throughout my time, playing both bass and guitar, and most recently opened up for mega bands from the 90's. So that was exciting! 

What is your next theater project? Right now, I am gearing up for multiple shows. After Butterfly, I am playing the title role, Frederich Frankenstein, in Young Frankenstein with Theater Arts Alliance and I will also be in Shrek! with the Raisin' Cain Players out of Selma, CA 

Come and see Adrian and the rest of the incredible Butterfly cast on March 4th and 6th at the Main Street Theater in Visalia! 
Tickets at:  Brown Paper Tickets: Madama Butterfly