Name: Gabriela Mercado
School & Grade: Connelly, 9th Grade
Role: Snow White/Birds
Briefly tell us about your role:
Snow White is a princess who is introduced in the second act as Rapunzel’s Prince’s new love interest. She makes a cameo appearance at the end of the show. The bird is one of Cinderella’s friends who help her throughout her story.
How are you preparing for your specific role?
I am practicing my different harmonies for the show.
What is your favorite song from the show?
Into the Woods is a show with an absolutely amazing score, and each musical piece is carefully thought out. I would have to say that my favorite song is either “Your Fault” or “It Takes Two”.
Can you share a favorite Tri-School memory?
A strong memory I have is of my first final circle. The entire cast and crew sat on stage on the last day of Bye Bye Birdie and spoke about their experiences in the show. It was a special way to say goodbye to the seniors and the people we had grown close to.
Favorite subject in school/Favorite teacher?
My favorite subject in school is either English or Latin, and, thankfully, I enjoy all my teachers.
Are you involved in anything outside of Tri-School?
At Connelly I am a part of ASB, the Advanced Women’s Ensemble, and the Connelly VEX Robotics team.
If you aren’t performing, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I enjoy listening to music or sleeping in my spare time.
If someone could play YOU in the movie of your life, who would it be?
I think if I could have a movie of my life I’d like to play myself.
What are you excited for audiences to see in “Into the Woods”?
I’m excited for audiences to see the amazing production that the talented students at Tri-School Theatre are performing.
Anyone you would like to thank?
I’d like to thank my parents, my brothers, and my friends for always supporting me.
Name: Jillian Sarni
School & Grade: Rosary Academy, 11th Grade
Role: Sleeping Beauty/Birds
Briefly tell us about your role:
I have two roles in this show: Sleeping Beauty and one of Cinderella’s birds. Sleeping Beauty provides some necessary comedic relief in the finale, and Cinderella’s birds are actually not written as characters in the show, so that’ll be a surprise.
How are you preparing for your specific role?
I’m preparing for my roles by drawing inspiration from the original Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella movies, as well as by practicing my music from the show.
What is your favorite song from the show?
My favorite song from the show might be Ever After, not only because it is the end of the first act, but also because it is when all the conflicts in the show are seemingly resolved, right before everything gets shaken up again in the second act.
Can you share a favorite Tri-School memory?
There are honestly too many to count, but one of my favorite memories is from the spring musical last year, “Bye Bye Birdie”. During closing circle, one of the cast members shared a poem he had written to his friends who had made his experience in the show memorable, and I was so happy to have been included.
Favorite subject in school/Favorite teacher?
My favorite subject in school is probably history, because it involves real people and events, which I like learning about. But my favorite teacher this year might be my physics teacher, Mr. Faubl. Even though I’ve historically disliked science, he makes it entertaining and fun. He also secretly enjoys listening to musical theatre songs as much as I do.
Are you involved in anything outside of Tri-School?
I’m involved in many clubs at school, including being the president of the yoga club. I’m involved in National Charity League with my mom and my sister, and I’m currently a Red and Gold captain. I’m also a youth leader at my church, and I take dance lessons and voice lessons outside of Tri-School.
If you aren’t performing, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
If I’m not performing, I enjoy reading, watching movies, listening to music, and spending time with my friends in whatever spare time I have.
If someone could play YOU in the movie of your life, who would it be?
If someone could play me in the movie of my life, it would probably be Anne Hathaway, because I’ve loved her ever since I first saw her in The Princess Diaries movies.
What are you excited for audiences to see in “Into the Woods”?
I’m so excited for audiences to see “Into the Woods”, because we have an amazing cast of talented actors, and we are all working very hard to make this show the best it can be. We are also supposed to have some really cool sets and special effects as well.
Anyone you would like to thank?
I would like to thank my family for supporting me and for buying tickets to my shows, my friends at Tri-School for motivating me to be my best, and Mr. Marrone and Mrs. Kasang for giving me this opportunity and for always believing in me.
See Tri-School‘s production of Into the Woods starring thespians from Cornelia Connelly High School, Rosary Academy, and Servite High School, May 3-6, 2018, at Anaheim Center for the Performing Arts at Servite. Order your tickets now! This modern classic takes everyone’s favorite storybook characters and brings them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece. The story follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the spell. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.
