Q & A with Kayla Longfield (12)

Tiffanie Richerme, Copy Editor

Q: How long have you been doing theater?

A: “I have been doing theater since sixth grade. I did three shows at Grimmer, and I am about to start my tenth show with LC.”

 

Q: What was the musical called, and can you summarize the plot?

A: “This year we did “Forbidden Broadway.” It doesn’t really have a set plot, but it takes famous Broadway shows and actors and makes fun of them. “Chicago,” “Wicked,” “Rent,” “Mamma Mia,” “Cats,” “Phantom” and “Les Mis” were some of the shows included.”

 

Q: What was your job in the musical?

A: “This year I student directed with Seneca Howell and worked on props with Pluto Slager, Delanie Kalwasinski, Kamyran Golec and Abbey Lawson.”

 

Q: How do you feel about the recent musical being your last big production with LC?

A: “It was a little bit different than other shows I’ve done with LC, but I had a lot of fun with it. I was a student director for Matilda last year, and I really enjoyed that, but I had never done props before, so it was cool to have that experience. Also, everyone who was in the show is really talented, and I’m really going to miss working with them after I graduate.”

 

Q: Are you participating in any more shows this year; if so, what?

A: “Yes. I am directing a freshman/sophomore show with Andie Kalemba and Allison Peterson. Freshman shows are a chance for the underclassmen to show off their talent since the mainstage shows (fall show and spring musical) are generally focused on the upperclassmen. The current sophomores didn’t get their freshman shows last year because of COVID, so this year both freshmen and sophomores can audition.”

 

Q: Do you have a favorite memory from the most recent musical; what is it?

A: “I think my favorite part of “Forbidden Broadway” was the first time I saw all of the tech elements come together. I hadn’t seen much of the show yet at that point, and it was really exciting to see the cast perform in costume onstage with all of the lighting and sound effects.” 

 

Q: Do you have a favorite memory from LC theater in general; what is it?

A: “I think I would have to choose opening night for the 2018 freshman shows. I played the Warden in “A Dog’s Life,” which was about four dogs of various ages trying to get adopted. Each dog had their own backstory and specific personality, and the Warden was their moody caretaker. Opening night we had so much energy, and I remember even after we got off stage, we all felt really good.”

 

Q: Do you plan on doing theater in college and/or as a career; why or why not?

A: “I’m actually planning on going into International Relations and Political Science, but I still want to do theater as an extracurricular. I think I would especially like to continue to learn more about tech, if I can. I had always been more interested in cast in middle school, but since then I have been on costumes, set and props, and tech has been something that I really enjoy. I think it would be cool to learn lights or sound in the future.”

 

Q: What do you hope to pass on to the underclassmen in theater?

A: “Something that really stuck out to me from the beginning was how kind and accepting a lot of the upperclassmen in theater were. The kindness and respect they showed to the freshmen and each other was something that I really admired, and it’s actually one of the reasons why I kept doing theater. I hope that I have also had a positive impact on the underclassmen, and I hope that they continue the trend of showing kindness and acceptance to each new class of thespians.”