The producers and Segerstrom Center for the Arts are pleased to announce casting for the national tour of Roald Dahl’s CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, which will play Segerstrom Hall May 28 – June 9, 2019. As previously announced, Broadway veteran Noah Weisberg (South Pacific, Enron, Elf, Legally Blonde) will star as the extraordinary chocolate maker, Willy Wonka, with Henry Boshart (age 10), Collin Jeffery (age 11) and Rueby Wood (age 11), alternating in the title role of Charlie Bucket.
Laguna Beach local,
“Sabrina Harper” (Swing, Mrs. Buckett) is in the show and she has graciously agreed to share her thoughts about acting and theatre in a Q and A with Aliso Laguna News.
Born and raised in Laguna Beach, California; Sabrina received her early training in dance, singing and acting in Laguna Beach, Los Angeles, and New York, where she was also seen as a child actress in numerous National Commercials and TV Shows.
After graduating from Laguna Beach High School, she received a full scholarship to the John Cranko Academy, School of the Stuttgart Ballet, which brought her to Stuttgart, Germany; where she completed her dance education with a Diploma in Classical Dance.
Q and A with Sabrina Harper
ALN: We see from your bio that you have lived in Europe and New York – besides Laguna Beach. Please tell us a little about living in these places.
Well, living in Europe and New York are both very different from living in Laguna Beach; first for the obvious reasons of living in a foreign country and having to speak a different language and then of course living in such a large and fast-paced city such as New York compared to our beautiful small beach town. When I first went to Germany to study at 17, I felt like my security bubble was burst. It was ‘sink or swim’ and I definitely didn’t want to sink so I learned the language, studied hard, and immersed myself into European life. I spent many years in Europe; working and performing in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. All very different and very beautiful. I would perform Broadway musicals that they brought over to Europe, it would be the same show you’d see on Broadway but there we would be singing and speaking in German.
ALN: What do you like about these cities and what do you like about Laguna Beach?
I love Laguna Beach, it’s my hometown. It’s where I grew up and where my father grew up and where my family and friends are. It’s an absolutely beautiful, relaxing, small, artistic beach community. A little piece of Southern California paradise. New York, on the other hand, is a vibrant, fast-paced, loud, and exciting city. The lights are bright on Broadway, and being in New York fills my passion for dance and fills my theatre loving soul. And Germany is my home away from home. Because I lived there so long I was able to immerse myself not only in the industry but also in the culture. A rich, and very historical culture. I am so thankful for my time spent there, it’s beautiful and incomparable to anywhere else. Each city, each country, is so different. I recommend traveling, travel, travel!!!
ALN: How has being multi-lingual helped you in your acting and performing career?
Being multi-lingual has been super beneficial in my career. It opened doors for me to perform speaking roles in Europe. This has been so important in my career as I transitioned from Ballet Dancer to Musical Theatre Actress. Speaking a foreign language opened up many possibilities to travel and work all over the world. The more languages one speaks, the more opportunities one has to communicate, and what is more important than communication.
ALN: What is your favorite type of role?
My favorite type of role is one where I can sing, dance, and act. We call that a “Triple Threat” in the business. I love to perform this type of a role because I am able to express myself to the fullest. “When speaking isn’t enough, we sing, and when singing isn’t enough, we dance.” I want to tell a story and express that in all ways possible.
ALN: How did you get started in acting?
I got started in acting at a very young age. I actually have my parents to thank for opening this door to me and being very supportive. I’ve been told the first commercial casting I went to was when I was a baby. I had to eat cheese, unfortunately, I didn’t like cheese as much then as I do now, but I still continued to do castings and really enjoyed working in the TV industry. Growing up in Laguna Beach I was part of the Laguna Playhouse Youth Ensemble where we learned to work in all aspects of the theatre (Stage management, lighting, sound, set design), and I danced intensively with Ballet Pacifica and the Los Angeles Classical Ballet. I guess, as long as I can remember, have been involved in some aspect of the performing arts, that truly was a blessing to have grown up in Laguna, with so many arts programs available in our school system.
ALN: Do you want to recognize anyone in Laguna Beach or Orange County that has helped you or inspired you?
I have a few people in Laguna Beach that I would like to recognize for their support and teachings. Joe Lauderdale, he was one of my first acting teachers and Directors and I learned so much from him in the Youth Ensemble, he is still Directing in Laguna for the No Square Theatre. Pauline Kyne and her daughter Lisa Kyne, I took Tap and Jazz with Pauline and learned so much discipline and performing skills. I will never forget Dancin 89! They too both still teach in Laguna at the Suzy Q, I recommend taking classes with them if you’re in the neighborhood. And last I would like to recognize the late Lila Zali, my love and passion for Ballet grew and developed with her, and through her teachings and studying at Ballet Pacifica with Kathy Kahn and Molly Lynch I ended up getting a full scholarship to study dance in Germany and from there on my career continued.
ALN: Is there any advice you would like to give to young aspiring locals who want to be in the biz?
If you want to be in the biz, know that it’s going to take a lot of Perseverance, Perseverance, Perseverance, and the drive, dedication, and desire to do your best! Never stop educating yourself, work on your weaknesses the most, don’t take rejection personally and keep the child in you alive.
