Liliana posing for her Playmakers headshot. Photo self-submitted.
This fall, the Playmakers performed “The Lost Girl, or First Chair,” which is about a first chair violinist who goes missing. Nobody knows where she is, so the orchestra teacher tries to fill her seat. This reveals many underlying issues. Theories and rumors about her whereabouts circulate. Waves wander across the stage bringing mystery and ambiance to the plot. And there is only one sophomore in the production, Liliana Lemus.
Liliana found her inspiration to act through dance.
“I did competitive clogging for eleven years, and I started playing music for audiences at ten years old, so I've been comfortable on stage my entire life,” said Lemus. “I fell in love with theatre in fifth grade when I was in Parkway's production of ‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’ That was my first year at Parkway after moving schools, so theatre was my safe space and my way of making friends. I'm still close with my theatre friends from Parkway, and I've been able to make so many more from Watauga.”
Liliana’s dedication to clogging and interest in theater has been valuable in adding to her confidence. In addition to building her confidence, Liliana is part of supportive communities. This confidence and community carried her forwards to auditioning for Playmakers.
“I was so excited to find out that I was going to be part of the Playmakers ensemble as a sophomore, but to be completely honest, I was terrified. I was worried that I was going to be left out or make a bad impression, but after being in this class, I've really learned how much everyone means to each other,” said Lemus. “Every Playmaker has made me feel supported at some point during my time in the class. I look up to every single one of them and I always try my hardest to grow in my acting abilities from watching and learning from their performances. I hope that I can be a role model to other students in theatre the way that they have been role models to me.”
Lemus used the support from her fellow cast members in learning her new role in their fall play. She wants to continue to inspire and uplift upcoming students, just like her castmates did for her. Lemus has truly adopted the acting community’s encouraging spirit.
“In ‘The Lost Girl, or First Chair,’ I play what I would describe as the personification of a wave,” Lemus said. “Having this role, I have to be aware of my surroundings and the other actors at all times, especially the other two actors playing waves, because we all need to be in sync like we're one big wave. I'd say my favorite part of this role is how it looks to the audience. This show is such a visually beautiful piece, and I think that the waves really pull it all together.”
On the subject of inspiration and growth, the time spent on stage has further developed her skills. She has been able to develop skills on-and-off stage that can even help her in class.
“Being a performer has taught me how to deal with nerves and improve my presentation skills. Before we do a run, some of the Playmakers will remind everyone to breathe and give our all for each performance,” said Lemus. “Obviously, not every run is perfect, but remembering to relax before we go on improves my confidence every time.”
It’s important to encourage those around you and celebrate personal wins, Lemus believes. Learning a new skill or part can be intimidating, but for those wanting to get involved in theater, Lemus had some helpful advice!
“If I could give advice to someone who wants to be a Playmaker, I would tell them not to overthink every decision,” Lemus said. “Of course, be prepared, but don't be so worried about every choice you make that it carries on into your acting. The audience can tell when you panic, so remember to breathe, stay calm, and focus on achieving an established goal. Before I auditioned, I was given this advice from a former Playmaker. She reminded me that I did everything that I needed to do to prepare beforehand, so there was no need to worry. I remembered this during my audition, and I got through it successfully.”
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