Siara Padilla |
Camp Broadway recently sat down with 14 year old Camp Broadway alumni, Siara Padilla, from Providence, Rhode Island, who has since completed her role as Tessie in the national touring production of Annie! During our interview, Siara uncovers what its really like to tour the country as a young professional actress.
CB: Hi Siara! Thanks so much for sitting down with us, I know you have a show tonight. Where are you now?
Siara: Tonight we're in Worcester, Massachusetts!
CB: How long have you been on tour?
Siara: About 8 months.
CB: Are you exhausted?
Siara: (laughs). No!
CB: Wow, I'm impressed, 8 months is a long time! I guess you've had a great time while doing it. How has the experience been working on the Annie Tour?
Siara: Its been amazing because we've been on tour for so long so the cast is like your family and they'll go places with you and see the different cities and see new things. Its just been an amazing experience.
CB: Can you fill me in on some of the best and worst moments of the tour?
Siara: There have just been too many good moments...
CB: Okay, how about you're favorite city?
Siara: I have to say my favorite city was Minneapolis. We probably had the best crowd out of all of them in Minneapolis. And the city was also great there. I also had fun there while we weren't performing. Me and a couple of the other girls went to the Mall of America.
CB: That's great! How many cities have you been in?
Siara: The tour wraps up June 14th, so about 87 all together.
CB: Are you sad to see the tour end?
Siara: Yes, I am. But the director. Mr. Martin Charnin, just came to see us in Baltimore, and he would like us to come back next year. [The director] will have another tour next year. They have had a tour every year for the past 4 or 5 years.
CB: Would you do it again?
Siara: Yes definitely.
CB: So, is Annie in your future plans for sure, or are you looking into other opportunities?
Siara: As for Annie, I am hoping to not outgrow the role and will have to be seen in August by Mr. Charnin. I was looking into South Pacific, but the auditions were held while I was on tour. The music director was supposed to see the Brooklyn, NY performance but didn't make it. So, I submitted a headshot. I hope to just relax for the summer and play softball and maybe take a couple of workshops in NY until I hear if I am asked back to Annie.
CB: What about school? What do you do while you're on the road, especially if you continue on tour next year?
Siara: I'm home schooled by my mom and [each kid in the cast] has a chaperone that travels with them. We have one tutor that travels with us and most kids go to the tutor. I personally think [homeschooling is] better, because you can do it on your own time. Like I don't have to do it on the bus, I can do it at the hotel. And it's also better because I can go out and see the city while the other kids are stuck in school.
CB: Is everyone in your family committed and supportive of your success on the tour? Has it been hard not being home?
Siara: Everyone's all for it. I got to visit them after Alaska since we had a week off. I also was able to sleep at home when we were performing in Providence, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
CB: So, it wasn't too long ago that you attended Camp Broadway at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, in 2006. Do you remember anything about the experience?
Siara: Yes, I definitely liked it. I had done a lot of shows in the past but since doing Camp Broadway, it has give me the confidence to go out and audition for shows as big as Annie.
CB: Is there any advice you can give to other kids looking to act professionally?
Siara: If you want to take it up professionally you just have to keep trying your best. You may not always get the parts that you want but one day you'll get your big break and be so glad that you didn't give up.
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