From July 12 to July 21, San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre’s Academy of Creative Theatre (ACT) will be performing “The Little Mermaid” with San Luis Obispo High School’s own students; juniors Marguerite Zuniga (Ariel) , Olivia Cisneros (Mer-sister and Ensemble), Isaac Rudnick (Chef Louie), Clio Nelson (Ensemble), and Andrew Vander Weele (Prince Eric). Expressions decided to interview these SLOHS actors on the production and their parts.
Expressions: Who are your character(s) in the production?
Junior Marguerite Zuniga: I play Ariel.
Junior Olivia Cisneros: I play one of the Mer-sisters and I am also part of the ensemble.
Junior Isaac Rudnick: So my character in the play is Chef Louis and ensemble.
Junior Clio Nelson: I’m ensemble in the production, meaning I might be a sea creature and/or a human during the show.
Expressions: How was the audition process?
Zuniga: Very nerve-wracking, but the people at the theatre are always so kind, I made multiple friends at the callbacks
Cisneros: The audition process was very organized and minimally stressful. SLO REP is really great at giving you all the information for auditions ahead of time, so I felt prepared.
Rudnick: The audition process was a little different than SLO High’s auditions. We had to sing a song to perform a monologue. After that, I got a callback for dancing and reading and that was basically it.
Nelson: The audition process was really nice. Everyone (staff) was so sweet and made it feel a whole lot less scary and even the people who have been working at SLO REP for a while were really nice and sweet.
Expressions: What is your prior acting experience?
Zuniga: I’ve been acting at SLO REP and at SLO High for a very long time. I was just in Mamma Mia and I have been doing theatre elsewhere since I was 5
Cisneros: I’ve been taking acting classes since elementary school, from improv to musical theatre. I started doing shows in high school, and have been in Bye Bye Birdie, Be More Chill, Mamma Mia, and most recently I played Pugsley in the Addams Family Musical.
Rudnick: Well, prior to auditioning, my acting experience was okay, I would get supporting roles, with a few lines here and there, but it gave me experience so that’s good.
Nelson: I’ve done acting off and on for most of my life, and this is my first production at an actual theater.
Expressions: Have you enjoyed working at SLO REP?
Zuniga: Yes, such good people and such professional techniques.
Cisneros: SLO REP has a very professional atmosphere, but not to the point where it’s harsh and boring. I love the fun energy everybody brings to auditions and rehearsals, while still getting things done. This is my first show with SLO REP, and I could not be more excited.
Rudnick: Yes, totally. It’s been the greatest experience of my life and I like how they totally help out with financial issues and how they create a more professional work experience.
Nelson: I have enjoyed working at SLO REP everyone is so nice and it’s been a welcoming place to work at.
Expressions: What are most looking forward to in this production?
Zuniga: This is my first lead role at SLO REP, and I’ve been in love with the story of the little mermaid since I was very young. This has been a dream of mine for so long and I’m so excited to be given the opportunity to play an amazing character and the opportunity to show what I can really do!
Cisneros: I’m most looking forward to the set and costumes. “The Little Mermaid” is mostly under the sea, so I can’t wait to see how our director turns the stage into an underwater paradise.
Rudnick: The thing that I’m looking forward to is dancing, singing, and working with new people, but besides that, I’m looking forward to my solo song “Les Poissons”.
Nelson: I’m looking forward to learning more about acting and honing my skills. I’m also really looking forward to spending more time with my friends who are in the production along with making new friends.
For further information on tickets and showtimes go to https://www.slorep.org/
