JILL VAN VELZER INTERVIEWED

 

1. What is your educational and professional training that prepared you for the role of Anna?

My educational background is pretty normal--graduated high school in 1994, graduated Pepperdine University in 1998 with a Bachelor's degree (Theatre Arts major, Vocal Music minor)... Professional training included a three-week summer audition workshop at the American Center for Music Theatre here in Los Angeles, as well as vocal coaching from various voice teachers around town. Honestly, though, I'd have to say that most of what I know about theatre has come from watching theatre. My family lived in England while my father was in the Air Force--I was in junior high school at the time--and we took advantage of the opportunity to go see lots of different West End productions. I fell in love with musical theatre from seeing all those shows! I returned to England during my sophomore year of college and used my food allowance to buy student-priced theatre tickets--over sixty-five shows in eight months! I really believe that watching so many great professionals practice their craft taught me more about my own craft than any classroom teacher ever did.

Incidentally, living in England also taught me all I needed to know about how to put on a proper English accent, which DEFINITELY came in handy when it came time to do "The King and I"!

2. As a child, did you aspire to become an actress?
Yup. Absolutely. I just never really believed I'd do it! Life is full of surprises...

3. How did you start your career as an actress?
Well, that depends on where you place the start of my career! Let's see...there was my stage debut at the tender age of seven in my 2nd grade class production of the operetta, Hansel and Gretel (I was Gretel!). Then there was my high school musical debut as Laurey in Oklahoma!--I was actually in 7th grade at the time, but the school included 7th-12th grades. The role that got me my agent was the Witch in Into the Woods at Pepperdine--I was halfway through my senior year. My first job out of college was as a performer on a cruise ship--sounds very glamorous, but actually, I was really glad to see the end of it! My first musical theatre job out of college was in a Los Angeles production of Meet Me in St. Louis, in a supporting role. And finally, my first job as a member of the professional actors' union (Actors' Equity Association) was last summer, playing Guenevere in a production of Camelot in San Diego county. So I guess my career has had a lot of "firsts," if you want to look at it that way!

4. How did you learn about the audition for "The King and I"? Where did you audition? What were you asked to do during the audition? Did you have a call back? My agent scheduled an appointment for me to audition for Big League Theatricals' touring production of the musical, "1776". We had no idea at the time that Big League was tentatively looking for a new leading lady for their production of "The King and I". The auditions were held at Debbie Reynolds Studios in North Hollywood--it was mid-February 1999. I was really sick that day, but I went to the audition anyway and sang the last page of "How Could I Ever Know?", a song from "The Secret Garden". Dan Stewart, the director, asked me if I knew any of the songs from "The King and I." I was a little surprised at the question, but I said that yes, I was familiar with the songs. Dan handed me the music for "Hello, Young Lovers," and asked me to sing it. After that, he gave me scenes and sheet music from both "1776 "and "The King and I "and asked if I could come to callbacks two days later. At the callbacks, I sang all the music they had given me and read the scenes opposite Alee Ralph! (Alee makes a good King--hee-hee!) Then I went home and tried not to be nervous about it--it was over three weeks until I heard they had cast me as "Anna"! Yippee!


5. What was it like wearing those magnificent costumes?
Oh, the costumes were fantastic. It was a dream come true. Those dresses made me feel like a princess. I used to stand backstage waiting to make my first entrance in Act II and pray to God, thanking Him for the fact that I was actually getting PAID to wear that gold ballgown! (Carrying around forty pounds' worth of hoopskirts for three hours a night helps you get in shape, too--I lost close to fifteen pounds!)

6. What was it like backstage?
Well, it depended on what kind of theatre we were playing on any given night. Sometimes, the backstage area would be really tiny and crowded and sometimes, it would be really spacious. There would always be a white sheet taped down on the floor to designate my costume changing area--since my hoopskirts were so big, I had to make every one of my costume changes in the wings, rather than in my dressing room. Our hairdresser, Stacy, and one local crew person would always be there to help me put on my clothes.
My favorite time backstage was always during the Uncle Tom's Cabin ballet. I would sit on my stool and listen to Rodgers and Hammerstein's beautiful music while watching our extraordinary dancers--I just felt so very grateful to be making a living doing what I loved. Then Lauren would come over and visit before she and Julie had to go onstage and be clouds. I always liked that part, too.

7. Did you always have your own dressing room?
No, not always. Most of the time, but not always. If I had to share with anyone, it was usually Wen Zhang, who played Lady Thiang. Occasionally, we'd both have to share with Hai Ting Chinn, who played Tuptim.

8. How long did you tour with the show?
Not long enough!! I didn't want it to end! My first performance was April 24, 1999, and my last performance was June 3, 2000.

9. What did you enjoy most about touring?
Getting to see all different parts of the country, and getting to know all the other performers.

10. What did you like least about touring?
Not being able to share it all with my mom and dad--talking about it over the phone just wasn't the same!

11. What have you done professionally since the tour ended?
The day after I flew home, I started rehearsals as Guenevere in a three-month-long production of "Camelot " in San Diego County. The day after that show closed, I auditioned for and was cast as the lead in my FAVORITE musical, "She Loves Me", which performed for three weeks last November. (I even got nominated for an award for that show--I was excited!!) During December, I worked as a member of a professional Christmas carolling group. In January, I started rehearsals for a workshop version of a new musical, "Rockne". (I had performed the lead in a previous workshop version of the show, and the producers asked me to reprise my role when the show is produced this fall!) While I was still in rehearsals for "Rockne", I started rehearsals for another production of "Camelot" (again playing Guenevere). I've had a wonderful, wonderful time, and will be VERY sorry when the show closes this weekend. After that--I have NO idea what I'll be doing next. This will be the first time I've been indefinitely unemployed since I graduated from college. I'll probably use the time to go on plenty of auditions and maybe take some voice lessons and film acting classes up in Los Angeles.