Young director also making debut

March 25, 2005

CASEY RESSLER/Frontiersman Valley Life Editor

Aurora Pease picked a heck of a way to make her Valley Performing Arts solo directorial debut - she not only picked a musical, "Godspell Junior," but she also picked VPA's annual children's production.

Pease, a student at University of Alaska Anchorage and a longtime VPA veteran, said she was up to the challenge, and now, she is seeing the rewards.

"Doing a children's production that's a musical is incredibly difficult, yet it is so amazing when if finally clicks for everyone, like it is now," Pease said Tuesday night. "You have to take all their skills and try to get them to multiply them by 10 to pull it off, and when they do, it's amazing to watch."

Pease has performed in a number of VPA productions, and she has served as an assistant director twice in the past. Making the leap from actor to director is a big one, however.

"It's very hard, because you can't get up there and help them get through a problem like you are can when you're on stage," Pease said. "As an actor, you anticipate problems and can deal with them, but as the director, it's totally out of your control. You just hope you give the actors the skills to get through those problems."

Pease is being assisted by Sarah Hendricks, another young VPA veteran.

"This group works very well together, but it's still nerve-wracking because you can't get up there in front of them once it starts," Hendricks said.

Pease was challenged by the fact that of the 12-member cast, many of the students were first-time actors who had no previous experience. Also, because of scheduling conflicts, casting was tougher than expected. Still, Pease is extremely happy with the result.

"Our sound is amazing," Pease said. "Lenna [Strompolos, the musical director] has done an incredible job. I don't think I've heard this quality of sound ever at VPA. I'd compare it to the Children's Choir."