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Cast Interview: Rishabh Bajekal

10/8/2016

Opening Night! Opening Night! 'The Bohemian Girl' opens tonight at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater! I have one last interview to share with you and I have to say that it's probably the BEST cast interview I've ever received. I'm very excited to introduce our leading tenor - Rishabh Bakekal!

What's your role in The Bohemian Girl?
Thaddeus

What's your favorite part of the show?
There are so many ways I can answer this question, and I'd like to try and address all of them. #1, What is my favorite part of being in the show? This is easy, my favorite part is performing and collaborating with all of these talented people. Every rehearsal, the bar is set so high by everyone and it is great just to be involved. And I will just have to say, this is one of the finest orchestras I have ever had the pleasure of singing with. #2, What is my favorite part of the show to watch? There are three beautiful arias that I absolutely love: "I dreamt I dwelt in marble Halls" which Alex honestly knocks out of the park (check it out on the FB page!), "'Tis gone, the past was all a dream" where Denise gets to show off both the power and range of her voice, and “That grief can call its own” where Stephen draws us in with such emotional depth. That last aria is also preceded by a wonderful clarinet solo that simultaneously melts your heart and makes you want to yell superlatives and throw roses on stage. #3, What is my favorite part of the show to be in? Any time I get to sing with Alex is a pleasure, but I would have to go with our duet near the beginning of Act 2. There are some gorgeous melodies and beautiful softer moments, and it concludes with this triumphant declaration of love that ends up being a straight up physical endurance exercise for us. It is so much fun.

What made you decide to get involved with this concert performance?
I honestly auditioned for the show on a whim. I really missed classical singing since I hadn't done it in any performance capacity in a few years, and I came across the audition notice on a Facebook group. It's kind of a boring story, should I try and spice it up for the blog readers?

I was on a mission in South America, trying to locate a poisonous flower in the Amazon forest for research and stuff when I came across a tree. The tree was so beautiful that I sat there staring at it for hours. When I got back to camp, I looked up it's name: Borus Generalis. B. G. Bohemian Girl. It was fate...

Nah, I guess I'm terrible at coming up with cool stories of deciding to get involved with a concert performance. In all seriousness though, I am so glad that I decided to get involved, this has been an amazing experience.

When you're not performing in community theatre, what do you do? (job, hobby, family, etc.)
When I am not doing community theater, I am generally singing with my a cappella group Euphonism. We do public and private events all over the DC area and have a lot of fun! Check us out at www.euphonism.com.

By day, I work for Capital One as a Business Analyst. Now, I know what you're thinking, Wouldn't you like the description of your job to be slightly more vague? How do you go to your job and do something so specific? And to that I say "Nay sir or madam, I am a businessman!"

Wow - we're so happy to have you with us Rishabh! Join 'The Bohemian Girl' cast tonight and tomorrow afternoon (October 8th and 9th) at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre! Tickets can be bought at the door and online at vloc.org.

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Cast Interview: Alexandra Burris

10/6/2016

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Only two days until opening night! Which means, I think it's time for another cast interview from one of our lovely chorus women - Alexandra Burris!

What's your role in The Bohemian Girl?
Chorus (I get to be a noble and a vagabond!)

What's your favorite part of the show?
Our opening number, 'Up With the Banner,' is incredibly exhilarating. And the song 'Prais'd Be Heaven' at the end of the second act is gorgeous, and tons of fun to sing - all those great high notes!

What made you decide to get involved with this concert performance?
The moment I found out there was an operetta company in the DC area, I knew I had to be a part of it! What an incredible opportunity. And what I saw the VLOC's production of 'HMS Pinafore' in June, I thought 'I will die if I can't work with this company!' Not only was it an absolutely phenomenal production, but you could tell everyone involved had a deep love for what they were doing, which was just so inspiring to see.

What you're not performing in community theatre, what do you do? (job, hobby, family, etc.)?
I recently started as a research assistant for the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine. It's a fantastic job. I feel so incredibly lucky to be part of something so rewarding.

Family: My mother, brother, sister and grandmother all live int he area, which is really nice. I also have a very, very large dog, who really, really does not appreciate my singing.

As far as hobbies...Music is my passion, but when I'm not singing I love ballet, writing, photography, skiing, and occasionally horseback riding.

Join Alexandra and the rest of the cast this weekend (October 8th and 9th) at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre! Tickets can be bought at the door, online at vloc.org, or by calling the F. Scott Fitzgerald Box Office at 240-314-8690. Due to construction office hours are currently Tues-Fri, 2:00-6:00pm.

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Cast Interview: Rishabh Bajekal

Cast Interview: Alexandra Burris

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