Cast interview: Jacob Mason

For this week's cast interview, we are excited to introduce a fantastically talented new face to VLOC: please welcome (and learn more about) Jacob Mason, who sings the role of Giuseppe in The Gondoliers!

Name
Jacob Mason

What's your role in The Gondoliers?
Giuseppe

What made you decide to get involved with The Gondoliers?
I love Gilbert and Sullivan and VLOC seemed like a great opportunity to indulge in this. I had never listened to (or seen) The Gondoliers before the casting call for this show, and am grateful for the introduction to such a fantastic work.

What are you enjoying most about working on The Gondoliers with VLOC?
I do a lot of professional music, but the opportunity both to act and to work with other volunteers is a breath of fresh air. Everyone's attitude is great, and it has been a great outlet for creative energies.

What is your dream role/job?
I suppose I would love to play Strephon (Iolanthe) some time. There are few G&S lead roles for baritones or dramatic tenors.

What is the first musical/opera/play you ever saw and what effect did it have on you?
I am not sure I can recall the first show I saw, but I do remember growing up with Joan Sutherland's "Who's Afraid of Opera". In our household opera was very normal growing up and I have never listened to much popular music.

How do you think 21st Century audiences can benefit from seeing Gilbert & Sullivan performed today?
In some ways I think that Gilbert and Sullivan represent one facet of the zenith of a musical culture which spanned a thousand years of development in western civilization. Most of the mainstream or popular "classical" composers after the pair (indeed many of their contemporaries) to some degree embraced a modernism which necessitated rejecting certain essential principles of traditional musical theory. Because of this, I think there are few musical or theatrical compositions which are more naturally delightful than these. Anyone who is able to take the genre reasonably seriously (i.e. understand it within the ethos in which it was composed) can find much to enjoy. I consider it a great blessing that we are able to appreciate these operas in the language they were originally written!

When you're not performing in community theatre, what do you do? (job, hobby, family, etc.)
I am from a large family (ten kids) and grew up in Arlington and northern Loudoun county. I manage a psychology training clinic and do some systems development for a graduate school of psychology in northern Virginia. Additionally, I sing professionally with a couple regional groups and churches. Aside from that, I spend a decent amount of time on my bike.

Thanks, Jacob! The Gondoliers opens in just over 5 weeks. Tickets are on sale, so why not secure yours now? You can purchase tickets online HERE or call the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre box office at 240-314-8690. The Gondoliers shows Feb. 22nd through March 3rd!

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