Cast interview: Laura Fuentes

It's the week of the show, and we can't wait! Everything is coming together, the cast is having lots of fun, and the sausage rolls are delicious. To start off the week leading up to opening night, we are stoked to have Laura Fuentes, who sings the role of Lisa, as our next cast interview subject!

Name
Laura Fuentes

What's your role in The Grand Duke?
Lisa

What made you decide to get involved with The Grand Duke?
In addition to singing, I'm also a librettist, and work with DC-area composer Sean Pflueger. VLOC produced the world premiere of our first operetta, Do Not Disturb, in 2016 for the Capital Fringe Festival. We were recently commissioned by College Light Opera Company in Cape Cod to write a one-act curtain raiser for Pirates of Penzance to open their 50th Jubilee Season. Our piece, The Pier Point Lobster Race, premiered in late June, and we had a fantastic time seeing it come to life. When I saw that VLOC's G&S Sing-Out was coming up, I knew I wanted to be involved in some way, so I auditioned for this production. I'm excited to meet other G&S aficionados, and to see if Sean and I can develop relationships with some other G&S societies. We would love to write some more G&S-style repertoire!

What are you enjoying most about working on The Grand Duke with VLOC?
It's been a while since I've performed any Gilbert and Sullivan, so it's been fun to work on it again as a singer. I think there's a kind of uninhibitedness about some of the rhymes in this libretto that add an extra layer of comedy ("diskivver," "ghoest," and "shoeses," I'm looking at you).

What is your dream role/job?
Pirate King. I hear it's pretty glorious.

What is the first musical/opera/play you ever saw and what effect did it have on you?
I can't remember my first one, but I have an infant son, Javier, and I can tell you about his! We took him up to Cape Cod with us for the premiere of our operetta, and I had him with me during one of the rehearsals. The company was running a scene with a big double chorus, which ends with some great high notes (thanks, Sean!). The number crescendoed and crescendoed, and the final high notes hung in the air for a moment, then the singers and piano all cut off together, and there was a brief moment of silence as everyone held their ending pose. Javi totally lost it and started to wail at the top of his lungs. I guess he's not a fan of ensemble singing!

When you're not performing in community theatre, what do you do? (job, hobby, family, etc.)
In addition to writing opera libretti, I also work in development for Johns Hopkins University, as an Associate Director of Foundation Relations. I'm completing an MA in Communication, also from Johns Hopkins. My husband and I are proud parents to 10-month old Javier, who enjoys mashed banana, percussive noises, and waking up early.

Thanks, Laura! The Grand Duke is showing on August 30th and September 1st only, so be sure to get your tickets! Purchase online HERE or call the F. Scott Fitzgerald box office at 240-314-8690!

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