Sophomore stars in local play
Sylvie Koefoed-Nielsen, Reporter

  Vashon Island is a place that prides itself on an appreciation of the arts. The island theater scene provides many opportunities for young actors and actresses to prove their talent, and sophomore Lucy Rogers has done just that.
  Rogers began acting six years ago when she auditioned for the lead role in the play “Bye Bye Birdie.” Although her age kept her from getting the role, it was the beginning of a lifelong passion.
  “Ever since then, I’ve started acting, and I have really enjoyed it; it’s one of my favorite things to do now,” Rogers said.
  Rogers recently expanded her resume by being cast as a starring role in the Vashon Center for the Arts (VCA) production of “My Mother, Myself,” a play that highlights sexual abuse and the conflicts of a mother-daughter relationships.
  “I [was] the only high schooler in the show. Everyone else [was an] adult,” Rogers said. “It’s been really cool because most of the shows I’ve been in are Disney kind of shows … while this one has actual intensity.”
  Rogers is grateful for the growth this opportunity has given her.
  “I’ve developed so much through it,” she said. “[The cast has] come really far and the show… [went] really [well] for us. I’ve made a lot of improvements, more than I think I ever have with any show.”
  Her acting has developed significantly due not only to her dedication and experience, but also her willingness to take risks. Rogers emphasized that one of her favorite things about theater is the opportunity for improvisation.
  “I get really caught up in the moment [when I improvise]. I can add my own twist to this character I’ve created,” Rogers said.
  Rogers has acted in a variety of productions, including some of the school plays. Working with other student actors has contributed greatly to love for theater.
  “You’re all in it together, and you all become really close through the [play],” Rogers said “After the show’s over that [closeness] still resides in you.”
  However, finding the time to take part in theater while a high school student hasn’t been easy.
  “There’s a lot of conflicts where it’s hard for me to go to different meetings, and it takes up a lot of time,” Rogers said. “Especially when rehearsals are until seven, and then I have to get home and do tons of homework.”
  Despite those struggles, theater has become something that Rogers is eager to pursue throughout her life, potentially as a career.
  “I really want to keep immersing myself in that feeling and keep being on stage and keep doing the crazy makeup and the crazy roles,” she said. “There’s a feeling onstage that you don’t get in normal life. I like to escape who I actually am sometimes.”