Act Out

Who are you?  What year are you?  What are your interests?
I’m Chloe Diamond! I’m 16 and a sophomore. I enjoy playing tennis, riding horses, singing and acting.  

What exactly do you do for Big Fish the Musical?
I am an actor and I play Sandra Bloom in Big Fish!

What brought you to join the cast, crew, pit for Big Fish the Musical??
I always had a passion for theatre at my old school, USM. I wasn’t too sure about joining theatre at Homestead because I was new and didn’t know anyone. But recently, I saw a friend in a production at DSHA. Watching how happy he was on stage made me realize how much I truly missed theatre and wanted to be involved in it again. I only ended up deciding to try out for the show the day of auditions for Big Fish and I’m so glad I did. Auditioning for this show has been one of the best decisions I’ve made, giving me some of my best friends and happiest moments.  

Do you have any stories from rehearsals, practices or crew sessions?
My most memorable rehearsal was when I tried to chug the remainder of chocolate milk from the jug in the Black Box theatre but David Blatz ended up making me laugh while the milk was in my mouth. I ended up spitting the milk out all over the floor. It was all over the black box and my hair and my clothes. I tried to cover the chocolate smell by spraying perfume on my wet hair but that just made my hair crusty. Definitely one of the most chaotic rehearsals I’ve ever had. 

Big Fish the Musical tells the story of a father and son coming to terms with each other as the father comes to the end of his life.  It’s about love and life, sorrow and death. How have you connected to this story? How will the audience connect to this story?
I’ve connected deeply to this story as I am someone who has people in my life that are affected by cancer. Big Fish is a beautiful love story that also incorporates the tragic truths of what life brings, and in this case, life brings hardships like illness for Edward Bloom and his family. The audience will definitely connect to the family struggles that everyone goes through. The main idea is not about the hardships, it’s about how when families unite, they can get through anything with the help and support from each other. 

What do you hope the audience will be thinking about in the car as they drive home after this show?
I hope the audience thinks about how a family can come in all shapes and sizes, and it isn’t always by blood. Families are the people you meet along the way that sticks with you, and this musical truly shows just that. This show demonstrates the power of family and how important it is to live your life in the moment and without fears or doubts.

What’s one thing that is different in this play or rehearsal process than anything else we’ve done in the Homestead Theatre Department?
Because this is my first show at Homestead, I haven’t had any past experiences but I have done theatre at other schools and I can proudly say that the work ethic of the stage and music directors is incredible. I’ve learned so much from Chris Elst, an amazing man who helps with directing the show. He has helped me become more comfortable in my role and grow in places that I didn’t even know I could grow. The team of directors at Homestead allows for the making of wonderful shows and makes the rehearsal process fun and enjoyable. Being able to work with such talented and great directors like Ms. Figg, Ms. Schwingle, and Mr. Spindler has been life-changing and I’m so grateful I have access to these role models.