Community Corner

Bet Your Bottom Dollar ... This Waterford Girl Has Star Quality!

Nina Pezzello, 11, has a starring role as Pepper in the Theatre By The Sea's production of "Annie"!

This Wednesday, Nina Pezzello will step onto a stage and into the biggest role she's ever played.

The 11-year-old Waterford girl is starring as Pepper in the Theatre By the Sea's production of Annie. But Nina had to learn not just one part but two, because she's also the understudy for the starring role of Annie herself. 

About 200 kids auditioned for the show. Although no one knew it at the time, the role of Annie had already been cast (a 12-year-old actress from New York City who has played the part a number of times on Broadway was chosen before local auditions were held). 

That Nina was selected to be the understudy for the part was a high honor. She was so thrilled, Nina said, "I was choking back the tears." 

A Summer of Rehearsals

While other kids are enjoying the summer at the beach or at camp, Nina is commuting an hour to Matunuck, Rhode Island, six days a week to rehearse from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.. During technical rehearsals, she'll be putting in 12-hour days. It's a lot of hard work but Nina wouldn't have it any other way. 

"I've done this before, done shows nonstop," said Nina. "I'm having a lot of fun."

At young as she is, Nina already has a long list of credits to her name. Then again, she's been dancing since she was three at Kiks Dance Center in Uncasville and she's been singing and acting for a number of years now. 

Nina played the young Cosette in Waterford High School's production of Les Miserables; she was a Munchkin and a Winkie in the National Broadway Tour of the Wizard of Oz when it came to the Garde Arts Center in New London; she was in East Lyme Regional Theater's production of The Wiz, and danced in Albano's Nutcracker. This, however, is her first really big role with a professional theater company. 

Although Nina has worked with professional theater companies before, working with the Theatre By the Sea is a big step up. If she messed up doing regional theater, she said, no one minded. In this show, she said, "Everything has to be very precise and sharp. They don't expect us to make mistakes. It has to be right the first time."

Fortunately, Nina has a knack for learning choreography quickly and her very distinctive voice has a maturity and strength that is unusual for an 11-year-old. Playing Pepper, however, is a challenge for Nina. The character is a bully—and Nina, by nature, is the complete opposite of that. 

"It's hard to be mean," said Nina, particularly as she and the rest of the cast have become really close. "I have to scream at them and we're best friends. Everybody's just so nice! The director gives me a lot of advice. 'You're the tough guy. You're the boss!' I know some people like that so I'll act like that. It's fun to be someone different." 

Broadway Beckons

Nina said she used to dream of being a pop star like her one-time idol Hannah Montana. The Disney star has fallen from her pedestal in Nina's eyes in recent years as her image has become somewhat less family-friendly. 

"That's why I realized I didn't want to do that," said Nina. "I didn't want to end up like that."

Now, Nina said, her dream is to be on Broadway because musicals allow her to pursue all her passions—acting, singing, and dancing—and she believes she'll be better able to combine a Broadway career with raising a family when she gets older. 

Nina's parents are undeniably proud. Nina's mom, Debra, used to dance herself but she said she's happy to step aside. "It's her turn now," said Debra. 

Nina's parents are very supportive but the drive and the ambition to have a career in show business comes from Nina. Her parents make it clear that if her grades suffer, showbiz will have to take a back seat. Nina, who has always been a straight A student, said she's not worried about that.

"That hasn't happened yet," Nina said. "I'll be fine. I'm very organized. I love this kind of stuff. I want to go to Juilliard to get more experience. That way, when I audition for Broadway, I'll be fantastic."  

The Theatre By The Sea's production of Annie runs from July 17 to August 10. The theater is located at 364 Cards Pond Road in Matunuck, RI. For tickets, call (401) 782-8587 or go online to boxoffice@theatrebythesea.com.


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