Conestoga graduates Brittany Lambert and Caroline Davis will perform in their eighth show at Tredyffrin Public Library, more than any other actors since the theater program began at the library four years ago. Lambert and Davis will play Ashley and Dana in Teen Brain: The Musical by Linda Daugherty and Nick Martin on May 30 at 8 p.m. at Tredyffrin Public Library, 582 Upper Gulph Road, Strafford.
Miss Davis and Miss Lambert have appeared in shows as diverse as Cinderella, Spoon River Anthology, and the allegory Just Before the War Between the Plates. When asked what their favorite show was, they both commented on The Hundred Dresses and talked about how it marked their growth. Brittany counted that as one of her favorite memories, “having a small part when I first started and then working up to a bigger part that I absolutely loved in The Hundred Dresses was a wonderful experience. Playing Wanda was the most amazing theater experience I have ever had!”
Caroline also felt The Hundred Dresses marked her growth, “Thanks to the theater at the library, I feel I have gotten to grow more as an actress. I have played many different roles, varying from a Cratchit’s kid in A Seussified Christmas Carol to Peggy in The Hundred Dresses, which allowed me to experiment more. Peggy, for example, is a total mean girl, and I am the complete opposite of her. The role allowed me to step in the shoes of a girl picking on the new girl. I had a lot of fun getting to be someone I am not like at all in real life.”
Their experiences with theater at Tredyffrin Public Library helped them grow in ways they will carry with them beyond high school. Caroline noted, “I am going to Rochester Institute of Technology, majoring in Biomedical Sciences, and I will definitely participate in the productions and hope to join drama club there. The theater allowed me to meet new people and get to know them. I would have the amazing opportunity to work with others who are also passionate about acting and would make new friends. It also let me be active in acting when I couldn’t get to act in my school’s productions. I had experienced stage fright despite my love for acting, and the library helped me to decrease it.”
Too, Miss Lambert commented, “I feel I grew as an actor. When I was a child, I was the shyest little girl. I would have never thought I would come this far. Thanks to my family, Laurie [Tredyffrin teen’s librarian], Mrs. Hyatt [Conestoga High School teacher], and God, I got to become an actor and more social with people. I will major in Elementary Education and minor in theater at Cabrini College. I hope to bring it to the classroom and have my students love school and grow to be all they can be. Working in theater at the library helped my personality. It helped with stage fright as well. Academically, it helped me learn a bit about reading music and understanding the different cultures of the shows. From Little Woman to Teen Brain they have many different traits and take place in different time periods.”
Claire Moran, a Syracuse University student, directed many of the shows and noted that Brittany and Caroline “have really grown in their time at the Tredyffrin Library. With each passing show, they’ve become much more confident and mature individuals. They were always some of the most enthusiastic participants in every show, and it was a pleasure working with them.”
Their musical director, Nell Hoban, now at Temple University, stated, “They have both been an absolute pleasure to work with. They are hardworking, dedicated, talented, and reliable. I am honored to have watched them blossom into wonderful performers and strong women. Congrats to you both! I’m beyond proud!”
Tredyffrin Public Library is also proud of Miss Davis and Miss Lambert. These two stayed dedicated, even though, as Brittany said, “some rehearsals, transportation, and homework were challenging to balance.” It has been a wonderful benefit to our community to be able to offer affordable local theater, and we could not have done it without the help of Caroline Davis and Brittany Lambert.
Caroline made us forget the challenges on the library side when she said, “Thanks to the library, I was able to grow more in love with acting. I hope I can continue acting throughout life.”
Their performance of Teen Brain: The Musical is Saturday, May 30 at 8 p.m. and is recommended for ages 12 and up. Tickets for sale at Tredyffrin Public Library.