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Get Ready to “RENT” and RAVE!

by Cate Murway

If you want to act, you leave your excuses at the door! Rules are: Come on time, learn your lines, and never miss a rehearsal or audition.

“No Other Road

No Other Way

No Day But Today”

Alexcia Irizarry, BHS ‘07/Temple ‘11 is thrilled to be joining the Bucks County Academy of the Performing Arts family [BCAPA] in their getting back to the grittier roots production of Pulitzer Prize winning “Rent” at the Bristol Riverside Theatre, August 28th and August 29th, created by the late Jonathan Larson.

Anywhere you sit in the beautiful theatre is a great seat!

Young thespian, Alexcia is currently a dean’s list Junior Musical Theater major/ therapeutic recreation minor at Temple University and is ready to spread her wings! Some of her credits include: hip-hop musical, “The Seven” (Ensemble), Pulitzer Prize-winning musical “Fiorello!”(Marie), and the Tony Award-winning musical “Bye Bye Birdie” (Rosie). She shares a birthday with American film actress Rita Hayworth (1918 –1987) who attained fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars, and is listed as one of the American Film Institute's Greatest Stars of All Time.

Alexcia wholeheartedly thanks her family and friends for their love and support.

“My parents are very supportive and will do anything to see me achieve my dreams.”

“I'm Not Alone

I'm Not Alone”

Alexcia’s dad, Raul, BHS ’80, works for the Aria Health community hospital system and has “deejayed” forever as DJ Raul. Her reliable, professional, and super friendly mom, Josefina [Berrocal], BHS ’84 owns Josefina's Unisex Salon on Pond Street. Alexcia is her mom’s “right hand girl”. If she’s planning on doing the traditional cattle call “go-sees” on a regular basis, she’ll need to have a flexible work environment.

“I watched my mom struggle and develop from a small business. It puts a smile on my face to see her where she is.”

The admiration is mutual! Josefina confidently praises her daughter, “She is phenomenal. She is following her dreams with a passion!”

Her brother, Raul, Jr., BHS ‘06/Levittown Beauty Academy, LLC is currently studying for his professional Cosmetology License. “Alexcia is my best friend. I’ll be there for her forever!” A favorite high school memory of his was performing as Hugo to Alexcia’s Rosie in the BHS presentation of “Bye Bye Birdie”.

p.s. Rosie and Hugo plot a way to ruin the broadcast.

Practically her entire family is or was involved in music.

Her late Grandfather, Felix played the güiro, an open-ended, percussion instrument made from a hollow gourd. Her supportive grandmother, Guillermina “Wille” Berrocal, resides with them.

Aunt Juanita [Berrocal] Diamond, BHS ‘85 enthusiastically shared, “We love her! She’s so happy. It’s something she’s always wanted to do. When we heard her sing, we were blown away!”

Great Grandpop, Louis [late wife Virgina] Torres wrote songs and plays in Spanish. One of his songs is “Los Fantasticos amores ve de Gloria y Miguel” [The Fantastic Loves of Gloria and Miguel]. “I would love to do one of his songs”, shared Alexcia.

A favorite to sing is the very sad song, “no me queda mas” by the late Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (1971 –1995), best known as Selena, the Female Vocalist of the Year in 1987. “Spanish music is my favorite. I love Spanish music!”

Alexcia is optimistic and exhibits true passion for her art. She is fervently studying the discipline and technique to become versed in the highest ideals about acting, with her full immersion in the craft. She realizes that well-trained actors/actresses are made even better by understanding all of the rigors and nuances of a professional film set. This semester’s class is labeled “Welcome Backstage”. She has just completed an exhaustive drafting project and will continue to combine outstanding liberal arts classes with her intensive theater studies. “My planner, hafta, hafta, hafta have my planner!”

One of her goals is to find different ways to involve theatre and children, especially those with disabilities. “I would like to work with kids in hospitals or open my own theatre company. Theatre is so great. I want to use it as a therapy.”

Temple University’s Theater Department is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) and is a member of the United Resident Theatre Association (U/RTA), amongst an elite group of highly recognized Theater Programs and is ranked among the top 25 theater programs in the nation by the U.S. News & World Report's rankings.

Alexcia has interned with BRT Artistic Associate Adam Goldstein who conceived, produced and directed America Rising: Voices of Today, staged readings that showcase some of the country’s brightest up-and-coming playwrights.

“He’s a really nice guy. I learned a lot from him. He’s amazing!”

She also worked as a Counselor at the 6-week Artrageous Camp. The BRT continues its outreach in the community with its successful youth arts enrichment program. The campers discover the limitless possibilities within themselves and learn new skills in improvisation, acting, singing, dance and movement, and participate in integrated arts activities.

She would love to take a trip to NYC with Founding Producing Director Susan D. Atkinson!

As an actress, she has the story and the script, but how she plays the story out - moment to moment - is totally up to her. She interprets the story and feels the situation, and places the demands on her heart, mind and soul and then pours it out in her performance. “Performing makes you feel alive!”

“I Don't Own Emotion - I Rent”

Alexcia steps into that ethereal special world known as "acting" where for an immeasurable moment a percentage of her being is not her but some new created being with a unique perspective that only exists because she demanded that it exist.

It is a true creation, from the first act curtain to the last exuberant bow. This special thrill makes acting addictive!

“Leap Of Faith

Leap Of Faith”

With feelings of accomplishment, dignity and fulfillment, Alexcia is preparing to take a most ambitious leap next month as part of a creative team in the rock opera, “Rent.” The play details the struggles of a group of young friends in the chaotic slums of the East Village area of NYC in the late-1980s, early-1990s. She feels that the play in general is exciting and the story is touching about the struggle of being an artist. “It’s really cool that they’re doing it here, where I live. I’m going to be on that [BRT] stage, telling the story!”

Per playwright/director of “Rent”, Daniel Huntley Solon, U of Texas, “Alexcia had such a great audition. She has a beautiful voice and a strong stage presence. She’s punctual and brings something exciting and new to the show. When she performs, the entire cast goes ‘WWHHHOOOOOAAA’”. Alexcia wows even when she is rehearsing!

“I Live This Moment

As My Last”

Is it really possible to make a living as an actress? Just because it might be a “long shot” doesn’t mean it cannot be accomplished. There is a heap of work and probably two heaps of competition. Alexcia portrays sheer determination and this is not an act! Remaining invisible is not an option for her. Alexcia is avidly working to make her name synonymous with serious acting skills! Coming from a small town like historic Bristol on the Delaware is not a concern for Alexcia. She has a great outgoing personality and a decidedly upbeat attitude that will not be discouraged.

She has an ardor for the craft and the patience to work for the big break.

In her words, “I am a big person coming out of a small town”.

“You'll See Boys

You'll See Boys”

BHS Homecoming Queen sets her sights on “In the Heights.” The musical where everyone's stories and dreams, along with all the bochinche [gossip] passes through a modest store front. “That is what I dream to be in! I love that show inside and out. I would love to be Daniela, the hairstylist.”

Life for Alexcia is proving to be a just a fun challenge, a romantic, exciting venture.

“Here Goes

Here Goes”

Alexcia earned a standing in the top 10 of her BHS class. She has played basketball, softball, and field hockey, has bowled and was captain of the cheerleaders. “I probably did everything possible”. As a member of MYAC, the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, she actively participated in the leadership program through her involvement with the service clubs, volunteered to clean all the toys in the Community Partnership building and helped to coordinate the Family Movie Nights at Lions Park. She designed the Summer Resource Guide, a handbook of programs, sites, and activities that are distributed to the elementary school students and their families.

“Mayor [Honorable Joseph “Joe” A.] Saxton is amazing. I love him! It’s a shame that people don’t even realize how much he has done for the town. I love that guy!”

Keywords are professional excellence, academic depth and breadth and community involvement!

So, Miss Alexcia Irizarry……… Break a Leg!

The most commonly perceived true meaning of "break a leg" is the wish for many curtain calls. When you bow or curtsy, you are supposed to put one foot behind the other and bend at the knee, "breaking" the leg.

“Dream on, dream on, dream on…. Until your dreams come true.”

[Alexcia’s favorite quote]

italicized quotes are from songs in “Rent”

RENT

Friday, August 28th at 7:30 pm

Saturday, August 29th at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm

Assigned seating $30.00

to be performed at the

BRISTOL RIVERSIDE THEATER

120 Radcliffe Street

Bristol, PA 19007

Call only the BCAPA for Tickets