"Meet", Alice (Anna Cook) from "Disney's Alice in Wonderland" , CharacterWorks Theater will be performing this show and we have 2 family 4 packs to giveaway on Facebook for opening night, Friday, August 10, 7pm, KingWay Community Church
Tell us a little about yourself, age, school, siblings etc… Hi! My name is Anna Cook. I'm 12 years old and a rising 7th grader at Robious Middle School. I'm the youngest of three children and my older siblings are "grown ups" now. My sister, Brittany, made me an aunt almost a year ago and I'm totally in love with my niece Lauren Bailey. My brother, Cody, and his fiance, Jelene, are close by and have helped me get to numerous rehearsals and auditions. My parents and I live with our two dogs, Dillon and Bia, and our cockatiel, Polo (who screams, a lot.). I love them all.
What role are you playing in "Disney's ALICE in WONDERLAND" and what are you looking forward to in this role? I am incredibly grateful to have been cast as Alice and to be a member of this wonderfully talented cast. I've always loved Alice in Wonderland, both in the Disney movies and in Louis Carroll's fantastic book "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". Alice and I have a lot in common. I'm always curious about what is happening around me, I have a wild imagination and I often don't pay attention, because I have ADHD. Alice is a fabulously fun character to play and I'm most looking forward to sharing her story of how she found who she really was and accepted herself.
How did you get started in acting, how old were you? My mom and grandmom have said I was always outgoing and fearless in my singing. Even as a little baby, I was always saying "hi" and talking to strangers. So, they were looking for something where I could share my energy on the stage. Family friends introduced my mom to CharacterWorks and encouraged me to get involved. I took my first class when I was 8 years old.
How long have you been with CharacterWorks? I started at CharacterWorks when I took the Vocal Works class almost 5 years ago and I haven't missed session yet. My first show was Annie in 2015. Alice in Wonderland is my 10th production with CharacterWorks and I'm looking forward to many, many more.
What is your all-time favorite role that you have played? I have really enjoyed playing Alice. She's probably my favorite role so far, because of how similar she is to me.
What role would you love to play? Right now, my "dream role" would be to play either Lydia Deets in Beetlejuice on Broadway or Wednesday in the Adams Family. Glenda in Wicked, Anna in Frozen or Eliza in Hamilton are also some of my aspirations.
Do you have a favorite play that you have seen or want to see? My favorite play that I've seen so far is Hamilton, which is a musical masterpiece and I've loved learning about history ever since I heard the music. When I saw it, it truly took my breath away. On Broadway, Beetlejuice is obviously on the top of my "want to see" list, along with Frozen. I'd also love to see Anastasia and hope that it's playing again somewhere soon.
What are your long-term goals? I'd love to be an entertainer of some sort, either on or off-Broadway or in the theme park industry. Being a Disney Princess would be a dream come true.
How do you manage juggling school and your theatre interests? Juggling school and theater is definitely a challenge. I'm dyslexic and have worked with a brain trainer since I was 6 years old. She helps me train my brain to be faster, stronger... better. Schoolwork takes more time for me, and so does memorizing lines. So, I put in the effort every day to plan my time well, build good habits and stay committed. I also have learned that 1 in 5 kids is dyslexic and I'm trying to show all of the other kids out there that we can do wonderful things!
What do you like to do when you are not in school or acting? When I'm not in school or at rehearsal, I'm usually binge watching musicals on YouTube that have been done by other theater companies or checking out my friends' videos on TikTok. My mom, grandmom and I also show dogs competitively, in AKC field trials and in conformation shows. I do have a few other hobbies that I take much less seriously, like swimming and golf.
