STEP VA Cast Profile – Jack Barker & Maya LaPietra
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
by Brigid O'Leary
FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA – If the story has a princess, a fairy, or, in some cases, a fairy princess—there's a good chance it will also include woodland creatures, and the Shrek universe is no different. As STEP VA, the local 501(c)3 nonprofit that “empowers people with disabilities and their families through creative expression and sensory exploration,” brings “Shrek the Musical JR.” to the stage later this month, an ensemble of woodland creatures will join the cast. Included in that number are Jack Barker and Maya Lapietra.
Barker is returning for his fourth STEP VA Spring Musical experience, having been in the Peanuts Gang for “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” a The Lorax in “Seussical Jr.,” and part of the sea turtle flotilla in “Finding Nemo Jr.”
“I love singing and dancing with my friends,” he said, when asked earlier this season about his reasons for returning.
While he has been looking forward to the rehearsals—and more specifically, the time it gives him to hang out with his friends—he's also looking forward to the performances, which are scheduled for Saturday, April 18 (6 pm) and Sunday, April 19 (3 pm) at Courtland High School.
Playing the role of a turtle again, this time an Eastern box turtle, Barker went into the Spring Musical season with a goal of learning to become more confident.
He's getting support in that goal from friends both old and new, like LaPietra, who is joining the STEP VA Spring Musical Experience for the first time. It won't be her first time on stage, though, as she brings dance experience with her and has been under the bright lights of dance recitals in the past.
Going into the season, LaPietra was looking forward to laughing and working on talking to people, especially those she doesn't know well. With a cast of 40 strong, the Monarch butterfly won't be hurting for opportunities to do either objective, and she's eager to share the laughter with the show audience, especially with her favorite song, “Freak Flag.”
Come see if Barker has met his goal of learning to be a more confident turtle and watch as LaPietra shows everyone that the butterfly has mastered all the songs—and the choreography! Performances are at Courtland High School on Saturday, April 18 at 6 p.m. and Sunday, April 19 at 3 p.m.
Tickets available now at stepva.org.
