STEP VA Cast Profile – Jacob Fiore and Mikayla Snelson
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
by Brigid O'Leary
FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA – In the Northern Inner Piedmont region of Virginia you can expect to find frogs and Eastern bluebirds. On April 18 and 19th, you'll be able to find them inside, on a stage, at Courtland High School in the forms of seniors Jacob Fiore and Mikayla Snelson, as STEP VA brings “Shrek the Musical JR.” to life.
STEP VA is the local 501(c)3 nonprofit that “empowers people with disabilities and their families through creative expression and sensory exploration,” and it's bringing back its Spring Musical Experience for the sixth year, staging “Shrek” for its fifth licensed musical.
Though “Shrek the Musical JR.” is Fiore's first Spring Musical Experience with the 501(c)3 nonprofit that “empowers people with disabilities and their families through creative expression and sensory exploration,” he is no stranger to the organization, having participated in the summer camp sessions for more than a decade. As such, he already knows most of the cast, so—like many others—the decision to join the cast was less about what role he got and more about how he would spend his time.
“I love singing and hanging out with friends,” he explained when asked what made him sign up for the musical this year.
He also has more than a little familiarity with theater, or and musical theater in a general sense.
“I have attended many STEP VA summer camps and love them. I have also seen many Broadway musicals,” he said earlier in the season. “I am looking forward to singing in the ensemble the most.”
Being in the ensemble, and indeed part of the cast as a whole, puts Fiore well on his way of meeting his goals for the season, which were to “work together as a team, [be] more comfortable in front of a group, and have fun.”
He's having plenty of fun at rehearsals, especially for the song “Big, Bright Beautiful World,” which is his favorite, though he admits that learning the song for his part, along with all the choreography has been challenging.
For Snelson, the challenge has been keeping up with her cast mates—she always manages to catch up when she falls behind—but it doesn't dissuade her from returning for her fourth STEP VA Spring Musical Experience. She got her start as part of the Peanuts Gang in “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” and went on to play Cindy Lou Who in “Seussical Jr.” and Tad's Mom, a longnose butterfly fish, in Disney/Pixar's “Finding Nemo Jr.”
“I love to sing and dance. I look forward to participating every year,” Snelson said when asked what brought her back to the Spring Musical Experience.
Her favorite song is “I'm a Believer,” and while she loves the chance to perform on stage, it's spending time with the rest of the cast that had her excited for the season, indicating that she was most looking forward to “getting to see my friends and being able to sing and dance.”
Like Fiore, Snelson is a STEP VA Summer Camp Session alumna and not only knows how things work with the organization but how to make the most of what the experience offers. She set goals for this season that included “trying to be more flexible with change and having more confidence.”
Come fly away for a hopping good time with Fiore and Snelson at Courtland High School on April 18 (6 p.m.) and April 19 (3 p.m.) for “Shrek the Musical JR.”
Tickets available at stepva.org.
