STEP VA Cast Spotlight: Bridget Syed and Isabella Towle
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
by Brigid O'Leary
FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA—Chaotic as it may seem sometimes, they're not all mad at STEP VA Inc., even though Alice and the Mad Hatter are showing up at rehearsals to do their thing. STEP VA is the local 501(c)3 nonprofit that “empowers people with disabilities and their families through creative expression and sensory exploration,” and as this year's Spring Musical Experience, the organization is staging “Shrek the Musical JR.” With a cast of 40 strong, the cadre of fairy tale characters this year dips into a number of well-known tales, and Bridget Syed will take to the stage as Alice in Wonderland, with her counterpart of the Mad Hatter being played by Isabella Towle.
Like her character, Syed will bring a specific kind of experience to the role, having been involved in five of the six Spring Musicals that STEP VA has hosted over the years. She was one of the cast members for the very first STEP VA musical, “A Special COVID-19,” written by castmate and STEP VA participant alumnus Noah Finch.
Syed also took her place in the cast as Twin A in “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” Jojo's sister and first-daughter of Whoville, Sally Who, in “Suessical Jr.,” and one of the sea turtle flotilla when STEP VA hosted Disney/Pixar's “Finding Nemo Jr.” last year. Her stage experience goes back a number of years, though, as she's been involved in STEP VA from the beginning and has been active in adaptive theater programs since she was 10 years old.
“When I was little I started doing this and I love Shrek,” she said when asked why she wanted to be part of the musical this year, adding that, “We can see friends.”
One of the friends she gets to see is Towle, who returns for her second STEP VA musical after having been one of the sharks last year. She's returning this year, she said, “to have fun,” in large part because of the fun she had before.
She has a big hat to fill this year, but is excited for what's to come.
“It’s going to be great and wonderful,” she said going into the season. “I get to dance.”
At the same time, Towle admits that “learning all the different dance moves” has been the biggest challenge of rehearsals. That hasn't lessened her enjoyment for the experience, though. She's still having fun and lists the “the wedding scene” as her favorite part of the show, though she's team “I'm a Believer” when it comes to her favorite song.
Come see Alice and the Mad Hatter do what they do best – sing and dance, of course! - at Courtland High School on April 18 (6 pm) and April 19 (3 pm) for “Shrek the Musical JR.” Tickets available at stepva.org.
