Lara Zoppe and Victoria Peddie, both of Lakewood Ranch, sing "No Reason" as Lydia and Delia in "Beetlejuice Jr.," at Ovation School of Musical Theatre.
Photo by Madison Bierl
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To get into her character of Lydia Deetz in "Beetlejuice Jr.," Lakewood Ranch's Lara Zoppe thought of a type of grief she hasn't had to experience in real life: the death of her mother.Â
"I always like to take a couple of moments to think about what would happen if I lost my mother," Zoppe said. "How would I feel? I try to let that thought impact most of my actions and emotions throughout the show, because that's really what drives her (character)."Â
Zoppe was among other summer campers who attended Ovation School of Musical Theatre for a four-week camp to learn roles in "Beetlejuice Jr.," which was performed four times from July 24-26.
Sarasota 17-year-old Henry Mills played the lead role of Beetlejuice, which marked his first performance at Ovation. He said making his voice raspy for the role put quite the strain on his vocal chords, but it was well worth it.
"My mom, (Carrie Mills), teaches theater, so it's in my blood," Mills said. "I've been interested in it since I could actually understand the music, what was being said and the message being portrayed."Â
The show was directed, choreographed and designed by Ovation's Michelle McCord. She said she was a bit hesitant to do "Beetlejuice Jr.," but eventually she was glad she did.Â
She described the musical as hilarious, fun, clever and well written.
"I've enjoyed directing it very much, and I have a wonderful cast," McCord said of the campers. "They have a great connection to each other. I'm so proud of them."
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Bradenton 13-year-old Aurelia Yepez says she channeled her "inner Latina" in order to play Miss Argentina in "Beetlejuice Jr."
Photo by Madison Bierl
Sarasota 15-year-old Adelaide Klene plays Sky and sings her solo "Girl Scout" in "Beetlejuice Jr." at Ovation School of Musical Theatre.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lara Zoppe and Henry Mills both attend Booker High School and are glad to share the stage together in the Ovation School of Musical Theatre's production of "Beetlejuice Jr."
Photo by Madison Bierl
Parrish's Noelle Androsyan, 12, and Collin Borg, 13, play Maxie and Maxine Dean during a dinner party scene in "Beetlejuice Jr."
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lara Zoppe, Owen Glynn and Hailey Wahlmann, all of Lakewood Ranch, read the Handbook for the Recently Deceased as their characters Lydia, Adam and Barbara in "Beetlejuice Jr."
Photo by Madison Bierl
Clones of Beetlejuice make an appearance during the song "That Beautiful Sound" in "Beetlejuice Jr."
Photo by Madison Bierl
Sarasota 17-year-old Henry Mills plays Beetlejuice, a demon determined to make a human say his name three times.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Henry Mills, Lara Zoppe, Hailey Wahlmann and Owen Glynn star in "Beetlejuice Jr." at the Ovation School of Musical Theatre July 24.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch 15-year-old Lara Zoppe, who plays Lydia in "Beetlejuice Jr.," has been a student at Ovation School of Musical Theatre since she was 3 years old.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Aurelia Yepez, Russell Frantz, Director Michelle McCord and Victoria Peddie prepare to perform "Beetlejuice Jr."
Photo by Madison Bierl
Russell Frantz, Victoria Peddie, Lara Zoppe, Hailey Wahlmann and Owen Glynn perform in the Ovation School of Musical Theatre's production of "Beetlejuice Jr." July 24.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Sarasota 17-year-old Henry Mills says that although this is his first show at Ovation School of Musical Theatre, acting is in his blood.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Cast members of "Beetlejuice Jr." conclude the song "What I Know Now" at Ovation School of Musical Theatre July 24.
Madison Bierl is the education and community reporter for the East County Observer. She grew up in Iowa and studied at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.
