When I graduated from AMDA (American Musical and Dramatic Academy) in the 90s, I came back home to Florida. I wanted to get back to New York and knew that I needed to audition, audition, audition, and I needed to get as much time as I could on stage, so that I could practice and hone the craft I spent two years working on.
Carrollwood Players was one of the first places I went to. I auditioned several times before actually getting cast in my first show there, Private Lives.
Carrollwood Players is a community theatre company that will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2021. Over the years I have been back to Carrollwood in several productions and have made some wonderful friendships. They provided me with the opportunity to audition, rehearse and perform. One aspect that I really enjoyed is I was given the opportunity to play roles that would not have been open to me in other places because I did not look the part. I was also given the opportunity to direct a one-act play and co-direct a staged reading; providing me the opportunity to branch out from being on stage and work behind the scenes.
Community theater has also given me the opportunity to meet so many people and many I call good friends.
As the pandemic put a halt on live productions, theatres are trying to keep their door opens and many have taken on virtual productions in the interim. Some have started to open their doors to the public, in a limited capacity.
As for me, I won’t be gracing any stages anytime soon but hope you check out Carrollwood Players and donate what you can, I know, it will truly be appreciated.
Isabel Natera 