Rise to stadrom can begin on a pageant ramp
Stardom and strolls down the beauty and fashion ramp have often been linked.
Marilyn Monroe — affectionately recalled in song as "Norma Jean" — is probably the most famous example.
While her first husband, James Dougherty, was sailing in the World War II Merchant Marine, Norma Jean Dougherty spray painted plane parts at a munitions factory. An Army photographer spotted her there and referred her to the Blue Book Modeling Agency.
Blue Book bleached her hair platinum blond and she soon became one of its most successful models, appearing on dozens of magazine covers. Her beauty and style caught the eye of 20th Century Fox executive Ben Lyon.
Lyon signed her to a contract, changed her name to Marilyn Monroe, helped her win the 1947 title of "Miss California Artichoke Queen" and the rest is history.
The "MM" legend sprang to mind Wednesday night as I watched Alexandria Mazerolle, the out-going Miss Yuba-Sutter 2009-2010, work the stage and the crowd as she escorted candidates for Miss Teen Yuba-Sutter, Miss Live Oak and Miss Yuba-Sutter for 2010-2011 through their paces.
Note: I know about what follows because — full disclosure here — Alexandria is my first cousin twice removed by a couple of generations. I've known her since she was born and observed her acting adventures first hand all along the way.
Alex's story may help aspiring young hopefuls with some useful insights into what they may experience if they "do theater."
Now 19, Alex was only 5 when she won her first acting part. She was an elf in The Acting Company's production of "Snow Queen." Her main assets at the time were being adorable and having her mother, Michele, assemble a costume to accentuate that.
Her last part was as Tzeitel, Tevye and Goldie's oldest daughter in Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts' musical production of "Fiddler on the Roof."
But it takes more than cuteness and a supportive mother to make it. It takes perseverance liberally sprinkled with many disappointments and a few flat-out failures all leading, with a little luck and true love for the trade, to that one Big Break.
In Alex's case along the way there were scads of dance and voice lessons and expanding parts ranging from a non-speaking role as a dancing Newsboy in Ponderosa Theatre Company's production of "Gypsy," to multiple speaking parts in TAC's "Bugsy Malone Jr.," which was directed by Pierrette Jensen.
Of all the plays she has been in, which did she like the best?
"Bugsy Malone," she said, without hesitation. She liked it best because several of her favorite cousins, including Cheyenne Fletcher and Gabriel Divelbiss, were also in it.
What, if any, life skills have the performing arts given her?
It has made her more "self-confident," given her "greater competence ... (and) stage presence," she said.
All this was evident in her stylish dress, articulate speech and the natural grace she displayed in her final performance as Miss Yuba-Sutter.
The things she did that night with the most grace and style were a Tahitian dance in frond skirt and crown, accompanying herself on the ukulele as she sang Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World" and finally pinning the crown on the new Miss Yuba-Sutter, Kelsey Cena.
Each of those moments held secret, personal meanings for Alex, yet her voice never broke and she shed not a tear. She maintained her "stage presence."
While her days on the pageant runway may be over, Alex, now in her second year at Yuba College, is not finished with acting, singing and show business in general.
"I'm auditioning for 'The 1940s Radio Hour,'" Alex announced to a surprised first cousin twice removed.
"Radio Hour" is a musical by Walton Jones. It will be directed by Gail Carter and run at TAC from Nov. 19 to Dec. 19. Auditions are scheduled for Sept. 27 and 28.
Jammed full of '40s music, dancing and old-time sound effects, "Radio Hour" portrays the final holiday broadcast of the Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade on New York City's WOV radio station in December 1942.
