A! Magazine for the Arts

Rebecca Hartman

Rebecca Hartman

Rebecca Hartman dreams of being a role model

August 25, 2015

When Rebecca Hartman was 9, she was in her first musical, "A Christmas Carol," in Ronkonkoma, New York. After her family moved to Kingsport, Tennessee, her parents found theaters in the Tri-Cities area for her to try out.

"I've always been interested in acting, but I started to become serious about pursuing it after my first lead role in "Pinkalicious' at The Kingsport Theatre Guild. That's when I decided that this is what I want to do with my life," she says. "I love every aspect of performing, but my favorite part is touching people's hearts. Music has a unique ability to inspire and bring out unexpected emotions. People can identify with the characters, and those connections are what make productions so beautiful."

She's been in 20 productions with community theaters, camps and schools in the past six years. Some of her favorite roles have been Eponine in "Les Miserables," Pinkalicious in "Pinkalicious," Juliet in "Zombeo and Juliet," and Imogene in "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever."

Her latest role was Eponine in Theatre Bristol's production of "Les Miserables."

"I loved getting to work with such a talented cast on such a classic show," Rebecca says. "It was the experience of a lifetime from nervous auditions to standing ovations, and I loved every second of it. It was the largest scale production that I've been a part of – for cast, crew and audience sizes. I learned more during this one show, than in my whole performing experience, and it's all thanks to my fellow actors. The cast and director were so very supportive, and they taught me so much by example.

"Being able to portray such an iconic character in such a well-known show was a dream come true for me. Eponine was a challenging role, and I had to work to get it right. The real joy came in every show though, watching the audience feel along with Eponine. Several people came to me after with tears in their eyes; moving hearts in that way is what makes the commitment a success."

Her biggest influences are her parents, who have been supportive and ready to help her take the next step. "There are so many people who have helped me get where I am today, but some of my biggest supporters are my teachers Ivy Blair, Tina Radtke, Melanie Yodkins and Jane Morison. They have always seen the best in me, and pushed me to best me I can be. They have done so much to help me succeed, and I am immensely grateful for their guidance.

"I was also greatly influenced by the director of "Les Miserables,' Glenn Patterson. His confidence in my abilities and potential were unhindered by my age. What you saw in my performance was hours of one-on-one rehearsal time with Glenn, who took time to teach me the real story Victor Hugo was trying to portray."

The role of Eponine was one of Rebecca's dream roles. Her favorite musical is "The Phantom of the Opera" by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and her theatrical goal is to play Christine. Some other dream roles for her are Little Red in "Into the Woods," Belle in "Beauty and the Beast," Gabriella in "High School Musical" and Elphaba in "Wicked."

"Acting is such a huge part in my life and personal growth," Rebecca says. "It is a way I can embrace all of the different assets of my personality and give people a reason to laugh in a world where there's so much sadness. It's a way for me to share my passion and learn more about myself along the way."

Musical theater is Rebecca's favorite theatrical style. "My family has told me I was destined for this, since I sing all the time anyway. My ultimate dream is to be on Broadway. I've loved singing, dancing and acting for years and hope to continue down that path by studying musical theater in college. I want to be a role model and Christ-like example for little girls who have dreams similar to mine and to keep them inspired and hopeful for their futures as performers."

She also enjoys competing vocally around the states in musical theater and classical competitions. She's a part of the Highlands Youth Ensemble. She danced for several years in while living in New York but is currently focusing on her vocal skills.

Rebecca is 15 and is home schooled. Her parents are Peter and Melissa Hartman.

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