"Your Worth is Not Measured by The Amount Jobs That You Book!" - Chatting with Cara DiPietro
I would like you to meet Cara Rose DiPietro. Cara will be making her Arena Stage debut performing in the Ensemble of Catch Me If You Can directed by Molly Smith. Regionally, Cara has performed in The Pajama Game, Peter and The Star Catcher, Grease, and Catch Me If You Can at The New London Barn Playhouse; Little Women at Quintessence Theatre, Oklahoma and Gypsy at The Prizery and Jesus Christ Super Star, Legally Blonde, and Annie at The Timberlake Playhouse where she also performed in the World Premiere Reading of What A Wonderful World. Cara holds a BFA in Music Theatre at Elon University. I love coming across bright young talents with amazing futures and Cara truly fits that description and then some. I am verygrateful to have the chance to feature her!
How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a performer?
Since before I can remember! My parents were both performers, so I always joke that I was quite literally born into the world of theater. I begged my mom to sign me up for dance classes at the age of 3, and after that, the rest is history!
Where did you study? Are there any mentors who helped you become the great performer you are today?
I recently graduated from Elon University with my BFA in Music Theatre in 2021! I truly would not be the performer I am today without the training and guidance that Elon’s Music Theatre department provided me. Two of my biggest mentors would be my incredible voice teacher, Julie Celona-VanGorden, as well as Micheal Jablonski, who took a chance on me freshman year and has served as a mentor ever since!
Congratulations on Catch Me If You Can. What a fun show to perform in! How does it feel to be performing in this Musical at Arena Stage?
Thank you so much! It still feels so surreal to get the chance to work with such an incredible cast. I had the chance to perform as Brenda at The New London Barn Playhouse back in the summer of 2019, so getting the chance to revisit this show and understudy the role is truly a dream come true!
Are there any shows, moments, or performances in your career that stick out and will always be near and dear to your heart?
This past December I was lucky enough to be cast as Amy in Little Women with Quintessence Theater Group, my first show back in two years since the shutdown. I will never forget the feeling of that opening night, performing in front of a live audience after two whole years of no live theater. My heart hadn’t been that full in a long, long time.
What advice would you give any aspiring artist who wants a career in the performing arts?
My biggest word of advice to any young aspiring artist would be to remember that your worth is not measured by the number of callbacks you receive or jobs that you book. I know I have a hard time with this, constantly comparing myself to my peers and feeling as though my career isn’t “good enough” when compared to their own. The truth is, your journey will ALWAYS feel like it is “less than” when you compare it to those around you. Your journey is not meant to look like everyone else’s! I promise you that every opportunity that is meant for you will NOT pass you by.
Catch Me If You Can opens on March 4th and will be running until April 17th. For more information make sure you visit -https://www.arenastage.org/tickets/2021-22-season/catch-me-if-you-can/#block-24560 & to learn more about Cara please visit her official website at - https://www.cararosedipietro.com