"Don’t Let Any Box, Type, or Label Define All That is You." - Chatting with Candice Hatakeyama!

I would like you to meet Candice Hatakeyama. Originally from Honolulu and now based in New York City, Candice will be making her Arena Stage debut performing in the Ensemble of Catch Me If You Can directed by Molly Smith. This Syracuse University graduate most recently performed in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella at Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Other credits for Candice include performing at The Texas Shakespeare Festival as Alice Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Elizabeth Condell/Emilia Bassano in The Book of Will, Syracuse Stage in Home for the Holidays, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast; and The Flat Rock Playhouse as Liat in South Pacific, and All Shook Up. The sky is truly the limit for this talented performer and is one of the many reasons why I can strongly attest that Catch Me If You Can at Arena is a must-see! I am very thankful to have the chance to feature Candice!

How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a performer?

My heart was hooked when I was 10 years old. I was transitioning to Punahou School for middle school and high school so I took their summer school musical theatre course to acclimate and make some friends before the school year started. We put on Oklahoma Jr. and it was one of those shows where the director gave everyone in the ensemble names, kind of like AYSO trophies. I was Molly, a farmer’s daughter, and I wrote a whole backstory paper about how I had a huge crush on the Peddler Man. I fell in love with the instant community that was built. There aren’t many things that can make a rowdy group of middle schoolers focus, rehearse, and perform as a team. It was like we knew each other for years. We tapped into the same wavelength, and it felt like I was a lost puzzle piece that finally found the puzzle I fit in. And it’s a pretty fun puzzle. Since then I haven’t stopped.

Where did you study? Are there any mentors who helped you become the wonderful performer you are today?

I just got my BFA in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University in May of 2021. I would be nowhere without my teachers and mentors, and the list of everyone I have learned from could go on for pages and pages. That being said, I’d love to shout out Brian Cimmet, Kathleen Wrinn, Katie McGerr, and Danita Emma. Brian Cimmet served as my mentor as I wrote and produced a musical adaptation of Ruth Ozeki's novel A Tale for the Time Being. He helped me cultivate my voice as a writer and creator, encouraging me to trust and amplify my voice. Kathleen Wrinn was my voice teacher and therapist and taught me that the cracks and warbles, the imperfections and mistakes do not define you, and sometimes failing gloriously is necessary to build strength and improve. Katie is a fearless director and acting teacher that taught me that smart people don’t have to always lead with their heads and their intellect. Taking down that wall of analysis, pedagogy, and calculation gives room for spontaneity and life which is more beautiful and compelling than a flourish and flex of intellect. Danita Emma is more than a ballet teacher. Watching her demonstrate her barre combinations is a masterclass. She exudes artistry and joy from every pore of her body when she dances. She reminds me that becoming a great dancer is more than just drilling the movements, but continuously learning, enriching, and inspiring yourself with other art forms and mediums.

Congratulations on Catch Me If You Can. I think Molly Smith is brilliant! How does it feel to be performing in this Musical at Arena Stage?

It’s surreal; it’s a dream come true. I am beyond honored and awestruck to share the stage with absolute legends both onstage and behind the table, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to watch and learn from this talented company. I’ve done the show before, in 2014 at the local community theater, Diamond Head Theatre. It was my first ever non-educational production, and I was adjusting to my new status as a freshman in high school. Our Frank Jr. was Aleks Pevec, a Hawaii local who made his Broadway debut in the ensemble of the show in 2011. It feels like I’ve come full circle. This production at Arena Stage is my first production as an equity actor, as I am adjusting to my new post-graduate status, and sharing the stage with Broadway veterans and true professionals. And yet, it will be completely new, with a reimagined script that Jocelyn Clarke and Molly Smith compiled from 5 different versions of scripts written by the late, great Terrence McNally. It’s also my first time playing in the round, and so it’s a fun challenge to” play out” to four sides of the audience.

Are there any shows, moments, or performances in your career that stick out and will always be near and dear to your heart?

My favorite role thus far has been “Sheila” in A Chorus Line. I am still a little young to play her, but it was a gift to delve into why and how she became the jaded 29-year-old chorus girl she is. It was a test in avoiding judgment of the character, and instead of cracking open that hard shell of hers to show the audience her vulnerability. In the summer of 2021, I got to be in 3 plays in repertory at Texas Shakespeare Festival, and my absolute favorite character was Elizabeth Condell/Emilia Bassano in The Book of Will by Lauren Gunderson. Elizabeth was the spunky, devoted wife of Henry Condell, one of the publishers of Shakespeare’s first folio, and Emilia Bassano was one of William Shakespeare’s ex-lovers. Playing two characters in one show was a true challenge, as I navigated finding myself in both characters, while also making each one distinct, detailed, and deep. But my career feels like it’s just begun, so I can’t wait to see what names and stories I can add to this list.

What advice would you give any aspiring artist who wants a career in the performing arts?

I have a few words of wisdom that I have learned and continue to remind myself of as I navigate the theatre world.

1.) Don’t let any box, type, or a label define all that is you. I know how hard it is to find and cultivate your most authentic self as a young adult, let alone as an actor and performer, where you are constantly typed and categorized. It’s important to remind and affirm that your voice and artistry are unique, compelling, and worthy of being seen and heard.

2.) Take breaks. Time to breathe is not time away from moving forward. If anything, taking a step back only enriches and deepens your perspective on your work, your life, and your artistry.

3.) You are not a monolith. Surround yourself with people that challenge you, help you grow, and help you feel and learn who your most authentic self is.

4.) And find a way to laugh, especially at yourself, because at the end of the day, we get to play dress up and pretend for a living. How great is that?

Catch Me If You Can will be opening on March 4th and will be running until April 17th. For more information please visit - https://www.arenastage.org/tickets/2021-22-season/catch-me-if-you-can/ & to learn more about Candice, make sure you visit her official website at - www.candicehatakeyama.com