Jocelyn Lonquist discusses slowing down during quarantine & stretching your creativity!
Kevin Ray Johnson
It is my great joy to introduce you to Jocelyn Lonquist. She is currently playing Ariel in The Little Mermaid in Indiana at Myers Dinner Theatre until August 2nd. Jocelyn is no stranger to the Disney princess world! Her very first professional role was playing the title role in Cinderella. Other credits for Ms. Lonquist include: National Tours of A Charlie Brown Christmas (Gershwin Entertainment), Anne of Green Gables (Arts Power Touring Theatre), and A Christmas Carol (Nebraska Caravan). She has also performed Off-Broadway in Kid Frankenstein (Vital Theatre Company) and for regional companies such as White Plains Performing Arts, Charleston Stage Company, Weathervane Theatre, Red Mountain Theatre Company, Round Barn Theatre, among many others.
The theatre business is a place where you meet people from all walks of life and Jocelyn is truly an individual that you rarely come across. She is humble, kind, and unbelievably talented. She has the total package and completely gives a performance that you will remember for a long time after seeing her grace the stage. I am so happy to have the chance to interview this talented young actress!
How old were you when you knew you wanted to be on the stage and perform?
I was five years old! My mom took me to see a touring production of "Annie" and when I saw the kids on stage singing and dancing, I knew that's what I wanted to do. Plus, there's also the fact that my mom could NEVER get me to quit singing at the top of my lungs when we visited the grocery store.
Where did you study? Are there any mentors in your life who truly help you become the amazing artist you are today?
I hold a BFA in Musical Theatre from Samford University in Birmingham, AL, where I had many incredible professors who grew me as a singer and actor, especially my voice professor Dr. Christina Villaverde. However, I owe so much of my passion for performing to Allen and Susan Pote, who founded the Pensacola Children's Chorus, an amazing organization that I was a member of during grades 3-12 in my Florida hometown.
Through PCC, I had opportunities to travel the world, perform with the Pensacola Symphony and Opera, and grow my love of all music genres! I am so thankful for the people in my life who have believed in me and pushed me to pursue my dreams!
We are living in some unprecedented times in the world. For all artist (especially stage performers) it is definitely a time of uncertainty. What has your everyday routine been like during Quarantine and what are some things you do to keep your spirits up?
I have spent most of the quarantine with my family in Florida, which has been a gift. Slowing down from my busy life in NYC allowed me time to learn new music, play piano and ukulele, film audition material, and coach with my voice teacher over Facetime.
One of my favorite parts of quarantine has been working with an organization called Music of Memory, which brings live concerts with performing artists around the country over Zoom into nursing homes and hospices. I've also been doing a LOT of baking, including learning and perfecting a recipe for French macarons! I miss the hustle and bustle of auditions and performing, and I can't wait to get back to NYC, but I am thankful for all I've learned during this time.
You have had the chance to play multiple Disney Princesses among many other great roles in your wonderful career. Are there any shows or performances that you have done that will always be near and dear to your heart?
Jocelyn Lonquist as Ariel in ‘The Little Mermaid’ in Indiana at Myers Dinner Theatre
Playing a princess is always so much fun because it allows me to tell the stories that I loved most as a little girl! My very first professional role was Cinderella in Rodger and Hammerstein's musical, and that show will always have a special place in my heart because it solidified my love for the craft and taught me so much about working in the professional world.
Another one of my very favorite shows I've done is Young Frankenstein at Charleston Stage Company. I played Inga, a bawdy, yodeling comedienne, and I loved playing a role that was so different from me and made people laugh. Plus, the cast and creative team are some of my favorite people I've ever worked with and we had an absolute blast every night.
What advice would you give any aspiring artist in these challenging times?
I would tell them, this time isn't forever. Use this time to listen to and learn music that inspires you, that way you'll be ready to share your gifts when the world is open again! I will also add that this is the perfect time to stretch your creativity to find new ways to make art and theatre through different media. And lastly, remember to be kind to yourselves because this is a tough season. Take rest when you need it, and take a deep breath! You got this!
To learn more about this talented actress make sure you visit her official website at http://www.jocelynlonquist.com