By Marilyn Miller
At what point does your petite, blond-haired daughter go from singing “Let It Go” all over the house to auditioning for a part in the Shreveport Little Theater’s presentation of “Oliver?”
“Singing is my favorite thing ever. I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” beamed 12-year-old Emma Kate Fox, who was too young to remember when the first “song” came out of her mouth. “Probably two or three,” her mother, Melissa Fox, remembered. And Emma Kate concurred.
Dr. Gay Grosz, one-time music minister for the First Methodist Church of Minden, picked up on Emma Kate’s talent during MAD Camp (Music, Art and Drama). “Dr. Gay realized she had some natural talent, but she also recognized that she had a love of it. She would just come alive doing it and she wasn’t afraid to get on that stage at all,” Melissa recalled.
So Dr. G recommended that Emma Kate join the Shreveport Little Theater’s Academy, which teaches children of all ages to create, collaborate, and celebrate. “That was at six – you were going into kindergarten,” Melissa recalled.
“And I have not missed a show…not a single show,” Emma Kate said. Even during COVID they did virtual shows. “If the door was open, I was there.”
The kids’ first virtual effort was “Frozen” via ZOOM. Then followed “Suessical or Dr. Suess the Musical” and “The Aristocats,” plus “Super Happy Awesome News,” a musical written by a Broadway actor just for kids to perform via the internet. “Frozen: Kids” was also performed via the internet during COVID. Emma Kate portrayed Olaf.
And when COVID ended, the Academy did “Winnie the Pooh,” “101 Dalmatians,” “Charlotte’s Web,” “Annie” and “Pinkalicious.” After auditions, the cast would rehearse every Friday for four or five weeks and then perform the show for the public. They present five shows a year. The week before a show, cast members have to be at the Academy every day of the week. “That’s my favorite week…I get to do what I love every day of the week,” said Emma Kate. Of course, she would be “super tired” from all the work, and mom would be super tired after all the driving…and dad, David, would be tired of taking pictures.
“Elf,” “The Lion King,” “Little Mermaid,” and “The Wizard of Oz,” followed until Emma Kate entered middle school. She played “Patrice” in “13,” the first show on Broadway that was performed strictly by kids. “I got to play my dream role in that,” Emma Kate beamed. And then “Matilda,” and “that brings us to the present day.” This coming weekend, Emma Kate will audition for “Rudolph,” which will be presented in mid-November.
Does Emma Kate, 12, have a dream to go with her voice? You bet. “My dream…I definitely want to go on Broadway (at least once), but I also want to teach other kids how to use their voices and find their love for the arts. I love being that inspiration for other kids, because I have looked up to so many other people in the theater.” Melissa pointed out that the Junior Academy is grades K-8 and the Senior Academy is grades 9-12. There is a mentoring type of relationship between the older and younger kids.
Emma Kate, a soprano, takes voice lessons from Liesl Cruz, owner of Cruz Vocal Arts Studio in Shreveport. A seventh grader, she can’t wait until she can begin mentoring the younger students. One of those younger students is her own sister, Elizabeth, who also has a good singing voice and does competitive cheer. Emma Kate and Elizabeth got to act together in “Matilda.”
So, what about “regular” school? “She’s very good at Math, but she doesn’t like it,” Melissa said. “She’s all A’s all the time at Glenbrook School, is a Junior Varsity cheerleader, and plays softball (which she loves).” Of course, she’s a member of the Drama Club and the Choir. A member of the First Methodist Church of Minden, she is leading skits at the FMC Vacation Bible School this week. “They just better give me extra food,” she quipped.”
“My mom helps me tremendously. She runs me through scripts. She prepares me for shows…she just helps me a lot. And she helps me when I panic.” Her other supporters include Autumn Bryan, music and drama teacher at Glenbrook, and Laura Beeman Nugent, acting coach and artistic director at Shreveport Little Theater. “All three have made me so much better.”
Just how good Emma Kate is was evidenced by her first place finish in the National Association for Teachers of Singers (NATS) “National Student Auditions,” which took place in Philadelphia, PA in June. Liesl signed her up to compete, to teach her coping mechanisms. On her way to first, she auditioned in the State, Regional, and finally, National competitions. The top five from each region, plus Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, submitted their videos during the first and second rounds. The top 15 went on to the semi-finals round in Philly before three judges. Then the top three finalists each performed a concert, with an appointed pianist. “I was in my happy place,” she said of performing for an audience and not as an audition with judges. “I fed off of their energy. My pieces were funny…Hearing them laugh made me happy…I wanted them to smile.”
Last Monday, Mayor Nick Cox and the Minden City Council recognized Emma Kate and presented her with a proclamation, declaring that “Whereas, Emma Kate was awarded first place in the National Student Auditions and was presented with an $800 award for her incredible talent, now therefore, I, Nicholas A. Cox, Mayor of the City of Minden, would like to formally recognize Emma Kate Fox for her extraordinary achievements and encourage her to continue sharing her talents.”
In two weeks, Emma Kate will audition for her first Main Stage (adult) musical, “Oliver,” staged by the Shreveport Little Theater.
“The child never stops singing,” Melissa said. “We constantly have to remind her to rest those vocal cords.”
