In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife…in graduations. 525,600 minutes, how do you measure— a year in your life? Five of Children’s Playhouse of Maryland’s graduating seniors are measuring out their final year with the program by taking part in Rent (school edition) as their final senior show with the company. We’ve sat down with these five rising talents as they’re about to bid CPM a fond farewell to hear what they’ve had to say about the experience.

It’s always a wonderful, bittersweet experience to sit with you guys for what I affectionately call the “senior exit interview” here. Some of you I’ve seen grow up through this program, some of you I’ve only gotten to know in the last year but I’m thrilled that all of you are here to talk about your experience. Let’s start with who you are and who you’re playing in this production of Rent.

Amelia Grace Watts: I’m Amelia, I’m playing Mimi Marquez.

Callum Howard: I’m Callum. I’m playing Roger Davis.

Callie Fey: I’m Callie, I’m in the ensemble, and I’m playing Alexi Darling.

Bella Comotto: I’m Bella and I’m playing Maureen Johnson.

Xander: I am Xander and I am playing Mr. Jefferson and Paul.

Very cool, hello all! Now, what was it about Rent that made you want to come out and be a part of it, or were you all just coming out because this is the senior-goodbye show and you were going to come out no matter what? Had you seen Rent, did you have an attachment to it, what’s the deal?

Amelia: For me, I had always heard about Rent and knew that there were so many people who were really connected to it as a show. It was announced as our senior show, I didn’t know much about it, but throughout this past year, I started listening to it and realized how great of a story and how well it was written. I got really excited for it, then I auditioned, and now I’m here!

Callum: I’ve known Rent for a long time. I watched the FoxLive version. I have no recollection of the first time I saw it but I remember that I liked it then. Then I forgot about it for a while, re-remembered it during sophomore year of high school and started re-listening to it and I loved it because it was a story about a bunch of people who are different and all just artists. I never thought I’d have the chance to play Roger, actually, I always thought I was much more of a Mark. But here we are. I found out that the senior show was going to be Rent… a little before it was announced, actually—

You know, that seems to be the way of things in theatre, learning things before the general public. Just sayin’.

Callum: I came out and auditioned, even though I had conflicts, and I’m back now, and I’m so excited.

I’m so excited for you! What about you, Callie?

Callie: I have always loved Rent. It has been one of my favorite shows for a long, long time. I’ve always loved songs from musicals in general, but Rent is so impactful and it has impacted so many people’s lives, including mine, in so many ways. I’ve always wanted to do Rent. And it seemed like everyone was doing it— a couple of different schools were doing Rent, and then a bunch of other places— but then they announced they were doing it here, and I was so excited— like the greatest opportunity for my senior show! I really love Rent.

Bella: I’ve been doing CPM for 13 years. Obviously I knew I had to do this, this is my last show. Honestly, I didn’t know a lot about Rent, so when it was announced I knew I had to dive head-first into it. I knew “Seasons of Love”, “Tango Maureen”, and “Take Me or Leave Me” just because those are iconic songs that I’ve heard over the years, but I have absolutely fallen in love with this material. I’ve been obsessed with Idina Menzel ever since I was a little girl. I knew that I really wanted to play Maureen. I sent in my self-tape and I glamoured myself up, I literally started crying when I found out I got the part! I am absolutely obsessed with this show. I watch the ProShot and the movie every single day and I love Jonathan Larson so much!

Xander: For me, I’ve actually done this school before at my high school. I played Angel when we did it at my high school, Josiah, the kid who is playing Collins now in this CPM production was actually our Roger. And Cara, who is in our cast now also, was our JoAnn at my high school which was super cool too. They announced Rent for CPM’s senior show and I do not get nerdy theatre kid about a lot of shows. But this is like one of maybe three pieces that I absolutely froth over. I am absolutely obsessed with this piece. Angel was one of my favorite roles that I have ever played. And I’m super happy that I’m getting the opportunity to do this now at CPM, in a public theatre space, on a big stage with a lot of people that I’m frankly more comfortable with.

Now, some of you may have to dig back here…mostly just Bella…but what was your first show with CPM?

Amelia: My first show was Anastasia (Fall 2023.)

You’re pretty recent to CPM.

Bella: Yeah and she’s taken it by storm!

Amelia: I love the space here. Genuinely, it’s become such a home for me so quickly, I wish I would have found it sooner. I love it here so much. And I’m thankful that I get to end with a bang!

Callum: My first CPM show was Jesus Christ Superstar (Spring 2023) so I’m also fairly new. I knew about CPM before. I had seen all of the same season as Jesus Christ Superstar, you know 42^nd Street and Cinderella. So I know about it, and I had considered auditioning for them before, but I just never had the chance to until they put out that extra call for guys for Jesus Christ Superstar. I’m so glad I did. I’ve been so welcomed here and I feel so grateful.

I love that. Callie, what about you?

Callie: My first show was Legally Blonde (Spring 2022) I think that was like three seasons ago, I did one show and then I got busy with other things and then I came back this season. I wanted to do as much theatre as I could before I go to college because I don’t know if I’m going to continue to do theatre in college but I really enjoy it a lot so I wanted to do as much theatre as I could before I go.

Oh that’s amazing. Now, Bella, let me see if I can remember because you told me this before…you first CPM show…a hundred thousand years ago…was…Elf Jr.?

Bella: OMG that’s right! Elf Jr. (December 2016)

Yes! My brain isn’t as mush as I thought!

Bella: Well, technically my first CPM was Winnie The Pooh though that was with the apprentice company with Amanda Poxon, then Dixon. That’s how long ago that was!

 Oh how wild is that? I just saw Amanda Poxon a few weeks ago in a show at Manor Mill Playhouse!

Bella: She’s awesome. I moved up to the main stage shows with Elf Jr. In 2016. I was nine years old.

Oh my goodness, now I feel really old. Moving on! Xander, what was your first CPM show?

Xander: Same as Callum. My first CPM show was Jesus Christ Superstar (Spring 2023) I played Peter in that. I auditioned for it because my father (Greg Bell) has done Jesus Christ Superstar like six times. And he’s known Liz (CPM Director Liz Boyer Hunnicutt) since like the 90’s. And my Dad said, “Hey, you gotta follow the family tradition.” He was being all playful and he said “You gotta go audition for Judas. Since I’ve played Judas like six times.” And I said, “Sure. I’ll go audition for Judas in the first public thing I’ve done in over seven years.” Obviously I didn’t get Judas, I got Peter. And I had a bunch of fun with it so I kept doing shows here. It was real neat. I liked it!

We’ve got a varied grouping of “time spent at CPM.” I really like that. Now, Amelia, you’re playing Mimi. Tell me how you and Mimi are similar, how you guys are different, what you’re bringing to each other, tell me all about the Mimi experience.

Amelia: Mimi has been super fun for me. The similarities we share are that we’re both dancers. Obviously she’s an exotic dancer and I’m not.

Callie: Something you need to tell us, Amelia?

Oh my! Goodness, let’s hope you’re not an exotic dancer! But then again, Mimi was only 19…wait— how old are you?

Amelia: I’m 18.

Wait— are you all 18?

Bella: I’m not.

Bella, you were born 18, what are you talking about?

Bella: Haha! True! Thank you!

Sorry, back to you, Amelia, tell us more about you and Mimi, who is an exotic dancer.

Amelia: She is. But I swear I’m not an exotic dancer! I really enjoyed getting to share the ‘we are dancers’ with Mimi. Because I’ve always felt like I’ve been grouped in with the “just a dancer” group in theatre. It’s really exciting when I get a role that has dancing but also lets me sing and act because Mimi brings all of that to the table. I also think another thing that drives Mimi’s character is her family life and some of the trauma she’s delt with. Obviously, I don’t have an addiction to drugs. But I really have been loving diving into her emotionally, finding the similarities and finding the differences, and being able to use my personal and life connections to help drive her emotionally.

Awesome. Now Callum, please tell me that you and Roger are quite different as you tell us how you and your character are similar and different and what you’re bringing to each other.

Callum: I’m a big musician just like Roger. I’ve loved music since I was a kid. I’m going to college for music, I actually officially committed to that today*. I’m going to Towson! I just love getting to explore Roger’s character, getting to explore his music and what his music has been like. I love getting to explore how he’s expressed himself through his music all his life. He definitely has his trauma though I don’t think it stems as much from his family. He has a voicemail that sounds a lot more welcoming than some others. I’ve just loved getting to explore him. And since I’ve been getting to play guitar I think it makes it easier for me to explore that aspect of his life and how he uses that as his outlet.

Callie? Tell us about your character and ensemble tracks and what you’re finding about them and how you’re similar and different.

Callie: I think that I do connect to the people of Rent because they’re all starving artists. And that’s because they’ve tried to pursue what makes them happy. They haven’t given up, they haven’t taken the easy road out and I think that that is something that is really inspiring and really helps you understand how you could be if you were in that time. I think I would be like them. I don’t think I would be giving up on my dreams to go do something I don’t really want to do, even if that meant living on the streets and struggling.

That’s beautiful and that gives me hope for your generation. Bella, what about your and Maureen?

Bella: I think Maureen has a lot to say. And so do I.

That’s the through-line with you two right there!

Bella: I think I’d like to say that I’m actually more of a JoAnn. Maureen throws herself at everyone and is always flirting with everyone. And JoAnn is like, “no, one person.” So I think in that sense I’m definitely more JoAnn. But I love how expressive Maureen is. And she is so unique. That is what I love about her. I think that she’s imperfect and I think that she’s flawed but I think that she does have a big heart. She cares a lot about what she does as an artist. I’m moving to New York City in the fall. I’m going to be majoring in musical theatre. I might be finding myself in the starving artist community. I might be one of these characters in Rent. I really connect with Maureen for many reasons, especially because she is so passionate about her art and she’s so passionate in her life.

Xander, you’re playing a couple different characters so talk to us about how you’re finding the similarities there.

Xander: What I’ve been doing with this show, because I have four different ensemble characters in my head, I’m connecting them each to my own characters that I’ve developed and relating them there and getting into their mindsets to help me get into the mindset of this show. My favorite part about playing ensemble in a show is getting to develop my own character, seeing what I can do in tandem with the plot, showing my own story through subtle, down-low actions, rather than having to rely on already existing lines and dialogue that come with named characters. I’m telling my own character’s stories in this show the best way that I can. Given that there are four of them, obviously Mr. Jefferson and Paul, and then I have a homeless person and a separate person that I’m playing in “La Vie Boheme.” I have a lot of different personalities I’m going to get to show on stage. I’m excited to do all of that.

That is really awesome and I look forward to looking for all four of those characters. What is the moment in the show that defines Rent for you? And it doesn’t necessarily have to be a moment that your character is in, though it might be. ((PLEASE NOTE HEREIN BE SPOILERS [colored in red] TO THE GENERALIZED PLOT OF RENT. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO HAVE SPOILERS REVEALED, SKIP TO THE NEXT QUESTION- ctrl+f “how do you measure your year?” ))

Amelia: Can you come back to me? I really have no idea and definitely need to think a minute.

Xander: I actually have a solid answer, probably because I’ve done this show before, but I can go while she thinks. The defining moment in this show for me— and call it bias because I’ve played this role before— but it’s Angel’s death for me. Angel is the heart and soul of the piece. Angel is the one who keeps the group together and once Angel dies, the group falls apart and it becomes a tragic story about the rest of the characters who are there and how they’re falling apart. I mean they hit a happy ending, sort of, but once Angel dies, the piece gets very shaky. Tensions rise super high. To me, the defining moment is Angel’s death because that’s the turning point where things get real.

Since we started with Xander on this one, we’ll roll round the table in reverse. Bella?

Bella: I like to call Rent ‘chaotically beautiful.’ I think it’s a beautiful mess and that’s what makes it the phenomenon that it is. I think one of the defining moments for me as an actor is the end. Angel has just died, we’ve just sung “Goodbye Love”, the eight of us. And that’s a very intense scene. We’ve been very heated, there’s a lot of moving around, there’s a lot of different parts to that. But Collins steps in, when all of are arguing, and he’s like “Guys! Today? Really? Angel just died!” and I love that I choose to walk over to JoAnn and have this “I love you, and you love me,” moment, “let’s stop fighting.” Maureen and JoAnn have this very tumultuous relationship. They go up and down, but me and Lane, who plays JoAnn (Lane Morgan), always ask each other, “where are we in this scene? Are Maureen and JoAnn good? Are they not good? Where do they stand right now?” I really love that Maureen makes that decision in that moment. She’s committing herself to JoAnn in that moment. I think that Angel and Collins are the best couple in the show.

(UNANIMOUS SHOUTED AGREEMENT FROM ALL SENIORS IN ATTENDANC WITH THE ABOVE STATEMENT ABOUT ANGEL AND COLLINS.)

Bella: I think Maureen gets this thought in her head for the first time of “I could lose her, I could lose JoAnn.” Collins just lost Angel, he just lost his love and I think that’s a really special moment.

You hit the nail on the head. JoAnn even says it. Well, sings it. “I’d be happy to die for a piece of what Angel had. Someone to live for. Unafraid to say I Love You.”

Bella: Exactly!!

What about you, Callie? Moment that defines Rent for you?

Callie: My moment is very similar to those, it’s also around Angel’s death. It’s “I’ll Cover You (Reprise)” at Angel’s funeral. There’s a part at the end where we all come together in our grief and we all support each other. I think that is what Rent is all about. The message that I get from Rent is about community and coming together and supporting each other during hardship and I think that part of the show really showcases that. All of us coming together, showing each other compassion, and that’s the moment in the show that really shows you what Rent is all about.

Absolutely. Callum?

Callum: My answer feels like a cop-out. Because I feel like there are so many that I could give as an answer to this question. Obviously, like they’ve all said, Angel’s death is probably the biggest tone-shift for the show and it’s definitely a defining moment. But I’m much more head-into Roger and Mimi’s story and I could go on a multi-day rant about it, but I won’t. I think they’re defining moment is “I Should Tell You.”

Amelia: I was going to say that! Now I have to think again!

Callum: But you don’t because we’ll have different perspectives on that moment because I’m coming at it from Roger’s view and you’re coming at it as Mimi. Anyway, that’s their defining moment. They define themselves there as being together and that’s who they are. And then “Goodbye, Love” and “Without You” are their two big moments in the other half of the show. But it’s really impossible for me to pick a defining moment because I feel like the whole show is its own defining moment and it defined a whole generation and revolution of sorts on Broadway. And that was Jonathan Larson’s goal.

Yes it was. And it succeeded. Amelia, now we’re back to you. What’s your defining moment?

Amelia: Similarly, I totally agree with Bella. I feel like the turning point, emotionally, for the whole story and for all of our characters is “Goodbye Love.” Because you see all of that emotion get built up because of Angel’s death, and then you see this group of people who were so close together and now their relationships are all just breaking apart. But for Mimi and Roger, I think “I Should Tell You” is the turning point in their story because this is the point where they’re deciding to let go of their fear of the future and just focus on their relationship in the present. We just heard them do “Another Day” you know, ‘come back another day.’ But what if there is no other day? What if you don’t have another day? “I Should Tell You” is really them saying “let’s just go for it.”

I love all of these moments. For me personally, not that anybody asked, but as a person, it’s when Mimi says “I’m looking for baggage that goes with mine.”

Bella: Oh I love that!

And let me tell you, I’m a girl with all the baggage, and I have learned, in almost 40 years of life, that you don’t have to have baggage that goes with yours, or matches yours, your other person’s baggage just needs to fit on the same luggage cart as yours.

Callie: Oh wow. That sound so true!

Yep. Long, hard, life-learning lesson. Doesn’t have to match, just has to fit on the same luggage cart. But I think, as a person of the theatre, the moment that hits me as a universal audient? It’s when the priest comes out at Angel’s funeral, screaming about the funeral and the burial wasn’t paid for, and Benny steps up and says “I’ll pay.” He has that changing moment and if he can change, everyone can change.

Callum: Oh right. And he pays for Mimi’s rehab too.

Right. He comes around.

Xander: Can I add something? I think another big defining moment is “La Vie Boheme.”

((again, universal senior agreement here.))

Xander: The entire thing is a celebration not just of the success of Maureen’s performance but of art itself. It’s a big, “screw you” to capitalism and Benny’s whole plan to uproot this camp-town of all these struggling people for his own personal benefit. It’s a celebration of art and fluidity and self-acceptance and presentation. If we’re talking about the moment that you should remember from the show? It’s when Mark says “the opposite of war isn’t peace, it’s creation!” That’s the most important takeaway from this show in my opinion.

Callum: Yes! The opposite of war isn’t peace, it’s creation. And also— measure your life in love!

Ooh, Callum, that’s a perfect segue for my next question. Way to read my mind! 525,600 minutes. How do you measure your year? I know this might hit a little hard for you guys because this is your senior year, and yours lives are changing, you start new adventures and new chapters as you bring your school-year to a close. So how do you measure— measure a year?

Amelia: I don’t want to say love, that feels like I’m just quoting the show. But I feel like I measure in relationships? Like family and friends. I feel like the relationships we have with others build our lives and our emotions. Personally, the people around me mean everything to me and that’s how I live my life. I live my life for other people. Whether that’s being on stage and trying to make an audience happy or whether that’s being at home and trying to make my Mom happy.

Don’t forget to make yourself happy along the way.

Amelia: That too.

That really is an important life lesson. You can try to make other people happy but if you’re not taking the time to make yourself happy, you’re not doing yourself or anyone else in the world a service. Callum, how do you measure a year?

Callum: I actually want to go with the fact that I don’t think I have been measuring a year correctly. I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine that made me realize I was a lot angrier than I wanted to be and I wasn’t acting the way I wanted to act. I’ve been measuring my time in what fight I’m in or what show I’m in. It’s been more about what I was doing and not about myself and how I was feeling. I think I need to measure my life not in what I’m doing in that sense but more in the sense of how my life is affecting others. What am I doing to make the world better?

That’s awesome. Callie?

Callie: I want to say friends. And it’s similar to what Amelia said but relationships are really what define my life. What I can do for my friends and what my friends can do for me and how we both make each other’s lives better and improve on each other’s lives is very important to me and the people that I have relationships with. I’ve really been thinking about it a lot this past year because we’re all going our separate ways. I need to keep in mind how to maintain those relationships. I realized I have to think about that a lot more because we’re all going different places and it’s no longer going to be, “Oh, I’ll just see you at rehearsal” or “I’ll see you at school.” It’s something we’re going to have to work for in order to show the strength of our relationships.

Bella: I think I have grown a lot this year as an artist, as a person. I’ve accepted a lot of defeats. I look back on this year and I’m so proud of myself for overcoming all of that. Everyone at this table will tell you that the college process is not friendly and it’s not fun. I measure my life in growth, I think. I feel like I’m growing more and more each day. Definitely when I get thrust into New York City, I’m going to have to stand on my own two feet and be independent. I have to realize my parents will be at home, my friends will be at home, that it’ll be up to me to make this life for myself. I’ve worked my entire life for this, now what am I going to do about it? How am I going to grow here? I’ve grown in Baltimore. But it’s been hard on my mind realizing that I’m leaving so many things that I love. Like when I wrapped up Hairspray at Suburban Players, I was sobbing my eyes out in Katie Cashin’s arms for like an hour. So I can’t even imagine leaving CPM. But I think for me it’s growth.

That’s beautiful. What about you, Xander? How are you measuring a year?

Xander: I’m trying to figure out how to phrase this. I feel like for me, I measure my life in art. That sounds so pretentious.

No it doesn’t.

Bella: No it doesn’t! I love that!

Xander: I’ve described myself for a while now as a ‘Jack-of-all-trades-artist’ not that I’m like a ‘master-of-none’ or anything, I don’t really believe in that. But I carry a sketchbook around with me wherever I go. There are so many sketches in there. I have a bunch of music ideas. I have some stuff on Spotify that I release sometimes. Obviously I have my theatre ventures. Every weird niche art thing that you can think of, I’m somewhat interested in. Whatever niche art thing is going on in that moment, I want to be a part of it, if I feel like I belong there. It’s why I do stuff here at CPM because it lets me act on stage and pursue my theatre arts stuff that I like doing. I sort of measure my year, my life, and my time with the art that I’m leaving behind while doing it. That’s what I want to dedicate my life to more than anything else— creation. The idea of having to leave all that behind at some point is scary. But with my mind, I think I have an artistic enough mind and a creative enough process, enough chops and skills that I’ve honed over the years, that I can do all of that with my time. It’s what makes me happy and it’s what makes me feel fulfilled in life.

I love that. I love all of those answers from all of you. You guys are just great! What have you found most difficult about this rehearsal process?

Amelia: Conflicts! That has been the hardest for all of us, I think. Especially I think for the leads. We’ve had blocking rehearsals where it’s only three of us or three of missing— today* is the first day that all of us are going to be here together.

Bella: That’s a testament to our dedication, though.

Amelia: Yeah, it shows how dedicated we are. That no matter what we’re doing outside, we’re all putting the time and effort in outside of rehearsals to make it work. Bella already said this, she’s watching Rent every single night, I am also watching Rent every single night. It’s all I’ve been listening to on Spotify.

Callum: Yeah, half-hour long playlists of Rent. On repeat.

Amelia: It’s turned into my life. Rent has taken over my life and I couldn’t be happier.

Bella: *sings-in-Wicked-Glinda-tone* I couldn’t be happier!

How is it— how is it that I knew the minute those words were coming out of Amelia’s mouth that Bella was going to be singing them? You bunch are textbook musical theatre kids for sure. Callum, what has been the biggest challenge for you so far?

Callum: Also conflicts. It’s been conflicts but learning all of this. I have to learn my blocking, my music, my lines, my dancing— though I don’t have much dancing— and in addition to that, and I’m not saying that I’ve had it harder than anyone else, but I’ve also had a guitar part to learn. And that has been a bit of a nightmare because of the challenges of finding the right sound and making it fit with the right music. It’s been a lot to balance.

I feel that. That can present some unique challenges for sure. Callie, what has been the biggest challenge for you?

Callie: I don’t know. Is it bad for me to say I’ve felt like this is a great rehearsal process and I haven’t really had many issues?

Not at all!

Callie: I really enjoyed having music first. I love a sung-through show. I love having a lot of ensemble music. I love a short rehearsal process, if I’m going to be honest. Like the last show that I was in— and no tea no shade— but we had a four-month rehearsal process and then just two weekends of shows— oh, let me be really clear— this was not here at CPM this was at my school. But four months of rehearsals and two weekends of shows and I got bored with the show by the end. I love a short rehearsal process— it keeps it fresh, it keeps it fun. And I think I’m still going to enjoy the show by the end of it and that’s how I feel about Rent, it’s being kept fresh and fun and I know I’m going to enjoy the show by the end.

Excellent. Bella? Your biggest challenge?

Bella: Well there is this silly little thing called “Over the Moon.”

I feel like that is definitely a unique problem.

Bella: Oh yes, I know. Really making “Over the Moon” my own has been the most difficult thing for me. I’ve watched Idina Menzel, I’ve watched Eden Espenoza, I’ve watched random girls on TikTok, but I actually got this book about Rent from the drama bookshop in New York City—

Callum: I saw that book! I wanted to buy it so bad!

Pretty sure I have that book if it’s the one I think you’re talking about.

Bella: It is amazing. I’ve been reading it for days. It was the original director of the original Broadway production of Rent said that he always felt like Marueen’s inspirations were Patti Smith and Laurie Anderson. So I started watching some of their performances and listening to some of their music to just really tie them into it too. It’s a little bit of Idina, it’s a little bit of Patti, it’s a little bit of Eden, and you know, a little bit of me!

Xander: And a lot a bit of your amazing singing voice!

Bella: Thank you!! I have been discovering stuff with that monologue every single day. I was in my bathroom earlier today* and had this moment of “Oh! I’m going to do this! This is a really great idea!” I’m really having fun trying to make it my own but it’s definitely a challenge.

That sounds so amazing I can’t wait to see what you do with it. Xander, what has been the most difficult part of this rehearsal part so far?

Xander: I say this with a lot of shows but I feel like trying to click with the cast has been a bit of a process. I’ve been going to the rehearsals, we’ve had up to five leads missing at some of these rehearsals or a lot of the people who I’m really comfortable with were missing, and I’ve been like “okay, I guess I’m sitting in the corner today.” The thing about Rent is you need a well-bonded cast for it to work. I’m trying to put myself out there more. I have this problem with so many other shows, like with Oz because I was the only senior in that cast, aside from Moreille Shechter** (also a graduating senior in Rent.) I had it with Mean Girls because I didn’t know anyone in that show. That’s where I met Bella. I’ve had that with a lot of shows in general but with this one it’s the same process. I’m trying to put myself more out there. It’s going fine. But that’s been my biggest struggle because I’ve done the show before so I already know most of the music, I know a big chunk of it. Obviously the dancing could be a problem for me because I am not a good dancer but there’s barely any dancing in this show to begin with so it’s not the end of the world.

Amelia: Can I please add something?

Sure.  You guys are so polite. What did you want to add, Amelia?

Amelia: I realize that besides conflicts, my most challenging thing has been “Out Tonight.” I wasn’t worried at first because I’ve played Brooke Wyndham in Legally Blonde—

Callie: And she ATE!

Bella: She ATE!

Ate? Man I feel old.

Callum: It means she was amazing.

Thank you, for the old-people translation. Sorry, Amelia, back to you.

Amelia: It’s all good. Like I said, I wasn’t worried because Brooke was jump roping and singing. So in my mind, I was like “if I can do that I can do anything.” But then last week we choreograph “Out Tonight” and we get the set, which is like scaffolding, two platforms, and stairs. And I’m dancing and swinging and going upside down, and doing kicks, trying not to fall, and then trying to breathe while belting and singing— a little different than Brooke Wyndham! I wasn’t expecting to be as out of breath as I was. So ever since last week, every time I’ve been at rehearsal, I’ve just been running it and running it and trying to build up the endurance. I think it’s working. I’m hoping I’ll get there! I feel like it’s a really good experience to build up that endurance especially because it was something that I thought I was going to be fine at and didn’t expect to struggle with. I’m struggling with it and it’s freaking me out but I’m excited because I think it’s going to come together!

Callum: I’ve had thoughts. Can I add something else?

Sure!

Callum: I want to sort of touch on what Xander said. Rent is a show where the cast has to be really bonded and I can only think of two shows where that feels really true. It’s Rent and Cats. That show has to be really bonded and really close. And I’m really very fortunate that I can now say I’ve been in both of those shows where I’ve gotten to have that really close bond.

Xander: That’s true. I worked on Cats last summer; I got to spotlight you. That was fun.

This is six-degrees-of-CPM. I love it. What has been your biggest, personal learning lesson from getting to do Rent here at CPM? What is your big personal takeaway?

Amelia: I think taking risks and knowing that creativity is what connects us all and also what drives us all. It’s such a creative piece of art. Jonathan Larson—

*Universal Senior Decry as they all look skyward* : Thank you, Jonathan Larson!

Amelia: Passion, love, and acceptance. All of those things are so important to Rent and they are something that I’ve been taking away from the story. Also learning Mimi. Another thing about Mimi that I connect to? She is so resilient. She is so strong and I just really connect to that part of her. I’m taking that side of her with me.

Callum, biggest personal takeaway? What has being in Rent here at CPM taught you about yourself?

Callum: That I need to have faith. Not only in myself but in everyone else. And a little bit more faith in myself that I can do things and take on challenges. I had faith in the cast. I told myself, “have faith in Ms. Liz, have faith in the cast and it will come out great.” And it has come out better than I could have ever imagined. I have had to have faith in myself that I can come in today, knowing my stuff, knowing what I need to know for this, and do it right. Having faith in myself and everyone else so that it comes out the way it should be, that’s what I’ve learned.

Callie: I think I’ve learned a lot about what it means to work together with a lot of people so closely. Like we’ve said, the bonding is so important. I think that in such a singing-heavy ensemble show, where the ensemble is really important but also not dance-wise, I think it’s really important to do your part but also to trust that the other people will do what they need to do. Having conversations about characters has been great too. I have this memory of this conversation. The junkies— in the ensemble, none of us are actually junkies— but the junkies were all just hanging out together and asking “well, why do you do drugs? What drugs do you do?” And that was a fun learning experience, the character building.

Bella: My biggest personal takeaway I think is the importance of relationships. In life and as a performer, I have definitely had to collaborate. And for this show I’ve definitely had to collaborate with Lane, who plays JoAnn and I didn’t know her well before the rehearsal process. She got JoAnn and I got Maureen and I said, “We’re going to have to become best friends. You’re my new bestie. We’re hanging out, we’re calling each other, and you’re becoming my friend.” I love talking about our characters with her. She’s been so open, she’s been so receptive. Another person is Max Ozbolt. And we always meet each other right where we are. Max is someone that I can always bounce off of. He’s playing Mark. I have a lot of experience with him so I already have that trust with him and it was great to get to build that trust with Lane. Just the importance of relationships. The cast is very close, especially the eight of us principals. We had a lot of blocking rehearsals where it was just us and I can remember thinking “this is so nice getting this time to really solidify our characters together.” And what I’ve taken from Maureen is that she’s definitely helped me accept myself more. As a woman, as a queer woman, and it’s been really important to me.

I love that for you, Bella. Xander? What’s your big personal takeaway?

Xander: I gotta open up more. I don’t know that I have a coherent answer to this question because I don’t think I’ve had as much of a takeaway from this show so much as it’s been a farewell send-off to my time at CPM. I had a lot of big, personal hills for the shows earlier this season. I fell so many times in every other show this season. Mr. McAffee, Scarecrow, Grandpa Joe. All three. I don’t have to do that for this show so I don’t have to worry about learning that! What I’m realizing is that I gotta accept who I am more and accept that I need to open up to other people regardless of how comfortable I am with them or how comfortable they are with me. I am very much a queer person, like Bella. High-five to the queer people. As if I’m not doing this interview in a skirt and eyeliner!

Callie: High-five me too! I’m a queer person!

High-fives all around! Xander, back to your takeaway.

Xander: That has actually made me terrified for my future, and for everyone else that I know. But I need to accept that I’m a queer person regardless of what other people think. And that show is really helping me with this because it is a very queer show.

I feel so honored to be sitting with you guys right now; I worry for all of you too; love is love is love and what do they say in the opening number, “draw a line in the sand and then make your stand!” Line drawn. I’m standing with you guys. Now, I hate to use this word— ‘favorite’— but what is the song that just gets you in Rent? Maybe one you sing, one you don’t sing?

Amelia: No! There are so many! Don’t make me pick— or come back around—

Xander: I have one. It’s convenient that I’ve done this show before.

This is like the third time Xander has come to the rescue for Amelia; I love how you guys really have each other. Go ahead, Xander.

Xander: I have played Angel before and surprisingly it’s not one of Angel’s songs. For me, this show, there are so many that I could pick. But for me it’s “Halloween.” That song is top five musical theatre songs of all time for me. It’s a piece that resonates with me so hard. I’ve played Angel before but Mark is the character that really resonates with me personally as a starving artist and as a person who doesn’t know where they’re going and who struggles to fit in with the group. Mark’s whole shtick is my whole shtick. In tandem with that, I would say the part of “Goodbye Love” that’s sort of a reprise to “Halloween”, Mark and Roger’s argument in that number? It hits me so hard. That little line at the end between the two of them. “For someone who’s always been let down, who’s heading out of town. For someone who longs for a community of his own, who’s with his camera, alone?” That’s one of my favorite lines in this show. It’s such a line that resonates with me. Pan-scene-right to me on the bench of the CPM stage with my sketchbook in my hand, sitting off alone in the corner.

I love that you have these amazing personal connections to this show.

Xander: This is such a personal show for me. And this is also the only show that I will get this crazy about; this is such a good soundtrack.

Bella: I love “Tango Maureen” because as an actor there is no better feeling than when they’re talking about you up on the stage! And you’re not even there. But everyone is like “ooh— who is this Maureen person? Who even is she? I wonder who she is?” I kind of just love how they talk about me. But also, they sound beautiful when they do it. You have Max Ozbolt and Lane Morgan who are POWERHOUSES. And I mean it’s like for Maureen, “if you’re going to talk about me, you better sound good!” Definitely that song.

I love it. Callie?

Callie: This might sound like it’s out of left field, but “What You Own” is just one of my favorite songs. I am so sorry, Callum, if I just stole your song. But “What You Own” is vocally and musically such a good song. It’s a vibe! I would literally unironically rock out to that song. What I was talking about before, being a starving artist, people who pursue their passions even if it means they have to struggle in other ways, you get that full-on in that song. That’s the part of the show where they show you that “we’re going to do this. Do what we know we need to do no matter the consequences.” It’s just a banger!

A banger! I love that! Callum?

Callum: Like Callie said, I would unironically rock out to that song. In fact I do unironically rock out to that song—

Callie: Me too!

Callum: That song is on repeat on my playlist. I adore “What You Own.” It’s a tenor duet and there are so many good lyrics. Like Callie said, it’s lyrically, musically genius. That guitar intro gets me every time. It gets me amped up and ready to go. And then that line “I don’t own emotion— I rent! When you’re dying in America and the end of the millennium…you’re what you own.” I am a sucker, especially for Roger’s part with all those nice harmonies. I adore it. I adore the part of the story and how it signifies what it signifies. It comes after one of my favorite scenes, at the end of “Goodbye, Love.” I love that they’re coming back together there. I am so very grateful that I’m getting the opportunity to perform it with Max. One of the first conversations I had with him was “I want to sing ‘What You Own’ with you.” And I asked him what his dream role in Rent was and he told me Mark. And now I’m doing it for my senior show. It’s so exciting.

Amelia, we’re back around to you now, do you have a song?

Amelia: I had my original answer but then I kept thinking about all the other ones that I love but I’ve circled back to my original answer. And it’s because I didn’t want to seem conceited, because it’s my song. “Out Tonight” even before getting into Rent, I loved that song. It was a hype song for me, I would play it when I just needed to get hype. I would play that song and rock out. At it’s base, it’s a song about having fun, letting loose, and being free. She’s doing some badass moves on scaffolding but at its core, it’s a song about letting go of all the scars and the things that have hurt you and just living your best life to the fullest. The line in the song that I love the most? “Where all the scars of the nevers and maybes die.” Until I started doing my character analysis, I didn’t realize how much depth that song had. Because on the surface you just think she’s just sluttin’ and struttin’. But she has all this pent-up emotion and she’s just letting it go. I think a part of her character— why she dances and does some of the things she does is just to let loose. I love that and I love the song.

I love that for you, Amelia. Personally, I’m an “I’ll Cover You” girl. Because the song is the song but also it’s I-C-U, like ‘I see you.’

Bella: Oh. Oh my God. I love that!

Yeah. Us old people can be sentimental too. Now, if you had to give a piece of advice to someone who was coming out to CPM for the first time, what would it be?

Amelia: It’s such a family. I was so nervous going into auditions for Anastasia. I remember hearing all these things about CPM. I heard so many different things! Some people were telling me to be nervous, some people were telling me that it’s scary, some people were telling me that it was fun, so I didn’t know what to expect! But I went in and auditioned and it turned out to be one of the best decisions that I made throughout high school. It gave me such a home and a family, for the dark place that I was in. It was what I needed. I feel like the universe just knew that I needed to be at CPM. And I’m so happy that I’ve gotten to experience this family so my advice? Audition. Please. Because it is worth it. It will make your high school experience or your middle school experience— it will make your life better.

Oh wow. I love that! Callum? What advice are you giving to someone who is coming out to CPM for the first time?

Callum: Aside from, obviously, come out and audition no matter what, I’d tell them ‘don’t be afraid of it.’ Coming in, I was very nervous. I had heard a lot things, like Amelia said, mixed things from different corners of theatre that I had done at the time. I sent in my tape for Jesus Christ Superstar and I got an email back from Ms. Liz a couple days later saying, “Hey you’re in. We don’t know who you are yet, but you’re in.” And I was so ecstatic! And so glad I made that decision. I didn’t go out for the original auditions because of a conflict that I thought I had and then ended up not having. I’m so glad I did. I was so welcomed. I’ve met so many wonderful people and it has led to me growing as a performer. It’s led to me finding my voice, finding out a lot of things about myself, and it’s led to me being able to grow in confidence as well. It’s allowed me to get comfortable with things like playing more serious roles, like Gleb in Anastasia.

Callie?

Callie: I’d say do what makes you happy. Theatre makes a lot of people happy. And I decided to audition because I had finished my school show, and a couple of other people said, “well there’s this other show, it’s Legally Blonde” and I was like “I love Legally Blonde” and I went out to go do it! I love theatre. And it makes me happy and CPM makes me happy!

Bella?

Bella: To quote the Disney channel show Jesse, “Just enjoy it. It feels like a party every day.” That is CPM wrapped up in a ribbon. I have made some of the best friends of my life here. I met my best friend, Shahmeer Mirza here when we were in Elf Jr together. I still call him, he’s thriving in Chicago, I talk to him every day. I became very connected with my cousin Allison (of the Baltimore Community Theatre scene Allison Baxter) because she participated in CPM. My cousins Zach and Rachel Miller, Molly and Emily Foggo, have all participated in CPM. I have a lot of relatives in CPM. It’s definitely my family and my friends blending together in a beautiful way. It was the best decision I’ve ever made and I cannot imagine my life without it. I’d be a completely different person. I’m so blessed that I’ve had so many opportunities to create and grow here.

Xander: Your cousin is fantastic by the way, Allison. I’ve known her since I was ten. She’s great! Now, what to say to incoming CPMers? Obviously don’t be too afraid of it. There’s a lot of bad habits you can fall into as a theatre kid or a kid in theatre. A lot of gossip can spread, there’s a lot of pitfalls you can fall in. I would say don’t get caught up in all of that. Don’t let it bog you down. Trust the process even if you don’t end up in the role you want. Don’t let not getting the part you want kill you. Even if you don’t get in the show, don’t let that bog you down. The directors here know what they’re doing, they know what they want people for, they know who fits the best for what. And it’s not that one person is better than another person, it’s about who fits what role and where talents need to lie in the cast for productions to work. And that’s true for any show all throughout your theatre life. I try not to let any of those habits get to me. I am not your stereotypical theatre kid. I am more your stereotypical starving artist and that’s me making fun of myself. Be yourself. Don’t let bad theatre habits get to you and ruin your experience with anything you do.

Why is theatre such an important part of your life?

Bella: Jesus, Mandy!

Bella, you are cracking me up! You had this question last year!!!

Amelia: I have always loved performing, ever since I was a little girl. Since I could speak? I was singing. Since I could walk? I was dancing. And I had always done all of them separately. I sang separately, I competitively danced, and I acted in the school plays. It wasn’t until I had a major foot surgery that took me away from competitive dancing and brought me to musical theatre but I realized it was always what I had wanted. I never knew that it was a route that I could take. I always thought I had to choose one of the three. It’s shaped my life in so many amazing ways because it allows me to bring all of my three passions together. Why it’s important to me? It lets me create things to make other people happy. That’s something for me— making other people happy— is the way I like to live my life. Kindness is the most important thing. If I can put something on stage, doing what makes me happy, and sharing that happiness with others through creativity, it’s just incredible.

Callum: Theatre is what I’ve been doing for as long as I can remember. I do, as I know you can tell, a lot of it. I think I did like nine shows last year.

And I’m pretty sure I saw five or six of them.

Callum: I feel like you saw all of them— but wait, maybe not, because you didn’t come to any of the high school shows, so maybe it was five or six. But theatre is just what I’ve been doing since I was in third grade. I think I told you this, I was nine years old and I was playing Willy Wonka, and I think I mentioned that back in December when you came to see me play him in Charlie & The Chocolate Factory. Theatre is just where I feel home. I’ve always loved getting to pretend to be someone else. It’s just what I’ve loved since I was a kid. As a kid, I had my costume chest and I would dress up and pretend to be other people. When I started doing theatre, I found out, “oh I can do this.” I went in, I sang, and the rest is history. I’ve loved it ever since.

Callie: I think that art is just really important. It has the ability to change people’s lives and change people’s minds. And I think that yes, it’s because I’m good at these things. But I could choose to not do it. But I really enjoy doing it. I don’t want to say I enjoy changing people’s lives but I would hope that I could contribute something to changing someone’s mind. I hope that one of my performances has made even just one person think critically about their lives in any way and I think that’s beautiful. I think that I can use the talents that I do possess to do that.

Bella: I mean this is my life’s blood. My Dad is a musician. I come from musical people. We sing a lot in my family. Over the summer I had a neck and spinal problem that left me unable to sing for a little bit.

Oh my gosh, I did not know that!

Bella: I kept it under wraps.

That is— and pardon the expression— but that is f**king terrifying.

Bella: Absolutely was f**king terrifying. It was very scary and I was very scared.

I’m really glad you’re okay!

Bella: Me too! But it left my voice in an in-comfortable spot. There was nothing that I did to cause it, it was just a misalignment that happened. And it made me realize how big theatre is in my life. That it is a huge part of my identity. When I didn’t have it, I didn’t really know who I was. And I don’t mean to sound melancholy but it was very scary and very real. Growing from that, I definitely feel revitalized as an artist. This is my purpose and I’m going to do it and no matter what it takes, I’m going to do it. I felt what it was like to have that taken away from me for a little bit and I never want to feel that again.

I am really, very glad that you made a full recovery. Xander, why is theatre such an important part of your life?

Xander: It’s a bit of a different answer for me. I don’t think that the theatre is as important to me as is it to a lot of people here. It’s still important to me, don’t get me wrong, because I definitely do come from a theatre family. Amy and Greg Bell (Xander’s mom and dad, respectively) are household names in the Baltimore theatre space. But my life blood is my art. And theatre is a part of my art, it’s just not all of it. And it’s completely fine. It’s how I am. I don’t regret doing all of it. Theatre ends up a lot of the time being my social outlet. Like this is my big non-online social outlet. I meet a ton of people here that I enjoy speaking with and doing all these interesting things with. You’re not going to catch me backstage belting the soundtracks to any of these shows with anyone but you will catch me doing the stuff on the stage and being a part of the team. Any cast I find myself in, that’s what I do. I hope to take my experience doing all of this theatre stuff, all of the more mainstream theatre stuff that I’ve done here and take it towards weird and niche theatre things that you can find in back alleys of random downtown Baltimore spaces. I want to do some weird strange theatre that means something to someone.

I love that theatre is different for all of you but still such an integral and important part of your lives. Final two questions— why do you want people to come out and see Rent?

Amelia: It’s amazing! Hello? I feel like it’s changed a lot of our lives and I think it can change yours. I’ll leave it at that.

Callum: I’ve seen a few Rent casts. I’m very proud of this show. This show has changed my life already and I haven’t been here for half the rehearsal process! It’s going to be something good; it’s going to be something special.

Callie: Seeing everything come together over the last week specifically has made me very, very excited about what the show is going to be! Every time I send the ticket link to my friends I say, “This one’s going to be really good. You should come!” I really am proud of what we have accomplished and what we’re going to continue to accomplish!

Bella: I think the term ‘school edition’ can sway people a certain way and I don’t think that it should. This is still the Rent that we all know and love. We might be teenagers and we might be kids, but we can make an impact! I really hope and I really encourage people to come out and see this production. We’ve put a lot of work into it and we really care about it, clearly!

Xander: This is an important piece. I think that for any theatre individual or any artist in general, this is a piece that you need to see. This specific production of it has been going great. We have a bunch of powerhouses, not just in the leads but in the ensemble members as well, and I think that with this cast and with this production, it’s not going to disappoint. There are a lot of things, sure it’s not Broadway, but it is really, really good.

Absolutely! Final question! If you had to sum up your entire experience of doing Rent here at Children’s Playhouse of Maryland in your senior year, for your final show at CPM, using just one word, which word do you use?

Bella & Callum: What!? NOOOOO.

You two, I swear! Callum and Bella, you’ve both had this question before— Bella, you’ve had it twice!

Bella: I know! It’s just hard to pick just one word.

Amelia: Passion.

Callum: Inspiring!

Callie: What the actual— damnit, Callum! You stole my f**ng word!!!

Callum: You stole my song!

Callie: I am so upset! I was going to say that!!!

This is hilarious. Do you know how many of the cats during the Jellicle-Ball interview series— both the first time in 2022 and last year in 2024 said “Jellicle” as their word?

Callie: But they didn’t hear each other say it!

This is fair. But still.

Callie: Can you come back to me because Callum stole my damn word!

Sure. Bella?

Bella: Creation!

Lovely! Xander?

Xander: I need to think.

Callie, back to you. Xander’s thinking.

Callie: Callum you suck! I had such a great word! And now I have to think. Um— strength. Yes. Strength.

Xander: Important.

Rent (school edition) plays May 2^nd 2025 through May 18^th 2025 with Children’s Playhouse of Maryland in the Lecture Hall of the Administration Building at the Community College of Baltimore County Essex Campus— 7201 Rossville Boulevard in Baltimore, MD. For tickets call the box office at (443) 840-2426 or purchase them online.

*today being Monday April 21^st 2025

** Moreille Shechter is a graduating senior but was unable to attend the senior-round-robin interview due to being in London, UK at the time.