Published: Feb. 17, 2017
A love of theater from the very beginning
Slinger student Taylor Loomans’ role in ‘Robin Hood’ is the latest in a lifelong career
ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043
Taylor Loomans, a freshman at Slinger High School, will perform in her
first play when First Stage in Milwaukee presents “Robin Hood.”
It opens tonight and runs through March 12.
“I’m very excited,” Loomans said. “I have a great cast, a great director; it’s really coming together.”
This is Loomans’ 22nd performance, but her first play. The other 21 were musicals.
“I feel that doing musicals throughout my entire life, I know what I
need to do,” Loomans said. “Now, I need to learn how to hold my sword,
speak with an English accent. It’s making it an experience and expanding
my acting career.”
Of
her 22 performances, “Robin Hood” is her third with First Stage. She
also did “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” and “Ella Enchanted.” She’s
been with First Stage for three years.
In “Robin Hood,” she plays Joan, one of the Merry Men-in-training.
It didn’t take long for Loomans to be drawn to the theater lights. It took five days after she was born.
Loomans was born in Texas, but was adopted by Mercedes and Larry Loomans.
The week Taylor was born, Larry was in the middle of the Musical Masquers’ production of “1776.”
It was what theater business
calls “tech week.” During the week, the production preparation steps up
as the cast and all involved go through mock runs of the show to get
ready for the rapidly approaching opening night.
The Loomans got a call that a baby girl was born and they were needed in Texas in 24 hours.
“We dropped everything and flew to Texas,” Mercedes said.
That call came on a Monday and they were on the plane Tuesday. Larry had to fly back for the final
rehearsal Thursday. On Friday, Mercedes and the family’s latest
addition, Taylor, were on a plane to Wisconsin. Hours upon their
arrival, Mercedes and Taylor were in the audience for Larry’s opening
night performance.
When
she was in kindergarten, Mercedes and Larry decided to test Taylor’s
interest in theater. They enrolled her in a one-week theater camp at the
Schauer Center in Hartford.
“The stage bug bit her hard from that moment on,” Mercedes said.
“She’s had amazing opportunities with talented directors and cast
members.”
“We say that I was born into acting,” Taylor added.
Since then, she’s done show after show after show. Her stage debut was at the Schauer Center in “Princess and the Pea.”
For “Robin Hood,” it’s not only her first play, but her most extensive role.
“A little bit nervous because it’s a lot of acting and we’re using
English accents,” Taylor said. “Our adults in the cast have really
helped. I’m ready.”
Despite the inexperience in a speaking role, she was surprised, but excited about the opportunity.
“I had really wanted to be in the show,” Taylor said. “I put a lot of effort into my audition.”
Because most of the cast is in school, the show is double cast. There
are 60 performances, meaning Taylor will be in about 30 of them. She is
in the Sherwood cast.
When she was cast for the role, she knew she had a lot of work ahead of her.
“I was walking into something I didn’t know too much about,” Taylor said. “It was definitely a learning process.”
What she learned was knowing and understanding her surroundings, and her castmates’ roles.
“This is my sport,” she said. “Some of my friends play basketball. I
act. I love to sing and dance. I love meeting new people.
“It’s a great way to build self-confidence and share stories with someone else.”
She plans to compete in track and field at Slinger in the spring.
While Larry was in acting, Mercedes ... not so much.
“I am a professional audience member,” she said with a laugh. “I’m the best one to cheer and cry and laugh.”
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