BWW Interviews: Daniel Lopez - What Could Be Better?

Arizona Onstage Productions' Forever Plaid features four fabulous actor/singer/dancers, including Daniel Lopez, who is a high school senior, and all of 17 years old. When she reviewed it, this writer was unaware that Daniel stepped into the production during the holidays with only three weeks to read, learn and polish the material before opening. The show is full of intricate choreography and tight vocal arrangements. Each character is a distinct individual, and Daniel's role requires a strong bass singing voice. Daniel is an intuitive performer and a charismatic person. I asked him what brought him into the performance arena.

DL: No one in my family is a performer and I was the first one to ever show an interest in it. It was a world we knew absolutely nothing about. I wasn't one of those kids that took dance and piano lessons at age 4 or anything like that. My brothers and I were always super tall for our age so we played basketball. Playing sports just wasn't for me, though. I'd always had a huge love for music. I was always singing along to the radio and dreamed of being a pop star. One day when I was 10, I woke up and told my parents that I wanted to learn to sing and dance. Not really knowing where to start we searched for a local youth theater company. We found one that had a weekly class and you could audition for a show - it was Beauty and the Beast. That audition was the most horrifying experience of my life. I got onstage - I was white as a ghost - and sang some song from High School Musical (hey, I was 10). I didn't get a callback and was heartbroken, but I got cast in the ensemble and loved every second of it. The performing bug had bitten me hard. I have been home schooled my whole life - traditionally until my freshman year and then I started online my sophomore year. Home schooling seems to have this stigma that it's easier, but I have to say that home schooling is not for everyone. It takes a lot of focus, dedication and responsibility to stay on track. It's a constant reminder that I have to be responsible and get things done and I'm really grateful for that. Being home schooled has been great for my performing opportunities. I can get ahead, I can play catch up, and it has allowed me to create school hours that are convenient to MY life. For instance, the last two shows I was in, I was asked to come in as a replacement or to audition for a role that needed to be filled really last minute. Normally someone in high school wouldn't be able to make a next day audition on a school day, but i'm fortunate that I can move my school schedule around for things that pop up. If there was one slightly negative affect, it's that I've never been able to be in a school drama or choir. Even if they aren't the best programs, I'm sure its nice to have a constant source of theatre and music and not have to search for it. On the flip side of this, not having school programs taught me the power of networking. All the opportunities I've had are from hard work and putting myself out there and I'm really proud of that.

JS: Why did your family choose home schooling?

There were some things that they were not huge fans of in the school system, then it turned into something our family completely enjoyed. My family is super close and we enjoy spending time together. It's always been something positive for our family. We always had the option to go to a traditional school, so if we felt that there was something we were lacking from being home schooled we could say the word and they'd let us switch. My parents were really great about making it our personal decision. I think that's why it worked out so well for us, because it was never a pressure they put on us. In fact, some of my siblings (I have 4) chose to go to high school for sports opportunities and things of that nature. I decided to continue home schooling through high school for performing opportunities. My parents are the best and i'm so thankful that we are really close. My dad is a captain with the Tucson Fire Department and my mom stayed home, because we home schooled. I'm really blessed to have the incredibly supportive parents I do. They've been supportive of me performing since day one and have been with me every step along the way. The fact that they knew absolutely nothing about this crazy performing world, but were willing to dive in head first meant the world to me. It has actually brought us closer. Their willingness to be at every audition, enroll me in classes or get me to a voice lesson no matter the obstacle is something I will always cherish. On top of that, they instilled in me that being a kind, grateful, responsible, and a respectable young adult makes all the difference. Without their support and love I most definitely wouldn't have the opportunities I've been given or be the person I am today. After high school, I plan on going to college to study this wonderful art I hope to do for a living. While at school I would also like to get a music education degree to someday teach. I really can't see myself doing anything else but performing. I have so much to learn and so many ways to grow that I most definitely won't be stopping anytime soon. My favorite thing about being a performer is that with every experience you learn something new. It could be about performing, yourself, or life in general, but you are always gaining meaningful knowledge along the way. As long as I have this yearning to learn and grow I will always pursue this dream. I don't know exactly where it will take me, but I can't wait to start the next chapter after high school.

What are your plans after high school?

In a perfect world I would be somewhere on the east coast for college. I love experiencing new cities and meeting new people, so I hope to get the opportunity to go somewhere different for college. But it's tough with how expensive college is these days! If I were to get a scholarship to go somewhere out of state, I would be there in a heart beat.

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