20 Questions with Chloe Van De Graaf
Austin’s ZACH Theatre has long been known for its talented teams of creative individuals from over the years. From gripping productions like Tribes and Notes From the Field to mesmerizing fairytales like Disney’s Beauty and The Beast and even lighthearted fare like Tortoise and Hare, audiences have seen immense talent grace the stage, and their production of Matilda the Musical is no different.
We were lucky enough to ask some of the production’s rising stars a few questions to get to know the kids behind Matilda the Musical, including Chloe Van De Graaf who is making her theatrical debut as the titular character. Van De Graaf is also a third year member of ZACH’s Pre-Professional Company, which is an audition based program for serious students looking for a professional training experience in Musical Theatre.
20 Questions with Chloe Van De Graaf
Chloe Van De Graaf
How old are you? I am 12 years old.
What's your favorite food? My favorite food is Lasagna and pretty much any other Italian food.
What makes you smile? Hanging out with my friends makes me smile because we have a lot of fun.
Who inspires you? Lady Gaga inspires me because of her talent, innovation, hard work, and following her dreams.
What is your favorite animal? My favorite animal is my dog Cooper. He is a mini Golden Doodle and he is super fluffy and cute
What's your Superhero name and what powers do you have? My superhero name would be Notorious Ninja Chloe, I would be able to have super Tae-Kwon-Do, I’m already a second degree black belt but I would like to be even better.
How do you best help others? I help others by being kind to them and helping them when they need help.
What are you most thankful for? I am most thankful for my family and friends because they are always there to make me happy.
What's your favorite place in Austin? My favorite place to go in Austin is the Domain because it has great shopping, great food, and great fun!
What's your favorite thing to do with your parents? I love swimming outside and playing volleyball with my parents.
What's it like performing in front of other kids? It’s so much fun to perform in front of other kids because they are so engaged with the show and their reactions are very different from the adults.
What makes you feel confident on stage? It makes me confident on stage when people are cheering me on and are enjoying the show.
How do you prepare for showtime? I prepare for showtime by warming up, then I go somewhere quiet and study my script and try to get into character.
Who is your favorite cast member? Everyone is so fun, nice, and TALENTED! I couldn’t pick a favorite cast member.
What character makes you laugh the most? The show is hilarious! All of the characters make me laugh a lot.
What made you want to get into acting? My mom signed me up for an Annie summer camp when I was six years old and I played the role of Tessie. I had so much much fun and I was hooked.
How has ZACH Theatre helped you develop as an actor? They taught me about character development that characters go through during the show. They have shown me how to express the emotions of my character in a way that is believable to the audience.
What's your favorite thing about acting? I love being on stage and making other people happy.
Do you ever get nervous on stage? I always get nervous before I go onstage, but once I am onstage all of my nerves go away and it is so much fun.
What's one role you'd love to play someday? I would love to play Elphaba in Wicked!
Tickets for ZACH Theater’s Matilda the Musical, are currently on sale, and the show will run in The Topfer at ZACH until May 12, 2019. Feature photo by Kirk Tuck.