Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

'The Producers' with a hometown twist

By AMARIS CASTILLO
Published June 13, 2007

Allyson Tolbert's theater debut was 15 years ago as a peach tree in second grade. "I guess you could say that started it all, " she said.

She's come a long way.

From a peach tree, the 22-year-old St. Petersburg native has dedicated her life to the arts. And this week, she's performing in The Producers, Mel Brooks' musical, at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

Tolbert's mother, Roslyn Lawrence, noticed her daughter's artistic passion early on, when she used to dance everywhere there was space: the grocery store, its parking lot, whatever stage was available.

Lawrence knew her daughter would fit in best at an artistic school, so she brought her to an audition for the 16th Street Center for the Arts and International Studies, now known as John Hopkins Middle School.

Tolbert was accepted into the theater arts program. She later attended the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School as a musical theater major.

Tolbert's involvement with the arts stretched far beyond school. She continued to dance and attended the Broadway Theater Project every summer until she was 20.

The arts serve as an outlet for Tolbert.

"If I'm upset, the only thing I want to do is go to the studio and dance, and when I'm excited, the only people I've wanted to talk to are my friends at the dance studio, " she said. "It's an emotional outlet, it's a creative outlet, and it's part of who I am ... it is who I am."

Tolbert went on to attend the University of Florida, where she majored in musical theater performance. She was active on campus, a member of Extreme Dance Company, National Collegiate Scholars, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and Florida Players, a theater organization at the university.

During college, she also competed in beauty pageants. In 2005, she was the first African-American woman to be named Festival of States Sungoddess, and last year she was crowned Miss St. Petersburg.

Tolbert auditioned to be in The Producers tour during her final exams last year.

She graduated in May 2006 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in musical theater performance, and soon after she was offered the job. When she got the phone call, Tolbert was driving to a friend's house for dinner. She said she had to pull over because she was so excited.

The tour began last August, and since then, the cast has traveled everywhere from Arkansas to New Jersey. The final stop will be in Gainesville on July 1.

Tolbert plays in the female ensemble in the musical, and said it has been an amazing experience. She said it's an honor to be part of the musical because it's the only full-length version of the show right now.

Being on the road for the past 10 months hasn't always been smooth for Tolbert. She admits she gets homesick at times, and living constantly on the go can be tiring.

"Three different cities in one week ... that can wear on you, " she said.

The cast performs an average of eight shows per week, and rehearses about twice a week.

Another challenge was a wrist sprain she suffered a few weeks ago. "It's really difficult to be injured and sit in the hotel room, when all your life revolves around performing, " she said.

Nevertheless, Tolbert said it has been great. She said she loves working with the directors, for whom she has much respect.

Lawrence is proud of her daughter.

"I know how hard she's worked for this, and I know the sacrifices she's made, " she said. "When other kids were hanging out at the mall or at parties, she was at the dance studio."

Paulette Johnson, co-founder and artistic director of the Soulful Arts Dance Academy, has known Tolbert since she was 9.

She taught Tolbert in a jazz class, and described her as a quiet little spirit, until she picked up musical theater.

Since then, Johnson has taken Tolbert under her wing for various projects, and watched Tolbert grow as a dancer and an actress.

"She's always been that artist who was a leader, always been a hard worker, " she said. "She knew what she wanted and she went for it."

Whenever Tolbert has a chance, she returns to the academy to teach jazz.

"She's gone from being that youth, to a teenager, to a young woman, " Johnson said. "She is so sure of who she is, and I love that."

Tolbert has come a long way from her role as a peach tree. She's happy the way her life is panning out.

"I am thrilled; of course, you want your dreams to be fulfilled ... it's one step at a time, and this is one step, " she said. "I'm honored that I've been able to have this opportunity."

If you go

The Producers

When: Through Sunday

Admission: $30.50-$65.50

Information: Call (813) 229-7827 or toll-free 1-800-955-1045, or visit www.tbpac.org.

[Last modified June 12, 2007, 22:44:00]