Tampa Prep junior Zahra Sparkman ’27 has been involved in theater productions as long as she can remember. And, that love of acting and singing has lead her, most recently, to starring as Dorothy in the production of The Wizard of Oz, running November 14 – 23 at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts (located right across the river from Tampa Prep)!
Zahra recently shared with us what the audition process was like, as well has her pre-show rituals and favorite Tampa Prep productions that she’s been involved with.
TP: How long have you been acting?
ZS: “I’ve been involved in drama clubs and small student run plays and productions at school since I was very young, and I’ve always loved acting. It wasn’t until 2018 that I was involved in my first show at the Patel Conservatory, and I’ve done countless shows there since.”
TP: Tell us about the audition process for The Wizard of Oz at the Straz.
ZS: “For the Patel Conservatory, auditions are usually a general audition, and they hold callbacks based on where they think you would best fit. Usually the audition requires a small cut of a musical theater song, and for the Wizard of Oz specifically, there was a dance call, in which we learned a dance combination when we arrived, practiced a few times, and then performed it for the audition. A few days later, I received an email that I had gotten a callback for Dorothy. It was there that I got to read for Dorothy in a few scenes, and of course sing “Over the Rainbow.”
TP: Are you in every performance or do you have an understudy?
ZS: “I have an understudy in case anything were to happen and someone would need to step in, but yes, I will be in every performance.”
TP: What is the biggest stage you’ve performed on?
ZS: “Usually when I am involved in shows at the Conservatory, they take place in TECO theater which is a smaller sized black box theater, similar to the one we have at Prep. However, in the spring, I was involved in the end of year showcase that the Patel Conservatory holds every year, where me and my castmates performed a song from Little Women, a show I was involved in in February. That event takes place in Ferguson Hall, which is a 1,042 seat proscenium theater.”
TP: Do you have any pre-performance rituals or superstitions?
ZS: “Before performances, I usually find myself feeling pretty anxious, even after doing so many shows. So what helps me the most is taking it easy, drinking tea, listening to music, and trying to disconnect from all of the anxieties I feel throughout the day. Having a chill morning/afternoon really helps set me up for a focused show.”
TP: What do you love about acting & singing?
ZS: “Singing has been my biggest passion for as long as I can remember. It is one thing in my life that has felt like a constant for me, like something I can always depend on to make me happy and that I will always be dedicated to continuing. I love music, and theater is so important to me because it is such a unique, special art form. Live theater is, at the moment, a special connection between actors and audiences. To be able to make an impact on someone in real time is an absolutely surreal and beautiful experience, which is why I continue to do theater.”
TP: Do you come from an artistic or performing family?
ZS: “No! None of my immediate family has ever really been into the arts or had any performing experience, so it was definitely a different path for me when I started being really dedicated to theater. However, all of my family really loves music and theater, and has a deep appreciation for it. This really helps me because they are so supportive of me and always love to come see whatever I do.”
TP: What productions at Tampa Prep have you been involved in? Do you have a favorite?
ZS: “I’ve been involved in as many productions as possible at Prep since I came in 7th grade, such as Mary Poppins, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Drowsy Chaperone to name a few. It’s hard to pick a favorite because I’ve loved every show I’ve done here, but I really had fun with Little Shop. Getting to do such a fun show with my closest friends was really a great experience, and I loved that show because it really allowed us to be big and have fun with it.”
TP: Is the arts program one of the reasons that you chose to attend Tampa Prep?
ZS: “Absolutely. One of my biggest criteria for a school I would choose to attend was a good art program. Although I never saw a show before I chose to come to Prep, I heard so many good things from so many people about the program, and I was very drawn to it. The arts at Tampa Prep are so incredible, and offer so many incredible opportunities and experiences that I probably would never have been able to get if I didn’t go here. Not only is the theater department amazing, but I’ve also been involved in chorus since middle school and the experiences I’ve had have been absolutely incredible.”
TP: Do you know what you want to do after graduation?
ZS: “As of right now, I am planning to continue doing music in college. I would love to audition for musical theater programs, but I think I’d like to focus more specifically on voice. I’m thinking about concentrating on vocal arts, but of course I never want to stop doing theater. Musical theater is where I feel most confident, so I would love to keep focusing on that.”
