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"Mimi" Rogers plays to her strengths on the Grant stage |
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Written by Beatrix Zenger
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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 |
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Madeleine Rogers sits down and adjusts a leather jacket that seems to contrast her sweet, thoughtful persona. Her hair is pulled back into a simple ponytail and her skinny jeans, ballet flats and cheerful smile show off a prominent aspect of her demeanor: comfort. Despite chants of, “Ooh, you’re famous. They want to interview you…” from friends, Rogers is calm as she awaits her first question, a quality that no doubt serves her well before she goes on stage to perform.
Rogers, known by many as Mimi, is a sophomore at Grant and an avid participant in Grant’s theater department. Rogers decided to try acting after seeing her older brother in a play, and luckily it came naturally to her and became her passion. “It was never really a challenge to me. I liked finding challenges in it, but overall it was natural and fun,” says Rogers. “I like being in the moment, which is both dangerous and scary. I like acting off the other person and connecting with them, but it’s scary because you’re not in your own head and not totally prepared.” However, even with the unknown aspect, Rogers seems to go through it with ease.
Working with the other actors is one of Rogers’ self-proclaimed greatest strengths on stage, along with her ability to get the audience to feel emotion, especially sympathy. But every artist has their weakness. “I can’t do comedy to save my life,” she says with a laugh. “I’m not brave enough to pull a lot of things off.” Bravery on stage is something she’s willing and hoping to work on.
Rogers’ favorite and most challenging role came in the play, "The Kiss of Death," where she played both the younger and older versions of the same character. As the younger version she had stage time, but no lines, while as the older version she had a speaking part and no on stage acting. “Half my character had no lines,” explains Rogers. “So I had to build it out of myself and not the script. It was hard to know what was in her head and heart.”
On the other hand, Roger’s least favorite role was as an Oompa-Loompa, complete with face paint and blue hair. “I felt like I was putting on a show. I wasn’t acting. I wasn’t trying to make the audience feel anything,” says Rogers. As she remembers the experience a slight look of disgust forms on her lips, but it quickly vanishes. “I always have fun with the show, though,” she concedes, “even if I don’t like the character.”
Rogers trained in ballet for ten years, but, as acting began to take up more of her time, she had to choose between the activities. “Both activities are grueling,” says Rogers. “And I didn’t want to be my brother,” she adds in with a laugh. Rogers’ brother acted and danced also, but, unlike him, she decided to follow her acting passion instead of pursuing both talents equally. However, she still utilizes her dance training when she can, though not always by choice.
In a play called "The Snow Queen," Rogers lost her choice role to her sister and instead was cast as a dancing snowflake. “It’s because she can sing,” Rogers says with a slight pout. She wishes she had her sister’s voice, but, because she likes playing to her strengths, Rogers was okay with being a snowflake. At least much more okay than she was being a dancing Oompa-Loompa.
Rogers has tried and enjoyed film acting, but her real acting passion lies onstage. Broadway is where she would like to end up, but not doing musicals; she would much rather act in a drama. “It’s like you’re just about to begin a life,” says Rogers of playacting. “You have a clean slate to live a full life in an hour and a half.” But she doesn’t like to lose herself in her life on stage.
To her fellow actors, Rogers gives one piece of advice, which she tries very hard to follow herself: “Be yourself. Get into your character’s situation, but incorporate your own thoughts and your heart into your performance.”
In the future, Rogers hopes to follow in her brother’s footsteps and attend Julliard, but she says that as long as she’s acting and has good teachers anywhere would be fine.
Those who act or perform know the thrill that comes before going on stage, but Rogers enjoys the thrill that comes when she steps off stage at the end of a show. “My favorite time is right at the end when you’ve exerted all this emotion and you’ve connected with so many people, sharing so much,” explains Rogers. “It’s such a relief to step off the stage. All the nervousness is gone. It’s so rewarding.”
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