Eva Tavares is on the ride of her life.
Far from the rural tranquility of her parents91裸聊视频 organic High Croft Farm in Notch Hill, Tavares is performing the lead role in Cameron Mackintosh91裸聊视频檚 spectacular new touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber91裸聊视频檚 The Phantom of the Opera.
Based on the classic novel Le Fant么me de L91裸聊视频橭p茅ra by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it.
He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 been such a crazy, awesome ride and I am so grateful,91裸聊视频 says the 25 year old who has been with the show since July.
Tavares was performing in a show in Toronto and working with someone involved in The Phantom, who told her she should audition for the starring role.
As soon as that show ended, she flew to New York twice, the second time to audition for Lloyd Webber himself.
91裸聊视频淚 had booked it, but had to keep it a secret for almost two months,91裸聊视频 she says, of her successful audition, noting management had not released the news that the former principal was leaving the show.
Rehearsals began in Vancouver this summer.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 definitely the biggest show I91裸聊视频檝e been in,91裸聊视频 she says. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 such a dream role and it means so much to so many people.91裸聊视频
A big part of what Tavares loves about being part of The Phantom of the Opera is talking to people at the stage door following the show, people who have a longtime and deep affection for Lloyd Webber91裸聊视频檚 production. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 spanning generations and it is still so relevant, filled with empathy, loving someone for who they are under the construct of who they show the world.91裸聊视频
There have been significant changes to the new production that toured North America in the 1980s, including massive changes in technology that make things like the chandelier drop a 91裸聊视频渓ittle more freaky.91裸聊视频
Tavares91裸聊视频 journey to the Phantom stage began at the age of 13 in White Rock when she auditioned and was accepted to the Langley Fine Arts School.
Once accepted into the world of dance training, Tavares says one of her instructors told her she should consider singing lessons 91裸聊视频 something her opera-singing grandmother had been encouraging for years.
With a couple of performances with the children91裸聊视频檚 chorus of the Vancouver Opera to her credit, she headed to UBC where she earned a bachelor of music in opera.
When she graduated in 2014, Tavares was already working professionally and 91裸聊视频渁uditioning for everything.91裸聊视频
After university, Tavares headed to Toronto where she concentrated on developing her acting chops.
91裸聊视频淚 knew I wanted to do musical theatre but I didn91裸聊视频檛 know how that would look like,91裸聊视频 she says. 91裸聊视频淚 put all my energy there and did a few shows before booking in as Maria in West Side Story in Edmonton.91裸聊视频
One of the 91裸聊视频済ifts91裸聊视频 of that role was three months of paid training for the entire cast at the Banff Centre prior to the 2016 theatre run.
91裸聊视频淗onestly, when I look back, it91裸聊视频檚 all kind of a chain reaction. My first union gig was in 2013 and since then it91裸聊视频檚 been go, go, go,91裸聊视频 she says, pointing out she has had many great contracts. 91裸聊视频淭hen there91裸聊视频檚 the times in between when there91裸聊视频檚 nothing; it91裸聊视频檚 a huge roller coaster ride. When you see someone at the top of their game it91裸聊视频檚 not representative of the struggles they have had.91裸聊视频
Tavares claims her career has involved a combination of working very hard, being in the right place and taking a lot of risks.
Currently in Boston, Tavares performs in six out of eight weekly shows and, while she finds touring rough, she and her cast mates try to adventure a bit in each city on the tour.
91裸聊视频淲hen we were in Calgary, I was a little bit more active 91裸聊视频 we took salsa dance classes,91裸聊视频 she says, noting she is gradually becoming more accustomed to changes in each new environment with its own associated weather and air quality.
And every city brings new reviews and opinions her father is quick to send.
91裸聊视频淭hank God they91裸聊视频檙e nice,91裸聊视频 she laughs.
And the grandmother who encouraged her to sing?
91裸聊视频淪he saw the show in Vancouver and we met at the stage door. I said, 91裸聊视频楴ana did you like it,91裸聊视频 and she just burst into tears and put her head on my shoulder.91裸聊视频
Tavares has also bonded with her cast 91裸聊视频榝amily91裸聊视频 and says she would trust Derrick Davis, the man behind the mask, and Jordan Craig as 91裸聊视频楻aoul91裸聊视频 with her life.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e had various little technical difficulties and you have to be able to trust those people,91裸聊视频 she says of recent incidents where her skirt got caught in a floorboard and another in which she fell onstage, helped immediately by her co-stars.
The family farm is a welcome place for Tavares when she has time off, an organic, sustainable refuge that represents the 91裸聊视频渙pposite end of the spectrum91裸聊视频 in her life.
As prestigious as her role as Christine is in the well-loved The Phantom of the Opera, Tavares does not believe it is a 91裸聊视频済olden ticket91裸聊视频 to future success.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a great opportunity that will teach me a lot,91裸聊视频 she says, noting she will continue as she always has, with hard work, more training and auditions.