Has anything surprised you about the physical or mental stamina that theater requires?
Laura: I’m definitely still finding it out. Last week, we had 11 shows in a row, and honestly, I wasn’t sure I could do it. That’s a lot for anyone. It was funny because everyone was saying, “We haven’t even done 11 shows in a row,” and for me and Fernell [Hogan], it was our very first week on the show. Being able to say I did that felt incredible.
One thing I’ve learned over the years — whether it was on Disney Channel or later when I went on my first tour — is that you have to treat your voice differently every single day. Sometimes your voice lets you push a little more, and other days you have to be gentler with it.
It’s a muscle, and that really clicked for me when I went on my first tour. I’ve carried that mindset into this experience, and everyone has been so helpful. Our music director, Liz [Doran], has been wonderful.
There are definitely physical and mental demands, and I’m trying to balance both. I’m approaching it the same way an athlete approaches their sport.