By Kristen Lowrey
Assistant A & E Editor
Certain activities in life become monotonous after awhile, but for sophomore Taylor Bartolucci, theater never grows old.
Bartolucci has been involved in more than 40 productions since her first role at age 4, and her love for performance art continues to blossom.
“I think having that kind of love and passion is always going to be in me,” theater major Bartolucci said. “I’m always going to want to do (theater).”
Originally from Napa, Calif., Bartolucci’s world before Pepperdine consisted of long hours spent at the theater, in school and working in the summer giving tours at her family’s winery.
She says her family has always supported her theater endeavors, even when they required lengthy drives and hours of rehearsal.
“I could never ask for a better family,” Bartolucci said. “My mother, since I was four, has driven me anywhere I needed to go.”
Her older sister has served as a role model to Bartolucci as well.
“My sister is nine years older than I am, she’s the best person I know, I’m so proud of her,” she said.
Bartolucci’s great grandparents came to America from Italy and established the winery now owned by her father.
“My father is the smartest man I know,” Bartolucci said. “He taught me how to make wine. If you want to know how to make wine, I can make wine.”
The love and support of her family helped Bartolucci to reach her goals.
Bartolucci’s extensive experience on the stage includes productions from drama to musicals. Her latest role is Mrs. Dolly Levi in Pepperdine’s “The Matchmaker.”
This will be Bartolucci’s fourth and favorite role in the theater at Pepperdine. Bartolucci says that the Dolly is a role that is close to her own personality.
“(Dolly) just has the spark of life and energy in her at all times, which is the type of person that I am,” Bartolucci said. “Granted I’m not out there trying to get people to marry me.”
Bartolucci takes the Smother’s stage next week with fellow lead actor senior Jeremy Lostetter, who plays the part of Horace Vandergelder, a wealthy bachelor in search of a new wife.
“(Working with Lostetter) is great because we’re such good friends,” Bartolucci said. “Our cast is just so much fun because we’re just so crazy and wild.”
Bartolucci’s character aims to help the other characters fulfill their desires by instigating the events that pull the people together.
“I like being the one that stirs up all the trouble and gets all the laughs,” Bartolucci said.
Besides being excited to have the lead in “The Matchmaker,” Bartolucci is looking forward to a costume change, she says, because her characters in the past were presented in a manner she did not find very attractive.
“Now that I’m Dolly, my costumes are beautiful,” Bartolucci said.
When the curtain goes up next week, Bartolucci says she will be ready to take the audience into the world of “The Matchmaker.”
“You have the opportunity to change everybody in two hours,” Bartolucci said.
Bartolucci’s past productions mostly included musicals, her favorite type of theater. Yet she has been thankful to work on drama productions at Pepperdine.
“I’ve been able to expand myself,” Bartolucci said. “I think that’s part of the reason God placed me here.”
Although she is currently focusing on earning her degree, participating in her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma and juggling classes, Bartolucci hopes to someday take her talents to Broadway.
“There are so many different avenues I could take, but I would love to be on Broadway,” Bartolucci said. “I think that would be the most amazing job in the world. I know if I reach that goal I’d be on top of the world.”
Personal:
Taylor Bartolucci is a sophomore theater major from Napa, Calif.
Pepperdine roles:
Mrs. Dolly Levi
in “The Matchmaker,”
Norma Henshaw
in “The Diviners,”
Artie in
“Eleemosynar” and
Maggie Mundy in
“Dancing at Lughnasa.”
Professional parts:
Fredrika in “A Little Night Music” with the
North Bay Opera and
Little Red Riding Hood in “Into the Woods”
with Pacific Alliance Stage Company.
Her favorite role:
Mama Rose in “Gypsy.”
Dream roles:
Fanny Brice in
“Funny Girl,”
Norma Desmond in
“Sunset Boulevard” and
Mama Rose in “Gypsy.”
Where to find her when she’s not onstage:
University Ministries at Malibu Presbyterian Church, working as the events co-chair with Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, hanging out with friends and talking with her
parents. “I love being around people, it calms me down,” Bartolucci said.
Her favorite
productions to watch:
“There isn’t really a show I would go to and not enjoy,” Bartolucci said.
Acting icon:
“If there’s any person I could be, I would be the next Bette Midler,” Bartolucci said.
Her favorite
color:
“A bluish-greenish
oceany color.”
Her favorite movies:
“Waiting for Guffman,” “Best in Show,” “Tommy Boy” and “When Harry Met Sally.”
Summer plans:
Attending Pepperdine’s summer Edinburgh program.
March 28, 2002