Twenty-eight-year-old Lila Coogan is best known for her role as Anya, the main character of the Broadway tour production of “Anastasia: The Musical.” For the high school theatre students at GMC Prep however, she was their mentor and friend as they participated in a workshop held by Coogan last Friday to help them prepare for their own production of Anastasia later that night.
“I think the biggest thing I want kids to take away from these [workshops] is ways to build confidence, encourage them to nurture their creativity and fall more in love with the process of theatre,” Coogan said.
The theatre process has certainly been quick for Coogan, who made her Broadway debut in 2007 as Jane Banks in the production of “Mary Poppins.” This came after professionally acting for only a year, which saw her alternate between the roles of Hallie and Laura in the production of “American Girl Review.” After graduating from Syracuse University with a degree in Musical Theatre, she performed in several productions before her role in “Anastasia”, including ABC’s “What Would You Do?”
“My favorite part has been being able to develop as a human being, not just as an artist. I’ve learned a lot about myself and what I want to do later in life outside of theatre through being in theatre now,” said Coogan when asked about her experience with the theatre process.
Students who attended the workshop were greatly helped by Coogan’s infectious positive attitude, as she gave them plenty of tips on ways they can improve their performance later that night as well as practice methods for later in their career.
Thanks to Coogan’s informative and encouraging workshops, along with the students’ eagerness and willingness to learn, the play was a big success. A great production by the students was capped off with an encore of Coogan performing one of the songs from the musical herself. With the way the students were smiling while Coogan performed, it was clear she had rubbed off on them, and what they learned from her during the workshop will definitely not be forgotten anytime soon.