This week’s Campus Celebrity, A’aryonna Fontes (known by friends as Aary) has more energy than a shot of espresso and lots of theatrical talent.
Name: A’aryonna (Aary) Fontes
Age: 20Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Year: Junior
Major: Early Childhood Education
Involvement on campus:Â Sister of the sorority Theta Phi Alpha, Arts and Entertainment editor for the Beacon, Cheerleading President, and member of the Fast Start program
Â
What made you become interested in theatre?Â
Aary: “I am always out there with my personality. I always have lots of energy. I may come off as over the top sometimes, but I would be boring without it. I chose the theatre life because I get to take all of my issues and put them away for a little bit and be another person. So people say that I am always happy, well with theatre, I don’t always have to be happy, I can be anything that character wants.”
Did you participate in high school productions or did you start acting in college?
Aary: “Yes, but I used to tank my auditions because of my nerves. I don’t know why, but my nerves would just get the best of me. It wasn’t until my sophomore year of high school that I was casted in a school play, and then my senior year, I was casted in a musical.”
What was your hardest role to embody, and why?
Aary: “Spring Awakening, I was casted as Ilse. It was really difficult because she was happy all the time and then a lot of traumatic events occurred all at once. At one point, I had to sing a song about abuse. I then had to talk about getting raped. It was just a whirlwind of emotions that gave me a lot of backlash and getting into that mindset was rough.”
What is the biggest challenge that comes along with acting?
Aary: “Oh that’s a hard one! I would have to say that the biggest challenge for acting is staying in character. Especially as things do not go as planned. For instance, I would spill things on myself during the play, the music would just stop sometimes, and some people would forget their cues so I would have to pick up where people left off.”
What has been your favorite production you’ve been in thus far?
Aary: “Beauty and the Beast would have to be my favorite because I had the opportunity to be multiple characters. I was a town’s person, a milkmaid/whore, and a plate. Rather diverse, I know, but that is why I love it so much. Also, the songs had me reminiscing about my childhood and my favorite Disney princess is Belle.”
Who is your favorite actor/actress?
Aary: “Hmm…who would I watch over and over again? I would have to say Bradley Cooper because he is a phenomenal actor and Hugh Jackman because he is so dynamic. He went from tackling on the role of Wolverine to playing the role of Jean Valijean in Les Misérables. My favorite actress would have to be Jennifer Lawrence, she takes the cake. She is very real and I absolutely love how she tells it like it is. ”
If ever given the opportunity to be in a movie, would you?
Aary: “Yes, I would love to play a villain in a movie. I am a relatively happy person so people rarely see me angry. Yet, those that got the chance to see me angry say that I can be rather scary. With that, I would like to play the villain because it would be an unexpected character for me.”
Who would you choose to act beside you in a production or movie?
Aary: “If I had the chance to pick a celebrity to be by my side, I would choose Ellen DeGeneres because she is hysterical. We would both be casted in a comedy and we would be laughing our butts off. If I had the chance to cast a friend to be by my side in a movie, I would choose my friend, Erin Massie, because she is literally me in a different body. I would have us play in a sinister type of movie where there is an intense plot twist or in a family related movie.”
Do you have any future productions that you are currently working on?
Aary: “Not at the moment. My heart is not in it to be in any productions. I am one of those people that if they can’t give it their all, they won’t do it all. I need to be fully committed to it all and I am not. However, I am looking forward to what next fall productions entail.”
How do you feel about being nominated for Campus Celebrity?
Aary: “Ah! I freaked out! I couldn’t believe that I was chosen for this. I actually cried because I wasn’t expecting it at all. I am completely honored.”
Â
Thank you for the interview Aary! We can’t wait to see you on stage or even the big screen! For more on Aary, check out her Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! HCXOÂ
Â
Â
Â