Nonahood News: Tell us more about you and your art:
Calistenes Fuguet: Mine is acting, more specifically musical theater. I have been in performances ever since I was little, but I did not really get into the stage stuff until around sixth grade when I did my first musical. And ever since that moment, I have loved it and knew that it was something I always wanted to do for the rest of my life.
NHN: Ideal medium(s):
CF: I love performing comedies. I think that they’re really hard to do, but once you get the comedy down, it is so rewarding to hear the laughter of the audience and bring joy to those who are seeking an escape. I love doing musical comedies, especially because I love to sing. If I can sing and make people laugh at the same time, that is the best thing ever.
NHN: Recent artistic achievements:
CF: Most recently, I was in a short film that I did over the summer. I was nominated for Best Lead Actor in the Short Film Festival for the Orlando International Filmmakers (OIF).
NHN: Most rewarding project?
CF: Two things. For theater, last summer I did The Little Mermaid at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. It was the first time I got a lead role on stage that involved hours of practicing and rehearsing, getting down the right steps, and learning how to act like a prince. It was really tough but also enjoyable to see the outcome. Afterwards, I got to see videos and I got to hear people tell me how they viewed the show.
And for the second thing, the film that I made over the summer. I have never made a film before. I was nervous because I know film acting is a complete 180 from stage acting. In stage acting, you kind of have to overdo expressions. So, anyone who is in the audience, no matter how far away they are, can see your face. But with a film, everything has to be super subtle. I was scared that I was going to overdo it. But after auditioning and working with the director, I just made sure everything went well. Just seeing myself on the screen was the coolest thing ever. It was an out-of-body experience. And I was like, “Woah, that is me. That is not anyone else. That is me on the screen. And I am doing the thing.”
NHN: Who inspires your art?
CF: Someone that motivates me to be the best I can is my parents. As cheesy as that sounds, they are hard-working people, and I am lucky to have such supporting people behind me. They tell me to chase my dreams and, if I want something, to always pursue it no matter what. They are the reason I continue to do my best in my passion for acting every single day.
NHN: New projects?
CF: As of right now, I do not think I am going to do anything for the rest of the year. I am just focusing on school. But I am hoping to audition for Catch Me If You Can the Musical at Osceola Arts. I love, love that show, and it would be a dream if I could just be in it.
NHN: What inspired you to create art in Lake Nona?
CF: I was at Lake Nona High School, so I was in most shows there. They have a really good theater department and really good teachers. Besides the fact that I enjoyed performing, it was really cool to see the Lake Nona community come together and support us. There were parents that would see the show, but those parents would tell their friends, and those friends would tell other friends. Now, after graduating high school, I continue to do theater around the Orlando area.
