AMORA LAUCELLA
Who are you and what significant contributions have you made to the organization?
My name is Amora Destina Laucella and I am a proud double alumna, who graduated with my Undergraduate Degree in Theology and Theatre in 2014 and my Master’s Degree in Pastoral Theology in 2016. I have been involved with the Chappell Players Theatre Group for the past seven years, from the first time that I was able to audition as a freshman and have continued to be greatly involved as an alumna. As an undergraduate, I served as both the Treasurer and Vice President of the Chappell Players and served as the first Rush Chair for three years of Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society, of which I was President my senior year. From the time that I was cast in my first musical the fall of my freshman year to now, I have has performed in, produced, written, house managed, choreographed, stage managed, costume designed, light operated, sound operated, assistant directed and directed over fifty productions on the Little Theatre stage for both the Chappell Players and Alpha Psi Omega.
How was the transition from college to the real world? How was life after graduation?
Transition from college to the real world from college was a good transition for me. I was fortunate enough to have been able to have stayed at St. John’s to continue my education as I worked toward my Master’s Degree, and I was even more fortunate to receive a Graduate Assistantship working in the University Freshman Center. Having those two years of still being on campus working a job as an advisor and data analysis while still in a school environment was something that really prepared me for the workforce. It was as if I had a foot in two doors of two different worlds; The world of a student and the world of a working adult.
Life after graduation has been amazing! I am currently the Director of Religious Education and Family Faith Formation for the largest registered Roman Catholic Parish on the Eastern seaboard and the largest one on Long Island. I work with children and their families who are preparing to receive the Sacraments and make sure that they get the education about their faith that they need in order to be full-fledged Catholics in the Church. I currently have over one thousand students and one thousand families, so they all keep me busy! My students are wonderful, their parents great and I have an amazing staff. I love teaching and I really do feel very blessed and very lucky to be in the position that I’m in. I’ve been telling people for years that I wanted to work in Faith Formation, because when people see that faith is relatable to their life, they can see how they can take it and apply to make it relatable to them. It is extremely surreal for me to tell people who ask me what my career is that that’s exactly what I’m doing now.
Did being involved in the Chappell Players prepare you for life after college? How so?
Being involved with the Little Theatre absolutely prepared me for life after college. I often tell people (especially my students!) that the best way that you learn is by doing. You learn so much more from experience than you do in any classroom. Being involved in both the Chappell Players and Alpha Psi Omega makes anyone who is more of a well-rounded theatre person, as long as you truly apply yourself. I gained experience in all different areas of theatre, from performing in front of the curtain, to the management behind it. I loved being challenged with new tasks that I had never done before. I immersed myself fully and completely into every show that I did, which gave me the inclusive education about theatre that I received. I gained countless skills that I can apply in any situation, especially my current career. I loved learning all that I could, which is why from my very first musical that I was cast in my freshman year, I was a part of every single show that went up on the Little Theatre stage in some capacity during the course of my undergraduate career.
What is your favorite CPTG memory or performance?
There really are so many to choose from! However, my favorite memory has to be my first show with the Chappell Players, which was RENT, the fall of my freshman year. I was cast as Mimi, which is a dream role that I’ve had since I was a child. That audition was the most-attended audition that I had ever seen. Knowing that hundreds had auditioned and getting a call from the President at the time at 2:00am that I had gotten the part as a freshman was a moment of pure happiness and joy that I can’t even begin to describe. That whole rehearsal process for me was such a special time for me and it really was such a special show. The cast was extremely close and since I was the baby at the time, everyone in the cast was extremely protective of me and treated me like their little sister. My two favorite memories from Chappell Players came from that show; Opening Night when I came down Mimi’s fire escape for Out Tonight and closing night’s No Day But Today. Everyone during that song was crying and hugging and in that moment, we were our characters. The camaraderie that we had all had together throughout our rehearsal process was so evident in that moment; I knew that I had to take that moment in, just in case I never had a moment like that again. I didn’t think that I could have been happier during a moment of RENT’s process than my first initial casting phone call; That Finale B moment was just as breathtaking, if not better. I don’t think anyone will ever really know how much that show meant to me and how much that the who experience that came with it really did for my growth and development as an actress.
My name is Amora Destina Laucella and I am a proud double alumna, who graduated with my Undergraduate Degree in Theology and Theatre in 2014 and my Master’s Degree in Pastoral Theology in 2016. I have been involved with the Chappell Players Theatre Group for the past seven years, from the first time that I was able to audition as a freshman and have continued to be greatly involved as an alumna. As an undergraduate, I served as both the Treasurer and Vice President of the Chappell Players and served as the first Rush Chair for three years of Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society, of which I was President my senior year. From the time that I was cast in my first musical the fall of my freshman year to now, I have has performed in, produced, written, house managed, choreographed, stage managed, costume designed, light operated, sound operated, assistant directed and directed over fifty productions on the Little Theatre stage for both the Chappell Players and Alpha Psi Omega.
How was the transition from college to the real world? How was life after graduation?
Transition from college to the real world from college was a good transition for me. I was fortunate enough to have been able to have stayed at St. John’s to continue my education as I worked toward my Master’s Degree, and I was even more fortunate to receive a Graduate Assistantship working in the University Freshman Center. Having those two years of still being on campus working a job as an advisor and data analysis while still in a school environment was something that really prepared me for the workforce. It was as if I had a foot in two doors of two different worlds; The world of a student and the world of a working adult.
Life after graduation has been amazing! I am currently the Director of Religious Education and Family Faith Formation for the largest registered Roman Catholic Parish on the Eastern seaboard and the largest one on Long Island. I work with children and their families who are preparing to receive the Sacraments and make sure that they get the education about their faith that they need in order to be full-fledged Catholics in the Church. I currently have over one thousand students and one thousand families, so they all keep me busy! My students are wonderful, their parents great and I have an amazing staff. I love teaching and I really do feel very blessed and very lucky to be in the position that I’m in. I’ve been telling people for years that I wanted to work in Faith Formation, because when people see that faith is relatable to their life, they can see how they can take it and apply to make it relatable to them. It is extremely surreal for me to tell people who ask me what my career is that that’s exactly what I’m doing now.
Did being involved in the Chappell Players prepare you for life after college? How so?
Being involved with the Little Theatre absolutely prepared me for life after college. I often tell people (especially my students!) that the best way that you learn is by doing. You learn so much more from experience than you do in any classroom. Being involved in both the Chappell Players and Alpha Psi Omega makes anyone who is more of a well-rounded theatre person, as long as you truly apply yourself. I gained experience in all different areas of theatre, from performing in front of the curtain, to the management behind it. I loved being challenged with new tasks that I had never done before. I immersed myself fully and completely into every show that I did, which gave me the inclusive education about theatre that I received. I gained countless skills that I can apply in any situation, especially my current career. I loved learning all that I could, which is why from my very first musical that I was cast in my freshman year, I was a part of every single show that went up on the Little Theatre stage in some capacity during the course of my undergraduate career.
What is your favorite CPTG memory or performance?
There really are so many to choose from! However, my favorite memory has to be my first show with the Chappell Players, which was RENT, the fall of my freshman year. I was cast as Mimi, which is a dream role that I’ve had since I was a child. That audition was the most-attended audition that I had ever seen. Knowing that hundreds had auditioned and getting a call from the President at the time at 2:00am that I had gotten the part as a freshman was a moment of pure happiness and joy that I can’t even begin to describe. That whole rehearsal process for me was such a special time for me and it really was such a special show. The cast was extremely close and since I was the baby at the time, everyone in the cast was extremely protective of me and treated me like their little sister. My two favorite memories from Chappell Players came from that show; Opening Night when I came down Mimi’s fire escape for Out Tonight and closing night’s No Day But Today. Everyone during that song was crying and hugging and in that moment, we were our characters. The camaraderie that we had all had together throughout our rehearsal process was so evident in that moment; I knew that I had to take that moment in, just in case I never had a moment like that again. I didn’t think that I could have been happier during a moment of RENT’s process than my first initial casting phone call; That Finale B moment was just as breathtaking, if not better. I don’t think anyone will ever really know how much that show meant to me and how much that the who experience that came with it really did for my growth and development as an actress.
Have you been able to remain involved with theatre as much as you hoped/wanted?
No matter how involved with theatre or the Arts that I am, I am always going to want to do more. I love that I have not only been able to continue to be involved in Chappell Players and Alpha Psi Omega productions (which being asked to come back for multiple shows as an alumna has been a huge honor for and has meant the world to me), but I am able to take what I have learned and incorporate it into my current career, while still being involved in theatre outside of it. I teach my students about theatre on a smaller scale when it comes to running the Pageants in the Church, which goes back to what I have always said about our Children’s Shows; They change lives. Seeing them love it so much and teaching them bits of what I have learned has brought countless smiles to my face. I am also currently in the works to teach dance at a performing arts studio on Long Island and will be possibly teaching courses at the University this year on the history of theatre in New York City. I still work in different theatre companies and performance venues on Long Island, which is both educational and fun for me. I have also been working with different charities to teach dance workshops to raise awareness for different causes for the past couple of years, which has been really wonderful to be a part of. I also currently dance at Broadway Dance Center in Manhattan, which still keeps me learning and always on my toes (no pun intended!). I feel very fortunate that I am still able to currently be involved in so many different aspects of theatre, while still working a career that I love. It all keeps me extremely busy, but it’s all extremely worth it!
No matter how involved with theatre or the Arts that I am, I am always going to want to do more. I love that I have not only been able to continue to be involved in Chappell Players and Alpha Psi Omega productions (which being asked to come back for multiple shows as an alumna has been a huge honor for and has meant the world to me), but I am able to take what I have learned and incorporate it into my current career, while still being involved in theatre outside of it. I teach my students about theatre on a smaller scale when it comes to running the Pageants in the Church, which goes back to what I have always said about our Children’s Shows; They change lives. Seeing them love it so much and teaching them bits of what I have learned has brought countless smiles to my face. I am also currently in the works to teach dance at a performing arts studio on Long Island and will be possibly teaching courses at the University this year on the history of theatre in New York City. I still work in different theatre companies and performance venues on Long Island, which is both educational and fun for me. I have also been working with different charities to teach dance workshops to raise awareness for different causes for the past couple of years, which has been really wonderful to be a part of. I also currently dance at Broadway Dance Center in Manhattan, which still keeps me learning and always on my toes (no pun intended!). I feel very fortunate that I am still able to currently be involved in so many different aspects of theatre, while still working a career that I love. It all keeps me extremely busy, but it’s all extremely worth it!
What is professional theatre like compared to what you did with the Chappell Players?
Working in the professional theatre is very similar to graduating. When I graduated with my Master’s, I was confidant with what I had learned over the past six years and was ready to apply it, because I was constantly applying myself during the course of both my Undergraduate and Graduate careers. I had started working in professional theatre at the beginning of high school and continuing in the performance world after my six years of school were over was when I got to, once again, apply myself. I had the skills, the experience, the confidence and the drive, which are what you really need in order to succeed. Everything that I have done in professional performance comes from the training that I received, just the way my being Director of Religious Education and Family Faith Formation came from the training that I received and my application of skills during my time in school. Even though the performances spaces that I’ve worked in have been different than the Little Theatre, the tools that you use in both places are exactly the same.
Do you have any advice for Chappell Players going through college or those who have already graduated?
Love yourself. Love each other. Love what you’re doing. Love yourself by believing in yourself and your abilities and having the confidence to push through when things get difficult. Be strong and have the integrity for yourself to do what is right. Never sell yourself short when you know that you deserve more. Love each other by respecting the people that you work with and by building people up, rather than tearing them down, in any area of work that you do. Love what you’re doing by remembering why you came to St. John’s or New York or the Little Theatre or wherever you are in the first place. Remember to treat what you’re doing with dignity and to do it to the best of your ability with all of the passion that you have. Put your heart and your soul into it. If you do that, you will never truly fail. Keep on continuing to push yourself and learn as much as you can; By constantly assessing yourself, your ideas, your practices, and what you learn both in the classroom and outside of it through experiences never gets stale. If you have done these three things, you will truly have succeeded.
Working in the professional theatre is very similar to graduating. When I graduated with my Master’s, I was confidant with what I had learned over the past six years and was ready to apply it, because I was constantly applying myself during the course of both my Undergraduate and Graduate careers. I had started working in professional theatre at the beginning of high school and continuing in the performance world after my six years of school were over was when I got to, once again, apply myself. I had the skills, the experience, the confidence and the drive, which are what you really need in order to succeed. Everything that I have done in professional performance comes from the training that I received, just the way my being Director of Religious Education and Family Faith Formation came from the training that I received and my application of skills during my time in school. Even though the performances spaces that I’ve worked in have been different than the Little Theatre, the tools that you use in both places are exactly the same.
Do you have any advice for Chappell Players going through college or those who have already graduated?
Love yourself. Love each other. Love what you’re doing. Love yourself by believing in yourself and your abilities and having the confidence to push through when things get difficult. Be strong and have the integrity for yourself to do what is right. Never sell yourself short when you know that you deserve more. Love each other by respecting the people that you work with and by building people up, rather than tearing them down, in any area of work that you do. Love what you’re doing by remembering why you came to St. John’s or New York or the Little Theatre or wherever you are in the first place. Remember to treat what you’re doing with dignity and to do it to the best of your ability with all of the passion that you have. Put your heart and your soul into it. If you do that, you will never truly fail. Keep on continuing to push yourself and learn as much as you can; By constantly assessing yourself, your ideas, your practices, and what you learn both in the classroom and outside of it through experiences never gets stale. If you have done these three things, you will truly have succeeded.
