Meet the Cast - Becca Petersen as Clara Johnson

By Kristen Leinbach, Dramaturg

When asked about writing The Light in the Piazza and about the relationships of the characters, Craig Lucas said the following

“Clara apprehends the world differently than her mother. [Margaret] goes through Italy with a guidebook. But the girl sees experiences, she sees the light in the piazza. She literally experiences the light as representative of her deepest feelings…That’s why the score has moments where words no longer suffice or are no longer important. It’s the feeling and light. Those things carry us. Human beings are just a conduit for love. I think Clara sees that. Love comes before her and after her.”

I asked Becca Petersen, portraying Clara Johnson, to share a little about her life as well as her experience getting to really know Clara.

“I am Becca Petersen from Carmel, Indiana. I am a senior studying Music Dance Theatre. I will be graduating in April with plans of moving to New York City! At BYU I have performed in PETER PAN as well as two years in the Young Ambassadors traveling to Southern Africa and China. These past two summers I have performed professionally at The Muny and Music Theatre of Wichita. Aside from musical theatre I love to go thrift shopping, take naps, eat out, and spend time with my friends and family.

Clara Johnson has always been one of my dream roles and I could not be more excited and grateful to have the opportunity to play her.

The Light in the Piazza follows Clara and her mother, Margaret, as they travel through Italy. Clara is a very youthful girl who lives life exactly in the moment. She is bright-eyed as she sees and experiences this new place for the first time. The plot is centered around relationships: Clara’s relationship with her mother and her new budding relationship with a Florentine boy, Fabrizio. I feel that I connect with Clara on many levels. I love to travel, explore, and see new places. Because of previous travel opportunities I have had I understand what it is like experiencing different cultures and having to figure out how you fit in. In the show many of the characters, including Clara, go through big life transitions. Currently I can relate as I am getting ready to graduate, preparing to move to NY, having family members and close friends get married, and trying to understand love and relationships of my own. All of these experiences can be scary but can also be incredible if we let ourselves learn, grow, and live in them. We must allow ourselves to find the happiness and joy in all things we experience. In essence, that is what Clara does. Clara finds what makes her happy.”

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by Ting Chun Chang, dramaturg "Let's Go Fly a Kite," written by the Sherman Brothers, is one of the famous song in Mary Poppins. The symbol of the kite was mentioned in the beginning on in the script when Bert sings : A FATHER, A MOTHER, A DAUGHTER, A SON. THE THREADS OF THEIR LIVES ARE RAVELING UNDONE. SOMETHING IS NEEDED TO TWIST THEM AS TIGHT AS A STRING YOU MIGHT USE WHEN YOU'RE FLYING A KITE...... Designers' Kite Idea While we were exploring the idea of kite flying, scenic designer Michael Handley was able to share his personal story about the experience of flying kites with his family. He also discovered the cross symbol on the kite and was able to "mosaic" this idea into his design. Props designer Bradlee Hager then dug into some other research about how kites were designed in the early 20th century. [caption id="attachment_5076" align="aligncenter" width="378"] This is the inspirational picture for Bradlee. Painted by Dame Laura Knight. Flying a Kite 1910. First Exhibited: London Riyal Academy 1910 No.712[/caption] In reality, people made many different kinds of kites; some are very long, some are very complicated. However, in the script, it is described simply as a "red kite." Bradlee decided to create kites with the simplest design in order to not distract from the message of the show. Kites In The Script In the play, the first kite is shown by Michael Banks. He desires to fly kite with his father but is rejected. The "broken kite," as described in the play, is like his broken heart, wanting to be loved by his father. After George Bank realizes the importance of the family, he takes a beautiful red kite and flies it with his son. The power of this message is also shown in the "Let's Go Fly a Kite" scene in the movie Saving Mr. Banks. Up to this point, P.L Travers has not been happy with the way Disney had been adapting her book into a film. In the scene, the Sherman Brothers sing the song for Travers in order to show her the revisions they had made to George Bank's character. The song transforms Travers' attitude about the project, giving us a clue into the importance of that character's journey. More About Kites One thing I like about the idea of the kite is that it goes alone well with a religious belief of BYU, which is centered in Jesus Christ. Further, it is echoing the department's educational mission: "To promote literacy, creativity, and spirituality by exploring their interrelatedness in the arts of theatre and media, in an effort to illuminate and confirm truth and the infinite potential of the human soul." I know it might be too religious at this moment, but as a Chinese Mormon dramaturg, I would like to share with you that the symbol of the string in the kite for me is the same thing described in the Book of Mormon: "And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another...... having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another." (Mosiah 18:21) Fun Facts About Kites Kites were originally invented in China and used in the military as early as the 2nd century BC. They were made out of silk and bamboo and designed to imitate birds, bats, and butterflies. In 1752, Benjamin Franklin’s famous experiment involved flying a kite in a thunderstorm and proved that lightning is caused by electricity. The golden age of kite flying was between the years 1860 and 1910. During this period, kites were used for a variety of things such as photography, wireless communication, aeronautics, and meteorology. Today, kites are flown all over the world in festivals and parades. To dream of the kite symbolizes the desire to live carefree, but in a controlled way as the kite is tethered to string, you should never let go completely. Making your Own Kite In the Mary Poppins' program, we have created an opportunity for you to create your own kite for your family. If you need some help, follow the instructions in this video, featuring prop designer Bradlee Hager. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMOfKGAMefA&t=35s Research Resources https://tma.byu.edu/mission-statement/ http://www.damelauraknight.com/artwork/flying-a-kite-1910/ http://www.aerc.nhcue.edu.tw/4-0/teach93/s33/source-next-2.htm http://www.hwjyw.com/zhwh/content/2011/06/16/18955.shtml

Meet the Cast - Becca Petersen as Clara Johnson

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