Kids, stars shine in ‘Guys & Dolls’

“Being part of the ensemble is a lot of fun, even though it is hard work,” she said.

Rudy Arrendondo, 14, a student at LACHSA, a performing arts school associated with UCLA, said he has enjoyed working with professional actors in the “Guys & Dolls” cast. Arrendondo portrays Angie the Ox, a gangster, in the show.

“It’s really interesting to observe [Torti and the other professional cast members] and see how they act. I’d like to be a singer and actor someday and this is a way to see what it’s really like,” he said.

Other young performers, including Verdugo Hills High School freshman Michelle “Mitch” Blancardi, 14; Pacoima Middle School student Isabel Wing, 12; and, Kasey Ferginson, 12, of Lake View Terrace, feel that being part of the New Hope Tapestry Theatre Ensemble has helped them develop confidence and learn what it takes to be a professional performer.

“I think this is what I’d like to do when I’m older,” Blancardi said, adding, “but I’ll try it for a while and if it doesn’t work out, I’ll probably become a lawyer.”