Ojai Valley News
Ojai captures a special place in your heart, especially if you grew up here, moved away and then wanted a better lifestyle for your children. This is what Laura Dekkers did after a career in New York and on Broadway; she returned home to raise her girls. Now she is back on the boards co-starring in “Man of La Mancha” at the Ojai Art Center Theater, beginning September 7 and running for five weekends.
“I was fortunate enough to grow up in Ojai,” says Laura. “Of course, I didn’t appreciate it as a teenager and left as soon as I turned 18. After having two of my daughters in New York City, it was clear their childhood was not going to be running in fields barefoot and climbing trees if I stayed. So, I chose to leave my career and NYC and move back home to Ojai. They are barefoot and free, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Laura has performed on Broadway in the Original Broadway Cast of the Tony nominated musical The Woman in White by Andrew Lloyd Webber, under the direction of Trevor Nunn. Laura worked for The Roundabout Theater in New York on the workshops of Paradise Lost with Tony Winners Susan Stroman and Hal Prince, and on Red Sox Nation under the direction of Tony Winner Diana Paulus (Finding Neverland, Pippin and Hair). Some of her favorite roles include Laurey in Oklahoma, Polly in The Boyfriend and Magnolia in Showboat for which she won an Billie Award. Laura had the honor of performing for our troops in nine different countries around the world with the Department of Defense.
What attracted her to “Man of La Mancha”?
“I have dreamed of playing Aldonza for many years,” said Laura. “Aldonza is nothing like the ingénues I spent most of my career playing. She’s strong, courageous, brutally honest, and becomes her own hero. In the end, she saves herself by choosing hope.
“The second thing was the honor to work for our Producer Joan Kemper. She is an inspiration to me personally. I want to be Joan when I grow up. What Joan has done and continues to do for the arts in our community is immeasurable, I could never say no to Joan.”
When not rehearsing or being Mom, Laura gives vocal lessons. Laura had her first taste of teaching in 2005 when she taught as a Liz Caplan associate and loved it; “helping singers find their authentic sound, and being free to sing any style they want, is thrilling and deeply rewarding.”