In Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, viewers see the characters’ lives on stage. The actors and actresses’ lives, however, go unseen. Ara Arcilla performed as the lead, Ella, and has an interesting life behind the scenes.
Arcilla is a freshman music major with a concentration in communications. Her parents and two older siblings first came to Monroe from the Philippines in 2005, and Arcilla and her younger brother were later born here. She has lived in Monroe her entire life, attending Lexington and Sallie Humble Elementary, Neville Junior High and Neville High School. Her family has strongly shaped her life.
“My life has been full of music for as long as I can remember,” Arcilla said. “My earliest memories are of my mom, sister and me singing karaoke together.”
As she grew up, she soon realized her own love for music. Her sister inspired her to start learning guitar and ukulele, leading her to enter her first talent show, where she placed second in sixth grade.
“It was definitely a formative experience for me. I was extremely nervous on stage and I’m sure I messed up a few times,” Arcilla said, “but it was that day I realized how much I loved performing.”
Since then, Arcilla has performed in five talent shows, all of which she describes as amazing experiences.
It was in her seventh-grade year at Neville Junior High that she decided to join the school’s new drama club. Her first show was the club’s Christmas production, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. She found it quite enjoyable and planned to participate in the club’s spring play. Her plans were abruptly cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, but that first show is one she will always remember, marking the beginning of her theater journey.
During her sophomore year at Neville High School, Arcilla auditioned for Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella at a local theatre center, Strauss Youth Academy for the Arts (SYAA). She landed the role of Yvonne, a townsperson who allows Prince Topher to hold her baby. Although she did not play Ella in this initial production, her dedication and work over the years have led her to the role with VAPA’s musical. This marked Arcilla’s first time performing at SYAA and her first role in a musical.
Following her first performance with the academy, she went on to work on five additional productions, working as either an actress or a member of the tech crew. She also participated in numerous workshops to advance her growing skills.
“Through SYAA, I’ve learned of every aspect of theatre onstage and backstage, and I have also met some of my closest friends,” Arcilla said, “I am so thankful for the opportunities that SYAA provided me.”
It was also during her time at Neville that the talented music and theatre programs were implemented her senior year. She was in the first batch of students to join this program, which she describes as “nothing short of amazing.” She recalls that the talented choir program scored Superior in District I Festival Assessment and that several members got to perform in the District I Honor Choir. Arcilla also made the Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA) All State Choir, where she performed with the treble choir.
While being a member of the talented theatre program, she competed in Poetry Out Loud, a “dynamic poetry recitation competition,” according to poetryoutloud.org. After competing locally, she got to compete at the state level, one of her many accomplishments.
Through talented theatre, she felt encouraged to audition for a role at Strauss Theatre Center. She landed the role of Natalie in Next to Normal also during her senior year, marking her first show at the center.
“My senior year was an amazing success,” Arcilla said, “I am so thankful for all the opportunities that Neville and the talented music and theatre programs provided me.”
With the ending of her senior year, she prepared to attend ULM for her first semester in the Fall of 2025. She remembers entering her freshman year with much optimism that she has maintained since. Within her first semester, Arcilla landed the role of Narrator in ULM’s fall opera, Rusalka. She also became a member of the ULM SNATS chapter, performed in her first ULM Concert Choir show and became a librarian for ULM’s American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) chapter. Later this semester, Arcilla will perform in her first STARS concert, Concert Choir’s annual pop show.
Arcilla is looking forward to what ULM has in store for her. She plans to continue pursuing her passion for music and theatre, and everything in between.
“I cannot wait for what else my college experience will bring.”
