02/13/06

'Creating Angie'

Actress making mark on Disney stage

Before she graduated from Lemon Bay High School in 2004, Angela Rollo had plenty of great roles as a thespian. She was the beautiful Glinda, Good Witch of the North, in "The Wizard of Oz" and the imperious lead in "The Madwoman of Chaillot," which was earlier played by Katherine Hepburn in the film version.

Heady stuff, indeed, and strong training for her "part-time" job while she's a sophomore at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

Some kids may be waiting tables to help with tuition, but Rollo is featured as one of the best-known villains of today. She's playing the regally wicked character of Queen Jadis, also known as the White Witch of "Chronicles of Narnia" fame. She officially joined the Disney team last July, as part of the opening cast of "Creating Narnia" at Disney-MGM Studios.

"After weeks of rehearsal, some from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., when I headed off to morning class, we opened the show in December and I've signed a two-year contract with Disney," Rollo said recently during her first visit home to Englewood since last summer. "It may be longer, depending on what they want me to do."

Since winning a berth on the good ship Disney, Rollo has played a variety of characters, including a reindeer in the Christmas fantasy "'Twas," a charming pink hippo (from "Fantasia"), and worked her way up the ladder to her current role as Jadis.

"Her dad (Richard) and I have had to see her in Orlando," said Angie's mother, Phyllis Rollo. "Because she works or goes to school all the time, she can never get away."

Angie works a minimum of 32 hours each week, but during school vacation she put in up to 60 hours, including many 12-hour days. Another big-name show will be opening at Disney in March, and she'll soon be training for a part in it; she couldn't say what it was.

As witchy Jadis, Rollo wears wigs and a tall crown, plus a heavy corset, gown and high heels. It takes at least three hours to prep for her on-stage role. A team of experts earlier fixed her hair and makeup, but she's learned to do it on her own.

You'd never recognize her in character; it's all part of the magic. Nobody knows who she really is when she's in character.

It's a Disney thing. And Rollo can't be photographed in character. There's only one official Jadis, even with dozens of gals playing the part worldwide. There's only one of any or every character who delights Disney audiences.

Did Rollo ever imagine she'd be doing this type of work while she was a Lemon Bay student?

"Not really, I was still used to being in the world of theater here, and we put the shows together fast at LBHS, but now it was being done even faster," Rollo said. "I take a lot of dance classes, plus my regular courses. I'm dancing a lot more than I ever thought I would. I had previously been more an actress, and I had to pick up dance moves fast in high school, but had never really been trained in it. And I kind of crash-coursed myself and now I've been labeled as a dancer.

"It might be fun to be a 'gypsy', but it's not something I ever earlier considered," she said. "I never thought I'd be able to do it, but now I've learned techniques so quickly and people in school are such professionals and expect a lot from you. That makes me a lot better dancer, of course. It's very strict. I may have dance classes during the day and then go to dance classes all night."

One downside to all this exercise is that Angie has had to buy a new wardrobe for everyday.

"My body has changed a lot since I began dancing seriously," she said. "I walk everywhere and go to the gym every day to make sure I can keep up the stamina. Also my great new friend is 'spinning class.' It's kind of fun. I also do between 300 and 600 sit-ups every night. Your legs and butt muscles get bigger and pants fit really tight. My thighs and abs have changed the most, I think.

"A lot of celebrities visit the Disney parks," Rollo recalled. "A few times I've just missed seeing Johnny Depp and his kids -- and Steve Tyler. It's amazing how many folks come through.

"When you're working for Disney, it's a whole different culture with its own talk and way of speaking in acronyms, etc.," she admitted. "So sometimes when I begin talking to someone not involved with the park, people don't know what I'm talking about."

How did being a thespian working with Jennifer Kelly at Lemon Bay prepare her for her work?

"I think the biggest factor was that we had to learn multi-tasking; we were almost self-sufficient," she said. "We worked on costumes, did hair and make up, marketing, etc. We were associated with all aspects of the production, plus the business end too.

"It helped a lot. I've met a lot of kids from many performing arts schools; the students have had everything handed to them. I think we have the edge, because we had to scramble for anything we got at LBHS. I learned that I can work hard and push myself. Also, Ms. Kelly taught us a good work ethic -- that things are never handed to you."

While she's under contract to Disney, Rollo also has an option to travel: there are Disney cruises to work and in a few years she might travel to Japan or take on roles in any Disney theme park around the world.

But she'll still be the same lithe, lovely and extremely talented gal she was here in Englewood. And with plenty of hard work, the vistas before her are endless.