Meet Performer Leslie Blake Walker

Do you have a favorite memory from a Hartt Production?

 I loved everything I did at Hartt for many different reasons, but my senior project was absolutely the most special experience for me. I choreographed (almost) the entire Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album as a kind of dance theatre piece, and it was the most rewarding artistic experience I have ever had. I had a group of about 20 dancers that I cast from the musical theatre division and they all worked so hard and really brought life to my choreography. I even convinced the head of theatre dance, Ralph Perkins, to do a tap duet with me to "When I'm 64"! This project was everything I dreamed of, and I actually have a goal to produce it in a few years and hopefully remount it in the city! 

Due to Covid-19 you recently lost out on a dream contract. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

 Oh man. I remember receiving both phone calls (one where I booked it and one where I found out it was being post-poned) and I cried equal amounts both times. I grew up in Missouri about two hours away from the theatre, all my family was so excited when I booked it. It was a dream come true. As time went on and I saw my friends losing their jobs one by one, I had to think realistically and the best case scenario was that they would postpone and honor our offers for next year, and I am VERY lucky that is what happened. It just wouldn't have been safe to try and do a musical in front of 11'000 people. I do remember being pretty devastated when I had to tell my family it wasn't happening this summer.  The current plan is for my show to be mounted in 2021, so that hope has made processing the grief a little easier. I had auditioned five years in a row hoping for a spot at the Muny, eventually I came to a point of peace where I was like "Well...guess I'll have to wait one more!". But this year has taught me that anything can happen, so the best I can do is stay positive and do what I can to support these regional theatres and my friends around me who are all going through the same thing. I have found so much solace in talking to my peers, and letting myself feel my emotions instead of holding them back. I really look forward to when we can all be back onstage doing what we love.

What is something you wish you could tell college Leslie?

I would tell her to relax and not put so much pressure on herself. I was so tense and stressed out all through college. I was so afraid of not living up to my own expectations. So afraid of not having the "broadway body", not getting that role I wanted, not booking summer stock, not being good enough...I just wish I would have been kinder to myself. I would also tell her that extra studio time is great, but maybe go have fun once in a while! I definitely took on the "grind" mentality way too hard. Not that I regret any of my hard work because it definitely paid off...but I wish I would have spent more time with my friends talking with them about things that aren't related to our career. It's ok to take a break.

Fun Facts:

Who was your favorite teacher at Hartt?

This is an easy one and should be obvious to anyone who went to Hartt hahaha, absolutely Ralph Perkins. He was our dance teacher, and we have a special relationship because he and my mom actually danced together professionally in Vegas and were really good friends. To be taught by him and to have developed such a close relationship was such a full circle moment, I believe for both of us. We still talk often and I consider him to be my biggest mentor. I wouldn't be the dancer or the person I am today if it weren't for him.

What is your dream show/role?

Absolutely Cassie in A Chorus Line, though I understand now that I'm more of a Kristine/Judy haha! My favorite show of all time though is CATS, I could do that show with the original choreography for the rest of my life if I could. I think it is a brilliant piece of dance theatre that the late great Dame Gillian Lynne created. It was the first professional show I ever did (I played Sillabub) but I am much too tall for that role now, so I'd love to do it again as Bombalurina. Any tall leggy dance roles, basically!!!