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When Sara Jean Ford was a little girl, she listened to cast recordings of musicals and dreamed of becoming an actress. At 16, she discovered "The Fantasticks" and was enchanted.
"I listened to the album constantly and had the inflections down," the 25-year-old Newbury Park High School graduate recalled recently.
She read the script so many times, she said, she knew the lines by heart and hoped to one day play Luisa, the show's ingénue.
Dreams can come true. On Aug. 23, the off-Broadway revival of "The Fantasticks" opened, and Ford made her New York City debut as Luisa. A new cast recording will be released Tuesday.
"As a kid raised on albums, this is one of the most exciting things to happen in my life," Ford said.
Born in the Los Angeles area, Ford moved to Ventura County when she was 4. Her mother and stepfather, Glenna and Mark Fewell, and her younger brother Chad still live in Newbury Park.
Although no one else in the family is an actor, Ford's grandparents, Betty and John Ford of Thousand Oaks, have been members of local barbershop quartets and choral groups for many years.
Ford has always loved to sing. When she was 10, her mother found an outlet for this interest. She would take time off from work each week to drive her daughter from their home in Santa Paula to the San Fernando Valley so she could rehearse with the Sherman Oaks Community Children's Chorus.
Within two weeks of joining, Ford also became part of the choir director's offshoot group, the Carol Lombard Kids, which provides backup vocals for TV, films and recording artists; consequently, she received her SAG card.
"I wasn't a stage mom," Fewell said, "but I gave her encouragement and did what I could to help her."
Eventually they moved to Newbury Park to take advantage of the high school's chorus and theater programs.
Early signs
Ford's childhood community recognized her talent fairly quickly. She had lead roles in high school and Young Artists Ensemble productions and was a 2001 New West Symphony Discovery Artist.
"She was obviously naturally gifted, but she also had an intense passion and love for what she was doing, whether it was acting or singing," recalled Ford's voice teacher Paul Fagundes of Newbury Park. "That passion fed her talent and got her to where she is now. You hope that success happens to a nice person, and that's Sara."
After high school, Ford starred in Moorpark College productions before becoming a Discovery Artist.
Not immediately going away to university turned out to be a plus.
"Moorpark has a wonderful program with a state-of-the-art theater," Ford said. "I had many opportunities to be in shows and got a lot more experience."
From Moorpark, Ford transferred to Carnegie Mellon University's theater program and went directly from her senior year showcase to understudying Glinda and Nessarose in the Chicago production of "Wicked."
She was set to understudy Cosette on Broadway in "Les Miserables" when she landed the role of Luisa.
"The Fantasticks" is about a boy and girl who, through the machinations of their fathers, fall in love.
The original production has the distinction of being the world's longest-running musical (1960 to 2002).
Tom Jones, the show's librettist and lyricist, directed this new version and also appears on stage as Henry, The Old Actor.
"It's great working with him. He's an inspired man," said Ford. "As a director, he trusted me to put the right ingredients into the role. Having your director's trust is all an actor needs."
Simple lessons
Ford also met the original Luisa, Rita Gardner, now starring in "The Wedding Singer."
"I asked her about the emotional weight of the show. I have to cry three times and wasn't sure how to get through it," said Ford. "She said: You're not a robot. You can't cry every night. Being honest in your portrayal is all that matters.'"
When Ford hears the overture, she loses herself in her role. She is especially moved when she sees couples clasping hands as the play begins or people crying during the first song.
"The Fantasticks," which has only a harp and piano for accompaniment, is across the street from "Wicked," one of the most technical spectacles on Broadway. And yet, Ford said, "With no set, no flying witches, our show is just as touching. It's a timeless love story told in the simplest way and hits people deeply."
One member of the audience found her performance particularly gratifying: her mother. "I saw the show twice and cried both times," said Fewell. "I always told Sara to not get a job just to get a job but to do something you love. Sara picked a hard career, but the fact she is making a living at it is wonderful."
A mother's love
Fewell was a single parent until Ford was 13 years old, and times were often difficult, although family and close friends could always be counted on to be there for them.
"We couldn't afford many things, including singing lessons," Fewell said. "My parents have friends who are like another set of grandparents to Sara; they not only paid for the lessons but were always front and center at her shows.
"I always felt Sara was just meant to be here," her mother said. "She was loved from day one. And look at all she's accomplished! I'm so proud of her."
There are several themes woven throughout "The Fantasticks." To Ford, the play's message is: "You have to experience the world before you can appreciate love. And never forget the path you took to find that happiness."
Ford has not forgotten her own path and appreciates the support she received from teachers, friends and family, especially her mother.
"When others believe in you, it's hard not to believe in yourself," she said.
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