Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Queralt, President and Partner on PRTC’s Board.
Hi Sarah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In Spring 2021, I was finishing up my junior year at Azusa Pacific University. I hadn’t done a live performance in over a year and I knew my friends missed it too. I gathered a few from my college and a few from my previous high school, knowing very well that both groups had not met the other before.
Within a few rehearsals, we all became an unbreakable friend group and produced Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” in none other than a humble campground. Our performances were sold out, but more importantly, I can see my friends come alive again after the pandemic. Very shortly after that, a board was created and we set out to create a company. Our mission statement is “Our purpose is to provide opportunity and explore the stories of our diverse community through artistic expression.” I believe that we have strived to do just that with each of our productions in our first and now 2023 season. We choose each of our shows by finding a story that will speak to our community much deeper than a surface-level production that receives a “that was fun” reaction. We have explored the silly and fun of Shakespeare’s comedies all the way to the grief and pain of losing loved ones.
Outside of the performances themselves, many of our actors and crew have found a community within us and have continued to participate after their first show. We create opportunities not only to perform and make art but to also have the build long-lasting relationships.
We have gotten to where we are at through the love and support of our friends and family, cast and crew members, company members, and the board. Here at PRTC, we strive to shorten the gap between the artist and the viewer, thus building and strengthening relationships that support one another.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
PRTC has not had the easiest of paths, for we started with half of its board and the vast majority of its founding members still in college. I myself was balancing two degrees (BFA in Acting for the Stage and Screen and a BA in Screenwriting) with eighteen or more units a semester, a part-time job, being a Residential Advisor on campus, and any amount of sleep or social life I could manage. Time and manpower were what we lacked in the beginning of our journey. Over time we had found ourselves performing closer and closer to Los Angeles until it was only natural to perform in Hollywood. We have met amazing people who like to partner with young artists so we have found comfort residing in this wonderfully artistic neighborhood.
Something that was amazing with our most recent production of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” in April 2023 was that it was the first cast we had with its entirety found through professional acting websites. We have used these for all of our previous productions but were recently amazed to find that our name has spread in just under two years to have over five hundred submissions and nearly two hundred auditions to review. It was an incredibly difficult casting process and we are so honored to have had the cast and crew that came from these auditions. While we began with absolutely no name to ourselves, we are proud to be on this slow but steady journey together.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I began performing for fun in 2011, but by the time I had my first supporting lead in 2016 I knew there was no going back. What fascinated me about live theatre was how quickly a story can impact an audience. Some stories are meant to share joy, some are meant to provide comfort in harrowing scenarios, and some are to spark conversation or a new way of thinking. I became infatuated with the thrill of knowing a story inside and out and having that risk of messing it up at any second. I participated in every theatrical and choral event I could in high school and very soon auditioned for theatre programs at various universities. Within college, I read ancient classics like philosophy and international novels. I also loved writing essays, so I worked as a Writing Coach for three years and even picked up a Screenwriting minor. I figured if I liked writing so much, I might as well explore another medium of storytelling that is within my career’s industry.
During lockdown, I was very blessed to have my self-tape and introduction to film acting classes fall within my semesters that transpired online. Because of this, I had more time on my hand than usual so I bravely changed my screenwriting minor to a second degree. I wrote numerous screenplays of various lengths. I even wrote a novella within three weeks simply because I challenged myself to do it. The pen is marvelously sharper than the sword and I wrote into the late hours almost every single night. My desire for writing stems from the first play I produced my senior year of high school where the young protagonist had a tragic death at the end of the play; I simply thought that the events that transpired had to happen for the sake of the story but I was amazed to have a classmate tell me “Sarah, I don’t cry in public, but look at me now” while he was wiping back tears. I am learning every single day just how powerful an artist can really be and how they might not know just how powerful their expertise is. Since graduating college, I have been working on a fantasy monster novel and a few short stage plays. Upon my novel’s completion, I hope to find representation to later publish it.
As for acting, I have had the honor to portray dozens of powerful women which some of them, include Cassandra in “Trojan Women,” Mollie Ralston in “The Mousetrap,” Kate Monster in “Avenue Q,” Molly Aster in “Peter and the Starcatcher,” and more. The live performance I am most proud of is playing Mayella Ewell in the West Coast premiere of Aaron Sorkin’s “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Mayella was a harrowing character to play for she knew exactly what she was doing and decided to live in a life of fear rather than save the lives of an innocent man she falsely accused. I am forever thankful to Oanh Nguyen for directing this unforgettable production and to Azusa Pacific University for hosting this marvelous opportunity.
I have also had a steadily growing career in film and television since I graduated from APU. So far in 2023, I have been filmed and wrapped a feature film where I was a supporting lead and a docu-series where I was also a supporting lead. In 2022, I was featured in Netflix’s “Our Father,” a series regular on the festival-finalist web series “Wait For It, and a recurring character in another television show that has yet to be released. I am proudly represented by Worldwide Talent Management and by The Happen Agency for commercials.
I am a firm believer that in order to inspire others, I need to be inspired myself. I am daily inspired by Reece Witherspoon and the amazing art that her production company produces. I hope to be like her one day and bring unparalleled stories to life for everyone to view, enjoy, and spark conversations about.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
PRTC’s board:
– André J. Roy: Vice President and Partner
– Axel Gueit: Secretary
– Olivia Rivera Reynoso: Public Relations Manager
– Hannah Lorayne Manuit: Marketing Manager
– PRTC would not exist without these incredibly strong people. I am forever thankful to you four and your unparalleled hard work.
Dr. Monica Ganas:
– My mentor through college who advised me on directing and how to start PRTC. She was also a brilliant director for “Steel Magnolias” in our 2021-2022 season. She brought that vision to life and guided not only our actresses within the production but all of our crew and company members as a whole.
Roberto Rivera:
– Has provided us numerous marketing materials and endless support.
Alyssa Rojas, Faith Orta, and Jenna Catto:
– For graciously letting PRTC use their space for various events
Azusa Pacific University professors and staff: Jill Brennan-Lincoln, Kirsten Humer, Dr. Monica Ganas, Christopher Keene, Gavan Wyrick, Frank Minano, Dave Hadinger, Alex Hluch, Nanci Ruby, Andi Chapman, David Barrera, and Barbara Wells
– For PRTC: For encouraging us in our endeavors and providing materials and props for various productions
– Personal: For teaching and guiding me throughout my time at APU. They not only gave me the skills I have in my toolbelt, but they taught and encouraged me how to be strong in my faith in my industry. Forever grateful for the four wonderful years they gave me.
Elena Villa, Kimberly Taylor-Anaya, and Jennifer Vincent:
– For PRTC: The Blackhawk Theatre Company provided us with materials and props for various productions
– Personal: For being the best role models an inspiring artist can ask for from 2011 to 2018. For Elena, thank you for paving a path filled with a love for theatre in the most professional educational space I could’ve had; thank you for your faith in me as a person, performer, and leader. For Kimberly, thank you for believing in me from such a young age and continuing to do so through my high school years; thank you for being a consistent rock I could lean on. For Jennifer, thank you for showing me how I could be strong in my faith and be an inspiring artist; thank you for your never-ending love for people.
Darren Staten with Worldwide Talent Management:
– For being a strong-standing rock and supporting me in my career as an artist.
Shaunna Griffith and Kelsi Griffith with The Happen Agency:
– For believing in me as a performer and providing opportunities to share heart-felt stories
Amanda Dayhoff:
– For mentoring me through college and inspiring me daily
Lauren Leong:
– For challenging and encouraging me through her incredible mentorship as a senior in college
Elsie Wilson and Doug Wilson: (parents)
– For your never-ending love and support for me. Thank you for believing in me from before I was even born and thank you for continuing to do so.
William* WILSON, Randy and Johanne WILSON, Alberto QUERAL, and Jimmy*, Maggie, Drake, James, Joesph*, Marcie, Joel, Samuel, and Noel CRAIGHEAD: (Brother, Uncle/Aunt, Uncle, Brothers and their families. * is attached to my brother’s names)
– For being daily inspirations in my life. Thank you for everything
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.playgroundrenaissance.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playgroundrenaissancetheatre/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playgroundrenaissance?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@playgroundrenaissancetheat3291
- Other: tiktok.com/playgroundrenaissance
Image Credits
Axel Gueit, Alyssa Rojas, Ellie Ferguson, Hannah Lorayne Manuit, and Jamie Chu
