Olivia Goodspeed
Olivia Goodspeed is one of the major reasons RENT at Lakeside Community Theatre is a resounding success. To see this exciting young singer/dancer/actor take the role of Maureen new places is thrilling. It’s worth the price of admission to see her interpretation of “Over the Moon” alone and I can’t wait to go back and “moo” with her again. Olivia has an incredible belt and coupled with her remarkable dance moves, they make Maureen a performance every RENT fan must see. As a lyric from “Take Me or Leave Me” says “this diva needs her stage” and coming from the amazing Olivia Goodspeed, you know it’s true. Read all about Olivia’s performing career so far.
When was your first time on stage?
My first time on stage was technically when I was 2-3 years old for a dance recital, but I count my first *real* time when I was 15 years old as Sandy in Grease! It was with Spotlight Acting Academy in Edmond, OK! When I moved to Oklahoma in 2013, I didn’t know anyone and was shy and scared moving to a new area. So, my mom put me in a Musical Theatre class, and we happened to do Grease! Our director Jonathan Beck Reed gave us an amazing opportunity and we got to perform at the Lyric Theatre in downtown OKC. It was such an amazing experience being able to perform on that stage and be Sandy.
When did you know you wanted to be an actor?
I’ve always known I’ve wanted to do performing as a child. I remember telling my parents as a child, before I knew what musical theatre was, I told them “I want to sing, act, and dance at the same time when I’m older”. I also would watch the “Annie”1982 movie and dance with them during “It’s a hard knock life”. Getting into dance really helped me find my love for performing. I then watched the TV show “Victorious” and knew I wanted to perform.
Who is your greatest mentor?
I would have to say my greatest mentors are from my college. Amy Baker, Jennifer Marcum, and Renee Macdonald. These three wonderful people helped me so much during my college experience. I still look up to them today! Everything they taught me in college I still cherish and take with me now.
What role have you enjoyed most in your career so far?
I would have to say playing Maureen in Rent at Lakeside Community Theatre has been my favorite hands down. I’ve always wanted to play a role like her before, and I’m so thankful I got the opportunity to play her. Something I love to do is try to put a little bit of me in my characters. Not a lot, but I try to make them human and somewhat relatable. Maureen has been through/done a lot to her people, but I dazzle a little bit of me there to show a different side of her that maybe hasn’t been portrayed before. I also loved being a part of Alice By Heart at LCT as well. That show changed my life in so many ways and I’ll forever have a soft spot in my heart for that show with the wonderful cast and production team of course.
Do you have a dream role?
I have so many dream roles! Elle Woods is definitely on my list! I feel like I have that Elle Woods energy in real life, so I dream to play Elle. I also would love to portray Campbell in Bring It On the Musical, as well as Carrie in Carrie the musical of course. Also, any role that Betsy Wolfe has played. I love that woman! A dream show would also be one she was in, called 35 MM. I would love to be in that show at some point.
Who would you most like to share the stage with?
Speaking of Betsy Wolfe, I would love to share the stage with her. I was told when I first got into the musical theatre world, to find someone on Broadway or a famous singer that you feel you connect with. Singing wise, acting wise, or just characters they play that you feel you would play. I found Betsy Wolfe when I was a senior in high school. I was in The Mystery of Edwin Drood and I played Rosa Bud. I found her through doing that show, and now I look at all the roles she has done and put those songs in my book. I would love to have a conversation with her about the industry and to hear her stories. I feel like we both have similar voices, and I would love to be able to share the stage with her.
What performances have you seen that impressed you?
I love going out to see shows! I remember seeing a production of Carrie in 2014 at OU. That also grew my love for the show. I was just starting to get into musical theatre, and seeing this show changed me. I also want to say theatres here like: The Addams Family at The Hopeful Theatre Project, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Grand Prairie Arts Council. Both of these shows had such wonderful actors as well as great story telling. The Addams Family had such a stacked cast that left me in awe, and same for Hunchback! I also loved the set for Hunchback, and the choir was such a beautiful touch for that show.
What are your career goals?
My career goals are to move to NYC at some point in the near future. Moving to the DFW area was one of my goals I had when I graduated from college. I love it here and I am so excited to start getting more involved in DFW theatre. I also love to teach dance and would love to get involved at a dance studio to be a dance teacher. I love tap dancing and would love to teach tap to kiddos. But of course, I love my jazz, modern and hip-hop dancing! Broadway is the dream, so I’m getting my head held up high and I’m going to reach that goal one day. I would love to join a touring show at some point too. I think it’d be so cool to do a national tour and travel the world.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
People might be surprised to find out I taught myself how to sing at first! When I first started out I didn’t have a voice teacher when I moved to OKC in 2013. I never had a voice lesson until then, so I would mimic all the singers I listened to at the time. Then I found Beth Nix in Oklahoma and she started me on my voice journey officially. Oh also, I did take about 7-10 years of Hip-Hop training and can do “The Freeze” so ask me about it next time you see me and I’ll show you my tricks.
