The show must always go on.
Though the curtains may be closing on Ava and Jackson Rott’s high school careers, the two have shown that their days on the stage are far from over.
Together, they have been in over 40 shows since they began acting.
“Storybook Land Theatre bumps up those numbers,” Jackson laughed.
The Rotts’ first foray into the world of acting began at a young age.
“Our parents were actors at the Guthrie in Minneapolis,” Jackson said. “When they were in a community theater production, we could either go to a sitter, grandma’s, or rehearsal. We were always there, and kind of grew up there.”
Their first acting gig was doubling as baby Jesus at Bethlehem Lutheran Church around Christmas, and nearly ten years passed until their next show. In 2014, when they were in second grade, Ava
Their first acting gig was doubling was baby Jesus at Bethlehem Lutheran Church when they were six months old.
and Jackson performed in the ensemble of Northern State University’s production of Les Misérables.
“Our parents encouraged us to audition,” Ava said. “I used to be really shy, and I shook during the audition.”
The show was a positive experience for both of them, and it helped spark their love of acting. After Les Misérables, they performed with NSU again in their productions of Mary Poppins, A Christmas Story, and Funhome.
“We were really accepted by the college kids,” Jackson said. “We still see some of them to this day.”
As they got older, they took part in productions with the Aberdeen Community Theatre, Holgate Middle School, and Central High School. Their first Young People’s Theatre show was Godspell.
“YPT was great,” Ava said. “I got to work with kids my own age, and there were more opportunities with different roles.”
During the summer after their freshman year of high school, Ava and Jackson joined the Storybook Land Theatre.
“When we were going through YPT, Brian Schultz pulled us aside and said we should apply,” Jackson said. “We had been to shows at the castle growing up, and it was a good way to get into professional acting.”
This summer will be their fourth and final year performing on the castle’s stage.
“SBLT has been a learning curve,” Ava said. Once season prep begins in the spring, it’s a lot like a full time job. Rehearsing and performing each show is already quite the workload, but they also were responsible for creating props and sets in addition to any costumes that might be required.
“We didn’t really get a summer break,” Jackson said. To them, the longest vacation was spring break from school.
Central High School’s Eagle Express Show Choir featuring Jackson as Edward Scissorhands
Storybook Land Theatre
Every stage, production, and team is different, but there’s a familiarity that comes with acting.
“The process is similar in each show,” Ava said. “But the groups of people are different. I feel like a leader when acting at school, but I’m still learning from adults in other shows.”
Acting isn’t the only activity that the Rotts have done on stage. Once they reached middle school, they started performing with Holgate’s Show Choir. It quickly became a favorite for both of them. Jackson felt like they were able to grow with the program.
“Our 6th grade year was the first year with our new director, Marcie Netzer,” he said. “That’s the year Holgate really stepped up. We were able to beat Simmons in our 8th grade year.”
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”
“This past year was our most successful season,” Jackson said. “Show Choir is always changing. You have to be on the cutting edge of things. We had the right people, show, music, costumes, and band this year, and it all came together perfectly.”
Ava and Jackson also participated in the One-Act Play Festival. For the past two years, Central had entered with musicals, and Jackson noted that they had earned superiors each year.
With the number of roles the Rotts have secured, it’s natural that they have some favorites.
“My favorite role last year was the Witch in Into the Woods,” Ava said. “You see lots of different sides to the character. There were a lot of big numbers in that show, and I had to build my vocal cords.”
“It was a different role for me. I usually play the nice girl, so it was a lot of fun.”
Jackson split up his favorite roles into a few different categories.
“Little Shop of Horrors”
“Godspell was my favorite in terms of having fun with rehearsals and making friends. It was my favorite ‘putting the show together’ experience,” he said. Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors was his favorite character, and the performance he was most proud of was Timmy Fibbins in Interrupting Vanessa. “I played a character on the spectrum, and it was a really cool experience.”
Aside from their impressive theater tenure, the Rotts have kept themselves busy with several other extracurricular activities.
“We grew up in a pretty musical family,” Ava said.
Jackson said that he was in every music extra curricular except honor’s jazz band. He was a member of the marching, jazz, show, and symphonic bands, the indoor winter drumline, and Jam Session jazz ensemble. He also performed with Vocal Jazz and Bethlehem Lutheran’s Praise Band. Outside of music, Jackson was involved with Student Government, National Honor Society, dance with Living Arts, and Oral Interp during the last two years of high school.
“It’s much different than sports,” Jackson said. “There’s a little break in between seasons. These things are all at the same time, all year long, before and after school. It gets to be a lot. Winter especially – it’s dark when you get to school and dark when you get out.”
“Schoolhouse Rock Live!”
Ava played the tenor saxophone in Central’s many bands, and she was also active in Vocal Jazz and choir, and learned how to play bass guitar for the Storybook Land Theatre band. She danced with Central’s Dance Team and for Rachel Peterson Dance Studios, and she also played tennis.
Both of them have had to make some difficult decisions while prioritizing activities, but the creative arts have won out almost every time.
In addition to acting, the Rotts are both avid musicians
“It was really hard to decide, but it got to the point where I had to choose,” she said. “Theater was the most fun, and I made a lot of friends and connections.”
Ava had sought out several leadership positions when she was at Central. She was president of the National Honor Society and the vice president of Student Government.
After graduation, Jackson plans to move to Minneapolis after the summer is over. He wants to follow in his parents’ footsteps and get into the local performing scene.
“I had an epiphany to just focus on being an actor. This last year I realized that live performance is for me,” he said. “I have nothing to lose. After SBLT, there are no obligations and I can go out into the world and see what happens. I don’t want to have regrets.”
“Guys and Dolls”
Ava plans on attending college in the fall and wants to study musical theater and business.
“I’m excited to keep working on my skills there,” she said.
Like all sibling relationships, there have been ups and downs. With so many activities overlapping each other, it was inevitable for them to spend a lot of time together. Once they entered high school, their activities started to branch out more. Jackson said that doing some activities alone, such as Oral Interp, has been a nice experience.
“We were around each other a lot,” Jackson said. “And sometimes we have arguments. I think spending all that time together leads to those.”
Jackson and Ava were active in Central High School’s many bands, including marching band.
“There’s a little sibling rivalry,” Ava admitted. “But we work together and we get each other’s input on things. It’s definitely nice to have someone to ask for things when I need it.”
“I feel lucky,” Ava said. “Not many people had the amount of opportunities that I had. It’s nice to have parents who support me.” //
Photos courtesy of Jennifer Barkmeier.
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