A fresh-to-LBCC student who will be performing the lead villain role of the Witch in the upcoming musical, “Into the Woods,” has at the same time been balancing being a full-time track athlete at LBCC over the last three months.
Romero attributes her success on stage and on track to a strong support system, alongside her strong discipline.
“It requires a lot of discipline, something my mom instilled in me when I was younger. Having that sort of mindset, understanding the things I need and what’s best for me,” Romero said.
Her support system, she says, is her “mom, friends from my home city of Chicago and my current fellow peers.”
Romero’s interpretation of the Witch is quirky and funny, yet intense and mysterious as everyone is still afraid of her.
Phyre Romero, center, the actress who plays the Witch, makes a quirky expression while entering the home of the Baker during a dress rehearsal for LBCC’s production of “Into the Woods” on March 9. The Baker, left, is played by actor Nicolas Rout-Vazquez. (Paloma Maciel)
In this story, the Witch is the old woman who kidnaps Rapunzel, and she makes it her mission to protect her from the world and keep her hidden.
Director of “Into the Woods” and professor of theater arts at LBCC, Andre Brown has noted Romero’s growth even through her busy schedule, and shared that “she’s only missed one single day of practice to go to a track meet last month.”
“This show is allowing her to be more of herself and more of the talented performer that she is. I would love to take credit, but it was innate,” said Brown.
Actress Phyre Romero, playing the Witch, sings to other actors in a dress rehearsal of LBCC’s production of “Into The Woods” on March 9. (Sam Villa)
Despite track, theater and her job as a student service leader at the LAC’s Black Student Success Center that cause her to have a packed schedule, Romero has noted that she decided to not “prioritize one over the other.”
“The only thing I’ve put on hiatus so far has been dance. I’m still a dancer but I’ve put it on the back for the other things I’ve been working on this semester,” said Romero.
Romero previously worked with one of Chicago’s premier dancing institutes, the Joffrey Ballet, in her high school years.
In terms of track and field, Romero has excelled as one of the team’s short distance runners, usually in the 400-meter dash and has been slowly practicing for shorter distance sprint races, alongside her specialty event of pole vaulting.
“She does a great job with communication and we’d love to have her every single day. She’s doing a great job juggling both of these and her coursework. We love to have her,” said Marcus Carrol, the coach of LBCC’s women’s track and field team.
Actress Phyre Romero reveals her face behind her Witch’s mask, while wearing her track shoes in full costume. (Sam Villa)
Romero will be performing in “Into the Woods” through the next two weekends and skipping the track meets that her team will be competing in in San Diego the next two Saturdays.
“We’re going to miss her for sure these next two meets but we really hope she comes back with the same kind of intensity that she left off,” said Carrol.
Romero has said that despite track and theater being seemingly nothing alike, there are some similarities that she’s noticed between them.
“Performance is key. At the end of the day, you are put into the mindset of someone, either being the winner of a track meet or the character you’re performing as. I feel like either way, you are performing as someone you need to be at that moment,” said Romero.
“Into the Woods” will open on Friday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m. and run for two more shows over the weekend. It will also have three more performances next weekend.
Tickets for purchase are currently available online at this link, along with the full schedule.
Student tickets cost $10, while staff, senior and veteran tickets are $15 and general admission is $20.
Students who bring their current ASB sticker in person to the box office, can get a free ticket. Students can watch as many free shows as they like with this promotion.
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