Young Hartland Resident Appears In First Stage's 'DIARY OF A WORM, A SPIDER AND A FLY'

Hartland resident Cami Westlake, 12, will appear in First Stage’s production of DIARY OF A WORM, A SPIDER AND A FLY, playing at the Todd Wehr Theater at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts April 13 through May 13.

A masterful fusion of excitement and education, this adventure is as delightfully absurd and joyously playful as the wildly popular book series. Who ever thought that we could learn so much about ourselves by looking in on the lives of a non-arthropod, an arachnid, and an insect? Walk alongside the worm, the spider, and the fly as they learn to overcome many of the same life challenges that we face and emerge with a better understanding – and appreciation – for who they are.

Cami has been involved with theater for about two years, although this is her first experience with First Stage. She has been involved in the community and held the roles of Evelyn/Misty in NIFTY FIFTIES and Josie Marley in BAH! HUMBUG! She was most recently in SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK, where she sang “Conjunction Junction” solo. She is very excited to be in DIARY OF A WORM, A SPIDER AND A FLY, and can be seen in the Gitterbug cast as an Ant.

Cami has learned a lot from her involvement in theater that will carry into other parts of her life. She said, “I learned a lot about patience with my peers [and] the importance of responsibility.” In order to succeed in the world of show business, she says to “just be yourself, and try and step out of [your] comfort zone every once and a while.” Her favorite part of being able to perform at First Stage is the friendships she has made in the cast and the new people she gets to meet. Being involved with DIARY OF A WORM, A SPIDER AND A FLY has allowed her to have fun with friends and perform with a company that she has always admired. “[I enjoy] meeting new friends and being able to sing, dance, and act for a theater company that I’ve seen so many amazing performances from,” she says.

Cami says that the audiences of DIARY OF A WORM, A SPIDER AND A FLY will be able to learn a lot from the show: “There are many themes to this musical, and one has really stuck out to me. Everyone is different, but we need to embrace these differences.” She adds, “This shows when Fly, Worm, Spider, Ant, and Butterfly are all friends. They all have many differences, yet they are able to look past them, and they really turn out to be great friends!”

DIARY OF A WORM, A SPIDER AND A FLY plays April 13 through May 13 at the Marcus Center, with tickets starting at just $13. For more information, visit www.firststage.org.