Gilroyan Jasmine Acuna, 5, was singing before she could talk.
Inspired by the old records that her grandmother would play when
she was in diapers and a high chair, she loves to belt out
show-tune staples like
”
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
”
and
”
Memories,
”
but she’s content to start small.
Gilroyan Jasmine Acuna, 5, was singing before she could talk. Inspired by the old records that her grandmother would play when she was in diapers and a high chair, she loves to belt out show-tune staples like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Memories,” but she’s content to start small.
On Tuesday, Aug. 13, Jasmine made her stage debut in American Music Theatre’s production of “The Wizard of Oz,” now showing in San Jose. Playing a lullaby baby munchkin, she sings as part of a group of children who welcome the character Dorothy to Munchkinland.
Jasmine has a brief solo in the song “The Lullaby League,” tugging on Dorothy’s dress to say, “We thank you very sweetly.” She will also depict a poppy flower in a garden scene featuring enchanted flora.
“She’s breathing and living and eating and sleeping this thing,” said Ottielie Acuna, Jasmine’s mom. “She’s a little performer from her heart. She makes up her own songs, her own dances, her own plays.”
Though “The Wizard of Oz” doesn’t finish its local run until Sept. 25, the little girl is already asking her mom what she’ll get to do next.
“Now she wants to do commercials,” said Ottielie. “She’ll pick up things around the house and do a little bit. You hear her going, ‘This is Jasmine’s product. You can brush your teeth with it. It’ll also clean the carpet, and take it from me, Jasmine, it works.'”
If you would like to see little Jasmine in action, contact American Music Theatre for tickets and showtimes at (888) 455-7469, or visit the company online at www.amtsj.org. The theater’s box office, open 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday, is located with its administrative offices at 1717 Technology Dr. in San Jose. The play itself is being staged at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, located at 255 Almaden Blvd. in San Jose. Tickets are $46 to $73, and discounts are available for children and seniors.
