Video: Meet the Jimmys-Bound Winners of the 2024 Roger Rees Awards

Hi, I'm Gianna Longo, and I'm the 2024 Roger Rees Award student reporter

I'm so excited to be talking today with Ashley Fukarino and Isaiah Bastin

the two outstanding Performer Award winners for the Roger Rees Awards. Let's see what they had to say

All right. Hi, guys. I'm so excited. Hey, Gianna. Yes, thank you for having us

Of course. Okay, so getting right to it, fleshing back now to Sunday

beginning with the finalist stage, how did it feel to be announced as one of the 12 finalists

Do you want to go first? Yeah, sure. I think especially after Saturday with the coachings, I think getting to see everybody individually perform and as individual artists, I think that seeing really how talented everybody was and how much of a gift it was to be there

Yes, obviously being a finalist was the goal for all of us

But I think that it grounded us a lot more to have really seen the talent that everybody brought

And I think that being a finalist, I was just so grateful to be there

Like that moment was so special to get to be able to sing my song one more time and for all those people

So that was really great for me. Yeah. And kind of like Ashley said, after my coaching, like I was kind of just like shocked to be around so many people that were so good

And just my coaching went really well. Like I just felt like my performance was way more elevated than it was when I came in

And so, I mean, my name, I was the last boy to be called

There were two more spots. So I kind of, like, was scared

But when I heard my name, I freaked out because I don't know if it's just me

But, like, when you're, like, in a competition like this, I, like, I want to enjoy, like

the experience more than paying attention to the competition aspect. so like I convinced myself that under no circumstance could it have been me just to avoid like

disappointment and to just be present. So it was kind of just like an out of body experience

It was awesome. And one other thing that I like to add, I remember I was called forth and I remember they said

Jack Segley, Hannah Evans. And I was like, oh, shoot. Like this is alphabetical

I was like, if I'm picked like I will be next. And then they said William Herbert

And I was like, oh, shoot. like I'm done like this was a night this was nice and then they called me next and I was like

oh like even they like played with us it was yeah yes and it's so great that both of you brought up

coaching over the weekend because that actually leads to my next question which is how had you

been preparing your solo during the workshop weekend in order to be performance ready so if you

just want to explain how the workshop worked well my coaching group what happened was everyone was

called up to do their solo first and they did it once and

Britney Mac she gave us all like notes things to think about and instead

of making us just apply it right away she let us go back and sit down and then she worked backwards

and so I went second because my last name is with the B and so I kind of

I kind of just went up she gave me notes and I

kind of sat down for a while. But I found that I wasn't really preparing

like for my solo, if that makes sense. I was kind of just like enamored with how she was working with these people

So like she gave me notes and they were in the back of my head. But I was like kind of glued to what she was doing

And so after like I watched her work with all these people and seen

seeing all these people have like breakthroughs and their performance, when it was time for me to go back up

Like I just, it felt like. a completely different kind of thing. And then I kind of just left it alone. I was

I mean, like, that was what I had. I was proud of what I did before and after the coaching

And so that was really my only preparation. I just, I just wanted to, I wanted the coaching more

than the finalist, I guess, if that makes sense. My coach, I had Shannon. Our coaching group worked a little different. We

all went up individually and we got coached on the spot and most of us got to do our song again

So we did it once and then we got our feedback and then her and Isaac, the music director

they both gave us notes and then we got the opportunity to do it again

I went pretty early in my group. I got to watch two people perform before me and then I went

But like Isaiah said, getting to see everybody, I was just so locked in

And like trying to take in not only the feedback that she was giving me, but the feedback

that she was giving others and then trying to like apply that to my performance before

I even went up. And I, it was just such a great experience because I think that the Roger Race Awards being

an educational targeted to be like an educational thing just like all of the regional awards programs for the jimmies I think that the workshop day we had so many like takeaways from that

Everybody got to learn something and grow. And I think that was something that was really special

And it was also like nice that we had rehearsal the day before because then like the coaching

like you were surrounded by people you already knew it felt a lot more. Person was a lot easier to like just like give your full

tension. So you just both talked about preparing your solos over the weekend and then we had just

talked about being a finalist. So combining those two things, what was it like performing your solo

for the judges at the showcase? I think that all of the finalists could probably agree with

the fact that I think we all took what we were given, took the work that we had done previously

on our shows that we had worked so hard on and then taken the work that we did in the work that we did

in the workshops and then kind of just combined it all and then left it all out there

I think that all of us collectively like walked off that stage feeling good

And I think that that was something that was so great. And everybody was so supportive of each other

Every single person came off stage and everyone was like hugging them

It was something that was it was so, so special. Like I can't even articulate it

But yeah, I felt like that there was nothing that I could have done better

And when, before they had announced the winner, I was like, you know what

Like, I know that I did all that I can do and whatever happens happens. So I think that that was really special for me to have felt like that because I'm often like very hard on myself

Like, everyone says like you're your own worst critic. Like I'm like crazy like that

But I think that to have walked off feeling so good and I think everybody felt that way, I think that was something that was really great

life more and more hamster as I go through alive just to play the game and to pursue

alive just to share pleasures and belong that's what I've been here for all over

long. Each day is a brand new life

I personally went on and I blacked out. Like, yes, like the things that were going on, the things, the notes that I got during my coaching were like going through my brain and

Like, there was just like a lot of things going on my brain. But like being in the space that we were in, I've never performed like in a space with a mezzanine before

And it was just so like, it was like incredible just having the opportunity to perform for like such a big audience

And so I just I just took it all in. And in doing that, I kind of just like blacked out when on autopilot

because it's just like it's the greatest feeling the world. And like Ashley said, as soon as you walk off, like, all of all the other finalists

like, it was like, it was like a party. Like, I think once we all, like, found out that we were finalists, like, that's when

the competition aspect, like, completely dissolved. Like, nobody cared at that point

We were just, like, so grateful and excited to be able to perform what we had been working on

small and skinny clawless furless finless fangless let there be men who can wander over my

flaxen plains wonder up at my granted mountains count the stars and wish for wings and hold a tool

and think of things and search for answers he cannot see and worship me

let there be let there be let there be So then after you performed your solos

you guys, everybody came back on stage and the winners were announced. What was going through your heads

when you were announced as the outstanding performer winners? everything and nothing at the same time

I was kind of just like, what? Like, this is like a little, like, a backstory

When I found out that my school show was Children of Eden, I was like, what is that

Like, I, and, like, rehearsing it. It was just like kind of weird because everybody imagines like their senior show being like their favorite musical that they get to do But I was just like I owe my director an apology

Like he picked a really good show and I became a lot more grateful for the material that, yeah, a lot more grateful for the material

With my show, I did Jekyll and Hyde. and that's one of my favorite shows of all time

So my experience with that was like a little different. But when we were announced as the winners

I actually think I blacked out during that. I like couldn't tell you what was happening

It all happened so fast. But it was just so crazy because the jimmies have been something that ever since fifth grade

like I was like, oh, I want to do that. I was in fifth grade when Andrew Barth-Feldman won

And I like remember the moment. where my mom called me downstairs and she was like, oh, this kid from Long Island just won this

like national musical theater thing. Like, do you know what this is? And I was like, no. And we watched

his solo, his finalist performance. And then that's when it started. Like, YouTube, every single

performance. Like, I can tell you every character medley. And that's like where it really started for me

So to even like attend the Rodriguez Awards and then like be like, I'm here and like I can have

I have a shot to be there. I was just so grateful to have had that experience

And then to be a finalist, it was like, oh, my God, like what? And then to have won that the feeling was just like out of this world

So I'm super grateful. And like I said before, like I convinced myself that under no circumstance would I even come close to winning because I just wanted to be able to like be present

And so it was kind of just like, I just won. What do I do now

Like, we're going to the jimmies. Like, this is incredible. I was just so grateful to even have the opportunity

because there are so many schools out there and so many kids who are like just as talented

if not more. And they just like don't have the opportunity to participate in the regional arts program like that

So I just like, it was an honor. And I was just really like grateful

and like fifth grade Isaiah like he was he's he's doing like a happy dance

Oh. So speaking of what do you do now? What are your next steps in preparing for the Jimmy Awards

Um, we got this like 50 page packet like the day after. We did

We did. And like just we had to make so many decisions so quickly

Like what are we going to sing? Like, um, and like just it was it was a lot

But like I mean like there. so many people who would like wish they had this problem and they wish they were stressed

because they're filling out a packet for the Jimmy. So I just have to remind myself that

But now we just have to like just like make sure like my songs and everything are like really

in my body and like get ready to like meet all these new kids and just like enjoy it

Yeah. Like Isaiah said, the turnaround time was so quick. We got this 50 page packet and everything

had to be done in like five days. Like there was no calm down time. And I also had to keep reminding

myself like people wish they had this problem. Like I'm stressed, but like I can't complain. I can't

complain. Like I'm going to the jimmies. But yeah, I think going into it, I think that one of the most

important things is to be, I think that confidence is really important to like be like I earn my spot to be here

to go in knowing your abilities and knowing that you can do what you can do

And I'm just grateful to be going. Yes, that's so awesome. So kind of moving away from the whole performance aspect of it and going a little more behind the scenes

Who or what has propelled you to be the performers that you are today? I would say just any director I've ever had

Like, I know that's like, like a pretty broad answer, but like, I don't know

Like, I didn't figure out how to act by myself. Like, I've always had like just like a director

And I'm like really grateful that like from a young age, I had like directors that took like a really more hands-on approach instead of just like letting me like run wild

I feel like a lot of the basics were like instilled in me. from when I was really young

and just like as I got older and worked with more and more directors

like I always I always like have more stuff to work on

I've never like worked with the director that's just like oh it's good so any director I've ever had

has really just like always kept me pushing always like always push me

to strive towards my most honest performance I would definitely say that all my educators my coaches my teachers all pushed me to be

like the best that I can be and I'm really, really grateful for that. But also my mom was the one who got me into theater

She was a performer herself. And she's always been like my number one fan

So I think that if anybody, I really have to thank her. Yeah

Yeah, my mom, like, when I told her, I, it was like literally a random night

I was like, mom, I want to do theater, like, professionally. Like, like, please

And she didn't ask any questions. She was just like, if this is what you want to do, I guess so

And, like, since that day, she has supported me through any, any, like, theater company

I'm like, oh, look, what show they're doing. I want to do this. She'll be like, all right. So, like, my mom has really, like, just always made sure that I have the opportunity

to be in a space where I will grow. So I also like my mom

Yeah, that's really great that you both have such strong support systems at home and outside of it as well

So my next question for you is what advice do you have for aspiring performers who hope to be on the Rogerries or Jimmy Award in stages one day

I would say if you're there to win, you're there for the wrong reason. I personally feel like the most fun part of the Roger Reese weekend is just the rehearsal

especially because since like the greater New York area is only so big

So like it was honestly just like a convention with like all of my friends from like all over

And it's just like really great to like finally be in the same room and like performing the same thing as like friends that you don't like always do shows with and stuff like that

And just like meeting new people who like you might be going to college with or who you'll just, you never know who you'll

run into in the industry again. So my advice would be make friends and just just like calm down

You're at like you're at a, you're at a theater convention. Like don't make it, don't make it like competitive or anything

You know what I mean? I agree with everything that Isaiah said

I think that the most important advice to give is to like always lead with gratitude and be

genuine because you never know who you're going to meet. Like Isaiah said, you never know who you're in

the room with. And everybody always jokes on Long Island. Like everybody on Long Island theater

knows everybody. Like everybody just does. That's just how it is. And I think that you have to just

be a nice person. I think that that's the biggest thing. Because then if people know you and know that

you're nice and that you're good to work with, I think that that can go a long way. And also just being

grateful to be there. After getting to experience the Rodriguez Awards, I would also definitely say

that the rehearsals were like the best part and getting to just be in that room and be

be surrounded with all these talented high school students who are like the future of the industry

like the people that hopefully we're going to be working with one day. I think that that was really, really special. And yeah. I love that. And finally, what are you both most excited for in

regard to the Jimmy Awards. Yeah, I don't know. Is everything a bad answer? I think I'm just excited to

go. I think I'm excited to meet people. I think that that's something I'm the most excited for

I'm excited to get to meet people that want to do the same thing that I want to do. And I think that

a common interest like that really does bring people together, especially in theater, something

that's so intimate. And we're going to be together for 10 straight days

like the whole day. So I think that the connections that we're going to build

and the people that we're going to get to work with, that's something that I'm super, super excited for

And I'm excited for all of those things. I'm also really excited to like rehearse all the group numbers and everything

because I just like, just from seeing the jimmies in the past

like everyone being there having to win their regional arts program, like it sounds incredible

And just being in a room. with like I'm just excited for like the energy that everyone brings I mean like this is this is like

the canon event for like all theater kids and I'm just like so I'm still processing but I just like

just one thing that has always that I've felt since winning the Rogerries is grateful I'm just so

grateful to be able to go and be able to just like represent New York um so

going to be a great time. I don't really know what to expect, but I just know, like, they're going to

take care of us, and it's going to be fun. Yes, Long Island for the win on this one. Yes

Yes. Thank you so much. And to both of you, congratulations. And I will be 100% keeping up at your

Jimmy Awards journey. And I can't wait to see what happens for the both of you next. Thank you

This was so fun. Thank you for having us. Yes, thank you for having us