Love for the stage came at early age

Chris Aranda, a 22-year-old English major, has been cast as the male love interest Gary Lejeune in the Little Theatre production of “Noises Off,” directed by Laurie Woolery.
As a child actor, Aranda discovered a love for the stage at an early age.

Q: How did you get started in acting?
A: It’s a funny story, actually. When I was 4, my grandmother received a call and I answered, pretending to be her. My parents heard me impersonating her, and they thought their child could possibly be an actor.  So they hired an agent and a manager, and I went from there.
As a child, I appeared in Bill Cosby’s show, “Kids Say the Darndest Things,” as well as various commercials. When I got to middle school, though, I quit working on film because it was affecting my time in school, and I wanted to focus more on my classes.

Q: What other productions have you done at Citrus?
A: I have been in “Rhinoceros,” “Joined at the Head,” “Anonymous,” “Julius Caesar,” “Grapes of Wrath,” “Lysistrata,” “Merry Wives of Windsor,” “Candy Cane Corners,” “You Can’t Take it With You,” and “Cartoon.”

Q: How have you prepared for your role in “Noises Off”? 
A: There are two parts to my answer. First, I’ve watched a lot of films with emphasis on physical comedy, such as “Three’s Company” and “Buster Keaton.” I’ve watched a lot of the late John Ritter’s work as well.  The second part of my preparations would be, as an actor, focusing on all of the ridiculousness and silliness in actual theater departments and how they prepare for productions. That’s where the true comedy exists.

Q: What do you like best about the play?
A: It truly depicts how ridiculous theater people can really be, myself included. It’s hilarious. There’s a part in the play where I fall down the stairs. That is the part I look forward to and dread the most.

Q:  Whom do you look to for inspiration?
A: Laurie Woolery, a director I have worked with many times. She gave me my break here, and she is overall a very artistic individual who is inspiring to work with. “Noises Off” will be my fifth production with her. Jeremy Lewis, who is the assistant director for “Noises Off,” has also been an inspiration to me, as well as my good friend Kevin Figueroa.

Q: Would you ever want to try directing or any other aspect of the production process?
A: Yes! I would love to direct a production here at Citrus. In fact, I’m hoping to direct the student-directed production next year. I would want to direct “Dog Sees God, Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead.” It’s a twisted take on the Peanut characters in which they are now older and in high school, facing the grimy situations of life.