To be on stage, acting a character you admire is one of the greatest honors an actress could have. Lucy Padilla, a senior at Mt SAC Early College Academy (MECA), has had such an opportunity, landing herself a role as the lead heroine in the play Newsies. Her story does not only end there, however, nor does it begin there, as this kind of success has found her throughout her four years at MECA.
As a freshman, Lucy was a very shy person, keeping to herself and only hanging out with those she knew personally, like her sister and her sister’s friends.
“I was really shy because it was a new school and I was just a freshman who knew no one, but now in my senior year, I’ve gotten used to talking to people,” said Lucy. “My freshman year was very different compared to my senior year. I was a lot more closed off, and I felt really shy. I didn’t talk to anyone except my sisters and her friends…I started opening up later in my freshman year, and started making friends then.”
With her improving her social skills and determination to overcome her shyness, she also started to work on what mattered to her, namely her dreams of being onstage.
Back in her 7th-grade year, Lucy began to dream of being on stage, acting out different characters. Some actresses she looked up to were Julie Andrews, who played the character Mary Poppins, and Rachel Zegler, a popular actor. Watching these inspirations sparked a fire within her, thus marking the start of her passion to act onstage, just like her idols.
One of the most recent plays she had participated in was “Newsies,” a play based on the 1992 film and the real-life 1899 Newsboys Strike in New York City. Lucy was given the lead heroine role of Katherine Plumber, and she had acted the role with everything she had. Lucy stated, “I really enjoyed playing the main female role, who is Katherine Plumber. It was fun reading about her character as the young woman who wants both genders to be treated equally… I had a great time acting alongside my friends.”
Lucy’s love for plays doesn’t just end in acting, as she also strives to direct not just plays, but movies, too. Currently, Lucy works two separate jobs in the same place, as the desk receptionist for her studio and as an assistant director.
As an assistant director, she currently prepares to help direct her first play, “Shrek The Musical.”
“As the desk receptionist, I usually help kids apply to join plays or schedule practice for them. It’s great to see them smile and thank me when I finish helping them out,” said Lucy. “Being an assistant director… first performing in plays and now being able to help direct one, it’s really cool. I enjoy doing it, and it’s overall a great job I enjoy doing.”
Being and helping with musicals and plays is just one of many of Lucy’s hobbies. Another hobby she enjoys is playing video games alongside her friends. One way she does this is by being on the Valorant Esports team with her friends.
Mia Romo, a senior at MECA and the Valorant team captain, said, “Lucy is a great friend who is funny, energetic, and overall super cool. Whenever we are playing a match, even if we are losing, she can turn the energy up, putting a smile on the whole team’s face.”
“She is very nice. When I first met her, she was very welcoming and kind to the new players. She makes everyone feel included and makes sure everyone gets a chance to have fun,” added Kyle Cao, a sophomore.
With all that Lucy has done throughout her high school years, she continues to push forward, striving to be as kind and as hardworking as possible. The more she works alongside her friends and partners—not only in her career as an actor, but with those she has created a bond with—the further she will go in her future.
