Actor Spotlight
Dallas girl Emily Lockhart dishes about Crazy for You and cinnamon crack cookies
If you've seen a show in Dallas, you've probably seen Emily Lockhart. It was hard to miss the busy actress when she lived here, appearing as everyone from budding ingenue Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street at Garland Summer Musicals to coke-addled call girl Kate in Uptown Players' The Wild Party.
Recently Lockhart returned to her hometown from a stint in New York City, earning raves for her title performance in Dallas Children's Theater's Pinkalicious this past September. Now she's appearing as the spunky Polly Baker in Theatre Three's Crazy for You, where she gets to sing some of the most beloved tunes in musical history: "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Embraceable You," and "But Not For Me," to name a few.
Lockhart took the time to fill out our survey of serious, fun and sometimes ridiculous questions.
“I was torn between the dance world and musical theater, but ultimately I was more satisfied with the challenges of musical theater,” Lockhart says.
Full name: Emily Lockhart
Role in Crazy For You: Polly Baker
Previous work in Dallas-Fort Worth: Oh, boy. It’s pretty extensive since I’ve been doing theater in DFW since high school (minus the years I was away performing out of state). Locally I’ve been fortunate enough to work with Casa Mañana, Uptown Players, WaterTower Theater, Dallas Children’s Theater, Plano Repertory Theater (there’s a throwback), Garland Civic Theater, Garland Summer Musicals, Flower Mound Performing Arts Theater, McKinney Summer Musicals, Frisco Community Theater, Metro Players (another throwback) and now Theatre Three. I also worked as a choreographer with Quad C, Richland College, numerous high schools and several local theaters.
Hometown: Big D!
Where you currently reside: I just moved back home to Dallas this July, and I’m thrilled to be back.
First theater role: The dancing role of Eva in The King and I with Garland Summer Musicals. It was the summer prior to my freshman year of high school. I had to dye my hair black for the show, but the dye turned my hair green instead. I had to use hair spray paint before every show to actually make it black.
First stage show you ever saw: Not exactly sure, but the first musical I remember seeing was A Chorus Line. The tour came through Fair Park, and I fell in love. A Chorus Line is still one of my favorites. Here’s a bit of trivia: Michael Serrecchia, director of Crazy For You, was in the original cast of A Chorus Line.
Moment you decided to pursue acting: I grew up dancing; started taking lessons at 3, I think. Dance is my first love. I was hardcore. I was in dance class seven days a week and attended practically every dance competition possible when I was younger.
“I’m a bit of a homebody. I knit and crochet; I just finished a scarf and a toy hippo,” Lockhart says. “And I love to bake from scratch.”
After The King and I, I continued to audition for local musicals and I found my voice. I still loved dance, but discovered that I wanted to not only dance but sing and act too. I was very active in the dance department at Booker T. Washington High Sschool for Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas.
I was torn between the dance world and musical theater, but ultimately I was more satisfied with the challenges of musical theater.
Most challenging role you’ve played: Landslide vote: Kate in Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party. The music for the role is daunting in itself, but the character is far beyond my wheelhouse. It’s not only my most challenging role, but my favorite role I’ve ever performed. I was so thankful that Uptown Players and all those involved believed in me to take on the challenge.
Special skills: I’m a bit of an old-fashioned homebody. I knit and crochet; I just finished a scarf and a toy hippo this weekend. I love to bake from scratch. The Crazy cast has gotten to partake of some of my goodies.
My boyfriend aptly named one of my specialties “Triple C: cinnamon crack cookies.” They’re cinnamon roll cookies, and it’s hard to eat just one. Oh, and I can also tap dance while jumping rope.
Favorite movie(s): Anything with Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire dancing. On the opposite side of the spectrum, I’m a big fan of action films and “guy flicks.”
Favorite musician(s): I can never get enough of Amos Lee. I have always loved the Rat Pack; I’m a big fan of that era and Frank Sinatra.
Favorite song: Amos Lee’s “Violin.”
Dream role: Val in A Chorus Line.
“I have always loved the Rat Pack,” Lockhart says. “I’m a big fan of that era and Frank Sinatra.”
Favorite food: Scrambled eggs. Honestly — they’re healthy, full of protein and cheap.
Favorite TV show(s): Dexter, How I Met Your Mother, Modern Family and — an old favorite — Frasier.
Something most people don’t know about you: I’m a Christmas baby. Born December 25 around 2 pm.
Place in the world you’d most like to visit: I’ve been fortunate enough to travel the world with my performing career. I definitely want to go back to New Zealand, and I can never get enough of the Mediterranean.
Pre-show warm-up: It’s pretty standard. My Mini Cooper is my vocal studio, and I use my drive time to Theatre Three to vocally warm up and sing through some songs in the show. Once I get to the theater, I stretch and warm up my body, then do a little jogging in place to get the energy flowing.
Favorite part about your current role: Singing the music of George and Ira Gershwin.
Most challenging part about your current role: Singing the music of George and Ira Gershwin.
Favorite post-show spot: Home with my boyfriend and adorable dog, Roxie. I told you I was a homebody.
Favorite thing about Dallas-Forth Worth: My family, and the family of friends I’ve gained over the years in the DFW arts community.
Most memorable theater moment: It’s a bit cheesy but true. I worked on Disney Cruise Line several years ago. I played a young girl that dreamed to fly and was visited by cherished Disney princesses and characters during her journey. Finally, at the end of the show, she flies and during the “take-off,” the music swells and Tinkerbell lights the entire theater up with “stars.”
I remember that exact moment the first time I performed that role, there’s an audible gasp in the audience, and all the kids start going wild. I never had to “act” that moment. It was truly magical. Disney knows how to produce magic.
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Crazy for You runs November 15-December 15 at Theatre Three.
