Leah Weingart
Playing to the Crowd
Leah Weingart likes to be the center of attention. A self-proclaimed drama queen, this singer has her sights set on Broadway and the heart to get there. Whether singing solo or in a chorus, she brings individuality, confidence and passion to the stage.
"I love attention," says Leah, a sophomore at George Washington High School. "You feel the light on you; you know everyone in the audience is looking at you. It's amazing to know you have such a captivated audience. They could be judging you, too, but that's all part of the rush of being a public figure."
Leah has a powerful presence about her that is just as prevalent in small talk as on stage. As she talks about her accomplishments and dreams, large brightly colored fish earrings dangle from her ears-a fitting compliment to her hot pink t-shirt and engaging energy. She likes really big jewelry and 1980s fashion because it compliments the brown curls that fall well below her shoulders.
She never considered herself a singer until five years ago when she auditioned for Winnie the Pooh . She was cast in the chorus and things took off from there; she's performed in four shows a year since then. Her first lead role was as Lucy in the Children's Theatre production of Narnia -only the third show of her career.
Her favorite part was a chorus member in Jesus Christ Superstar, because of her admiration for the show's lead actors including Ryan Hardiman. "I don't have a lot of pop star idols or teen idols. I like local talent," says Leah.
Singing gives her the ability to portray a character with her voice, which is why she wants to be a Broadway performer. She enjoys character acting and making different voices. Her "low gravely" voice, which she can belt relatively high, is close to a mezzo-soprano, she says. Her younger sister Rachael, 13, has performed in several shows alongside her.
"Vulnerability is what makes you a good singer. It is a lot of fun to do the escapism-the happy, light things-because it gets your mind off other things," says Leah, "and puts you in a happy mood until you go to bed."
In between shows she teaches herself guitar, explores Charleston taking pictures and hangs out with friends. While theatre brings some students out of their shells, Leah was always a hyper and gregarious child-a perfect fit for the limelight!
