Even though Belinda Diaz-Perez is making her TGS stage debut, she’s no stranger to The Growing Stage. Belinda is a current member of the Board of Trustees and her children have performed and taken classes here. We recently sat down with Belinda to talk about being a part of The Growing Stage’s World Premiere new play, MADDIE & ELEANOR!
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am a teacher, children’s book author and animal enthusiast. I also love the arts, and performing is so much fun! My favorite role, however is that of a wife and mother.
Tell us about your role in Maddie & Eleanor.
I play Karen, Maddie’s mom. I love Karen because I feel a connection to her. I have a teenaged daughter that I adore, and I teach 4th grade, and so I feel that I understand the interactions between Karen and Maddie well.
Were you a fan of Eleanor Roosevelt prior to this production?
I have always been a very big Eleanor Roosevelt fan. I always highlight her with my students during Women’s History Month. I think she was an incredible human who was ahead of her time.
What can audiences expect from seeing Maddie & Eleanor?
This is such a special story, told in a way that is warm, witty, endearing and relevant. At its’ core is the friendship that develops between an unlikely pair. Maddie and Eleanor seamlessly weaves the past and the present together. I know everyone will love this story.
Do you have a favorite first lady? If so, who and why?
I have a few, but I would say that I connect with our current first lady because she’s an educator like me. I also deeply admire Michelle Obama for her intelligence, charm and grace.
What’s it like getting to work with this team at TGS?
I am thrilled to be in the company of such amazing talent!
Fill in the blank: Maddie & Eleanor is…
TIMELESS!
Don’t miss Belinda and the entire company of MADDIE & ELEANOR, February 3-18!
About Maddie & Eleanor:
When Maddie Leonard returns home after her first day in fourth grade, she is fed up with school-yard bullies and flaky ex-best friends. As she turns to her beloved iPhone for solace, she gets an unexpected surprise with a magical visit by Eleanor Roosevelt. As Maddie and Eleanor navigate their budding relationship through old and modern technologies, they inspire each other, laugh with one another, and discover a universal truth: friendship transcends everything.
