Whiz Kid: Leah Jacoby Shoots for an 'Easy Street' Path to Broadway

Leah Jacoby is a whiz at imagining the possibilities for a life on the Broadway stage, which renders her anything buy shy in asking for the chance to test her talents.

Long before the 14-year-old was a freshman at the magnet school program for the arts at Blake High School in Tampa, Jacoby dreamed of a life on stage, frequenting the community theater stage for just about any show that would cast her.

This time around the Brandon resident's playing a production role as well, with a choreography credit for a dance in this month’s Village Players production of “Annie,” on stage at the James McCabe Theater in Valrico.

Here's what she had to say about her latest role.

BRANDON PATCH: You're the choreographer for "Easy Street." How did that happen?

• JACOBY: I just kind of talked to Domin [Pazo, the director] and asked if I could help out with choreography. He said, "Sure!"

BRANDON PATCH: Tell me about the number. It's where Rooster and his girlfriend, Lily St. Regis, with Miss Hannigan's blessings, make plans to split the reward they hope to get for passing themseleves off as Annie's lost parents. Easy street, so to speak.

• JACOBY: It's about that place you want to get to, you know you're going to get there, and, yes, you almost have it, you can taste it.

BRANDON PATCH: How did the song affect your vision for the dance?

• JACOBY: The song has a playful feel. I wanted the characters to play around and have fun with it. The most important thing is to make sure the dance fits the mood.

BRANDON PATCH: How did you come up with the dance steps?

• JACOBY: I started with each character. I acted out each character's role and then the dance just kind of came to me.

BRANDON PATCH: What do you like most about the theater?

• JACOBY: Everything. Being on stage. I love acting, it's my favorite thing. Being a different character, being somebody else.

BRANDON PATCH: What makes a good actor?

• JACOBY: Dedication, hard work, a love for the stage, determination.

BRANDON PATCH: What's the hardest part about acting?

• JACOBY: Probably when you're acting out of character and it's something you've never been through before and you're just trying to find that emotion.

BRANDON PATCH: What's your life goal?

• JACOBY: I like performing and Broadway's the top. I'd love to be able to say, "Yeah, I was on Broadway."