A star is born! Or in this case, two stars. Five-year-olds Kensley Dibble of Temecula and Sloane Viora of Point Loma will alternate the role of Lulu in Broadway San Diego’s premiere of Waitress. The hit Broadway musical is based on the 2007 movie about Jenna, a kind-hearted mother, waitress, and expert pie-maker who is stuck in a painfully loveless marriage. Lulu is Jenna’s 3-year-old daughter.
The show was nominated for four Tony Awards and features songs by Sara Bareilles (“Love Song,” “Brave”), who joins an all-female creative team. For the San Diego stop on its national Broadway tour, the show’s directors sought to cast two local actresses to portray Lulu. Dibble and Viora auditioned against more than 50 young hopefuls to get the part. They will perform four shows each in the eight-show run.
San Diego Magazine caught up with these two pint-sized dynamos on the cusp of their professional big-stage debuts. Here’s what they had to say about breaking into showbiz and handling the pressures of stardom.
SDM: What is your favorite color?
SV: Yellow.
KD: Orange.
SDM: And what is your favorite food?
SV: Um… watermelon
KD: Sushi!
SDM: Sushi? Really?
KD: Yep. Sushi.
SDM: Do you have a favorite song?
SV: What did you say?
SDM: Do you have a favorite song?
SV: Um… “What is this feeling” from Wicked.
SDM: Kensley?
K: “Sugar, butter, flour.”
SDM: Is that from Waitress?
KD: Yeah.
SDM: Do you know all the music from the show?
KD: I’m trying.
SDM: How did you begin your theatrical careers?
SV: I went to Junior Theatre camp. I did a performance on Friday. I did accents, and I did singing. And dancing. I like singing the best.
KD: I started with a dance class. My mommy is a dance teacher.
SDM: Were you nervous during the audition?
BOTH: Um… a little bit.
SDM: Did you do anything special to work through the nerves?
SV: Everything was special.
SDM: But how do you handle the pressure?
KD: I give my mommy love and smile.
Meet the two youngest stars of Broadway SD’s ‘Waitress’
Charity Angel Dawson, Desi Oakley and Lenne Klingaman in Waitress | Photo courtesy of Broadway SD
SDM: What are you most looking forward to come showtime?
SV: Everything. Being Lulu.
KD: Being on the big stage with lots of people.
SDM: How are you handling your newfound fame?
SV: Good!
SDM: Do you know you’re kind of famous?
SV: Yeah…
KD: No.
SDM: What do you want to be when you grow up?
SV: A teacher.
SDM: And why is that?
SV: Because my mommy’s a teacher.
SDM: Kensely, what about you?
KD: A doctor.
SDM: For any particular reason?
KD: Because I help people that’s sick.
SDM: What advice do you have for other little girls who want to be in a Broadway show?
SV: Be in an audition, and say her line.
KD: Work hard.
See it!
November 27–December 2
San Diego Civic Theatre
Meet the two youngest stars of Broadway SD’s ‘Waitress’
Kensley Dibble (left) and Sloane Viora, starring in Waitress | Photo courtesy of Broadway SD
