'Fannie Lou' Musical

Cameron Draper has been performing onstage since middle school. One of his earliest roles was as one of the von Trapp kids in The Sound of Music at the age
of 11.

“I thought it was something I wanted to try,” said Cameron. He quickly became hooked.

“I love everything about the theater. Performing, being in front of an audience, every part of it.”

So much so, in fact, that he pursued it in college. Cameron came from Massachusetts to New York to attend Hofstra University, where he earned a dual bachelor’s degree in drama and public relations. After graduation, while going on auditions for acting roles, he was able to support himself by doing press and other duties for marketing companies.

A favorite role he’s performed in New York is Frederic from The Pirates of Penzance.

“It’s a great singing role,” said Cameron, who performed the part two years ago. However, he prefers straight plays to acting, “just because I can’t dance,” he quipped.

Dancing won’t be a problem for Cameron in the Oct. 1 Yale performance of “Scenes and Songs from Fannie Lou: Celebrating the 100^th Anniversay of the Birth of a Voting Rights Heroine.” It is a concert-format production, with no dancing required.

However, Cameron has gradually taken on more and acting responsibility since he beat out several other actors  for an ensemble role in “Scenes and Songs from Fannie Lou” last year. That

ensemble part soon expanded to include a featured, though nonspeaking, role in a couple of scenes. For this year’s anniversary production on Oct. 1, Cameron also adds a speaking part – he’ll play the role of the Reporter.

Cameron said he originally auditioned for “Scenes and Songs from Fannie Lou” because he was drawn to the story of Fannie Lou Hamer’s voting rights struggle.

“For me, it was very much the whole premise of her story,” he said. “And it’s so timely today. I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Cameron classifies himself as “more of a dramatic actor.” Among actors whose work he especially admires are Daniel Day Lewis and Meryl Streep.

“They’re my two main inspirations,” he said. “I like their ability to transform into whatever they need to be for each role.”

In addition to performing, Cameron also has gotten his feet wet as a director. That could open another theatrical avenue for Cameron, who sees himself “still working in theater” five to 10 years from now.