By Marley Malenfant/reporter
Casey Holder/The Collegian
Students Monique and Monae Lott have performed in various plays and musicals on SE Campus.
For those having a hard time telling who is who, it’s because they’re twins.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree for the Lotts, both of whom are majoring in musical theater. The Lotts have acted for five years now but were originally business majors.
Zombie Prom, The Love of Three Oranges and, most recently, Crazy and a Half are some of the SE plays they were featured in. They are currently rehearsing for the musical Once Upon a Mattress. Both are playing ladies-in-waiting.
“Our first play was Dracula,” said Monique Lott. “I was a nun and Vixen Three, and Monae was a nurse and Vixen Four. We figured that if the role can be split into two parts, we’ll do that. We already established that if one of us gets the role, it’s cool.”
After graduating from high school, Monae Lott said they took two years off from school to work. Fed up with work, the Lotts decided to go back to school.
“I missed acting,” she said. “I wanted to get back into acting, and so I took an acting class. Then I wanted to audition for plays, and I have been in theater ever since.”
The Lotts said watching shows that had twin actors inspired them to pursue acting.
“When we used to watch Sister, Sister and Mary Kate and Ashley, that made me want to start acting,” said Monae Lott. “I’m like, ‘We could do our own show. I know we could.’”
Monae Lott said SE drama assistant professor John Dement has been supportive in the twins’ pursuit of acting.
“I like him as a teacher because he’s the one that got me into theater,” she said.
“I asked him when we can try out for a play, and he said, ‘You have to be in theater practicum in order to be in a play,’ and we were like OK. We stuck it out and actually had fun. He’s the whole reason why we’re both in theater now.”
SE student Stephanie Henry said she admires the Lotts when working in rehearsal.
“They’re awesome singers,” she said. “I’m good at acting, but I’m not as good as them.”
Monique Lott said actors must alter their personality to fit a role. She said it doesn’t matter how big the role is as long as it’s performed well.
“Even if you have a small part, you still rock that small part,” she said. “If you have a small part and you work it, you’re going to be remembered for that small part. It’s better to have a small role than to not be in the play at all.”
Monae Lott said her sister’s personality distinguishes who is who. She said she considers herself the kinder twin.
“A lot of people say Monique is meaner,” she said. “Boys would come up to me and be like ‘Your sister hit me.’ And I’m like, ‘Well, what did you do? You had to have done something for her to hit you.’”
Monae Lott said drama actors have it easy compared to musical actors.
“Musical theater you have to be a triple-threat. In regular theater, it’s all about acting,” she said. “If you want to make it in this business, you have to be a triple-threat.”
