Three Prelude Alumni Take Center Stage Together
How MacPhail’s Prelude: Singer-Actor Lab shaped three rising Twin Cities theater performers—and brought them full-circle onstage
This December, Theater Latté Da’s acclaimed My Fair Lady features a remarkable reunion: three MacPhail Prelude program alumni—Anna Hashizume, Felix Aguilar Tomlinson, and Kiko Laureano—all starring in the same production.
The three first trained together as teenagers in MacPhail’s Prelude: Singer–Actor Lab, an intensive pre-college program that develops young performers through rigorous weekly coaching, performance labs, and a supportive cohort of peers. Designed to prepare high school musicians for college-level music and theater study, Prelude is known for producing thoughtful, fearless young artists who go on to thrive on stages across the country.
Fifteen years after meeting in MacPhail’s studios, these three alumni—now professional singer-actors—are stepping onto the same stage once again. Their full-circle reunion is a powerful testament to what arts education makes possible: lifelong artistry, meaningful community, and young people discovering who they are through music.
Below, they share reflections on My Fair Lady, their journeys, and how Prelude shaped them as artists and as people.
Q: Tell us about this production of My Fair Lady. What makes it special?
Felix:
“It’s a really awesome show about language, identity, the way we bump into the world around us simply through how we speak and express ourselves… It’s been a real joy to do this with friends from so many different backgrounds and to embrace the space we take up and who we are.”
Kiko:
“There’s so much about how we’re perceived in the outside world versus how we identify internally… And doing an ensemble track, I get to explore all of those things back and forth.”
Q: What has it meant to perform this show together?
Felix:
“To be sharing the stage with the Prelude squad—folks where we all met back in 2009—is incredible. I’ve never gotten to do a show with Kiko before, and getting to work together after 14 or 15 years is amazing.”
Anna:
“It’s so special to have met people at such a formative time in your life when you had no idea who you were, and then suddenly you’re adults and professionals doing the thing you set out to do in high school—together.”
Kiko:
“I have known them since their most awkward possible phases… Seeing them now as artists is such a blessing. And this is my first time working with Felix as an artist. We’re having such a blast.”
Q: How did Prelude influence your path as a performer?
Anna:
“Prelude taught me how to audition, how to take criticism, and how to perform consistently even when it’s not perfect. Without Prelude, I wouldn’t have been so fearless in college or taken so many leaps.”
Kiko:
“I didn’t even know that majoring in musical theater or opera was an option until high school… The reason I’m good at what I do today is because of Prelude. We had great teachers who helped build the muscles we use in every aspect of our careers.”
Felix:
“Prelude was the magical door-to-Oz moment where I realized: singing isn’t just something I do under blankets so no one hears me—it’s something I can do in front of people. Being seen, being vulnerable, and knowing you’ll be supported… that’s an invaluable foundation.”
Q: What’s one lesson from Prelude you still use today?
Felix:
“How to not be afraid to make a big choice. They asked us to try things different ways without overthinking. That taught us to find the truth behind what we’re singing.”
Anna:
“Discipline. Routine. The ability to perform every week and not crumble if it wasn’t perfect. That translated directly to college—and now to professional work.”
Q: Why does arts education (and programs like Prelude) matter?
Felix:
“Arts and music education teaches kids—especially those who might not have a lot of opportunity—that they have a voice, a point of view, and something important to say. And that it deserves to be heard.”
Anna:
“Prelude gave me the space to learn who I was, to build confidence, and to know when I was ready. That’s a priceless gift.”
Seeing Anna, Felix, and Kiko together onstage is more than a reunion—it’s a portrait of the impact of MacPhail’s mission. It’s a true testament to the power of mentorship, community, and what’s possible for a young musician when someone nurtures in their potential.
Their performances in My Fair Lady honor the roots they planted at MacPhail and show how those roots continue to grow, intertwine, and flourish.
Congratulations to Anna, Felix, and Kiko—and to the Prelude program that helped shape their journey.