Why Originators Matter: The Artistic Weight of Creating a Role from Scratch

Savanna La Selva is a true originator. In the theater world, this means she is the first actor to take on a particular role in a production and develop the character from scratch with the creative team. As an originator, she can create a definitive depiction of the character, establishing a template for all the actors who will follow her in that role. La Selva has also been lucky enough to work with extremely talented writers and directors who have allowed her to have true creative freedom in her work.

“Originating roles in theatre has been the highlight of my career and life in New York City. Portraying a real woman, Jacqueline Roque, in a play about Pablo Picasso’s life at the New York City Fringe Festival was truly the experience of a lifetime. It was the first time I had been tasked with playing a real person, and it taught me how much care and dedication it takes to bring a real person to life on stage. I also originated the role of Venus in SYZYGY: A New Musical, a show that means so much to me. I’m very passionate about originating new works,” La Selva says.

Support On The Stage

La Selva attributes her passion for music and the arts to the influences of her father. She recalls that some of her earliest memories involve being in the car with her dad, listening to his favorite songs. Through him, she learned to appreciate music in a way that most kids her age did not.

Her family also supported her personal musical aspirations, recognizing her talent at a young age. By the age of 12, she could play a multitude of instruments. Her parents also had her take singing lessons every week by the time she was only eight years old.

Despite the lack of a creative environment at her high school and discouraging comments from teachers, La Selva was able to harness the support of her family to start acting in plays and musicals at the age of sixteen. It was only through their support that she had the courage to audition to attend college at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, one of the most prestigious performing arts schools in the world, and was accepted.

“I moved to New York City from Canada to pursue musical theater even though almost all of my high school teachers advised against it, telling me I needed to go to school somewhere closer to home and pursue a ‘more realistic dream,’” La Selva shares.

Originating New Roles

La Selva has utilized her talent and artistic skills in crafting original roles on the stage. It’s a process she enjoys as she collaborates with the writer and director in shaping a new character that audiences can experience for the first time ever. People outside the theater world often don’t understand the importance of this process and its profound influence on the final role. Originators aren’t just actors on the stage, but vital contributors to the final production.

La Selva’s journey hasn’t been without challenges, and she has advice for those entering the industry who may be struggling with these obstacles, both internal and external.

“I would say that once you start to focus on yourself and your work, that is when you will be rewarded the most. There is no reason why we should focus on our losses more than our wins, but as actors, we all tend to be a little bit negative in our view of ourselves. If you can focus on how far you’ve come and feel pride in the work you do, you’ll probably be a lot happier even when failure inevitably does come along,” she says.

Savanna La Selva will continue to make her mark as an originator for the stage as she keeps her eye on her long-term goals.

“My ultimate goal is to be on Broadway,” she says. And if history is any guide, it won’t just be a role she is cast in; it will likely be one she builds from scratch.