Lucio Fernandez always loved growing up in Union City.
“I was the typical jock,” said Fernandez, who has been a professional actor and performer for 18 years and also owns an arts and crafts store, MeLu, along with his fiancee, Megan Smith, on Park Avenue in Weehawken. “I played all sports and that was my life. I never thought I would get into show business.”
However, Fernandez was discovered while dancing and received his first break as a performer on the television show, “Soap Factory Disco,” when he was just 15 years old.
“I was lucky,” Fernandez said. “I got a chance. But there are so many other local kids who never had a chance to reach their potential, because nothing was offered to them. There are a lot of kids who don’t have someone to guide them.”
Despite their already hectic schedule as performers – Fernandez currently has a recurring role on the ABC soap opera, “All My Children,” while Smith is a professional dancer, the Union City couple wanted to do something to help kids in the area learn more about the performing arts.
So Fernandez and Smith recently started the Grace Church Theater Workshop, a totally free activity for kids to learn the first stages of acting, dancing and singing, so that they could perhaps pursue a career in show business. Or, at the very least, learn theater techniques while having a little fun as well.
“As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to do something for the kids,” Fernandez said. “But I never had the time or the finances. One day, the pastor of the Grace Episcopal Church, Richard Lampert, came into our store and was talking to Megan and I about our careers. I told him about my hopes of wanting to do something to work with kids and he told me that we could use their auditorium.”
Added Fernandez, “I sat down with Megan and asked her if we could really do this. People said that we were crazy, because we don’t have a lot of free time as it is. But I wanted to do it for the kids. We had to give them something.”
When the program began a few months ago, there were only seven children attending the workshops. Now, there are 40. And the children come to the Grace Episcopal Church, on Park Avenue and 40th Street in Union City, three days a week after school – Tuesday is dance classes with Smith, Wednesday is voice and Thursday is acting – getting the chance to learn from professionals at no cost.
“It was pretty tough at first, because they all come with virtually no experience,” Smith said. “I’ve taught on a lot of different levels, but here, we’re starting at ground zero. But the kids are willing to come and learn. They really work hard and they want to always work at it. Although we’ve been hectic with our schedules, it’s been a lot of fun to see the talent develop.”
The kids are definitely having fun. Eleven-year-old Lynette Rodriguez of Union City, who attends Woodrow Wilson School, only joined the classes because her cousin told her about it.
“She kept telling me how much fun she was having, so I decided to take the classes,” Rodriguez said. “I never did anything like it before, but I always wanted to be an actress. Already, I’ve learned how to be professional and how to be motivated. I’ve learned about stage direction. It’s a lot more work than I thought, but it’s way better than what I thought it would be. I thought it might be a kiddie class, but it’s more professional and I love it.”
So does 14-year-old Belkis Severino, who is an eighth grader at Washington School in Union City.
“When I first started, I didn’t know much about acting,” Severino said. “But after the first and second class, I had some idea. Then I learned about dancing. I’m not a good singer. It’s easy to sing bad. Honestly, I always wanted to be an actress. Either an actress or a chemical engineer. I love the workshops.”
Recently, the students of the Grace Theater Workshop performed their first show, “Getting to Know You,” where they all sang and danced in front of a packed auditorium for the very first time.
“I felt great,” Rodriguez said. “Performing in front of an audience made me feel like I had accomplished something.”
It also thrilled the youngest of the performers, 7-year-old Ashley Carvajal, who attends Webster School in Weehawken.
“I was nervous a little, but I felt better when I hear people clap for us,” Carvajal said. “I loved it. It was fun, singing and dancing. I like dancing better. I also liked having my hair done.”
Little Ashley’s already on her way to stardom.
“We took a little bit of a gamble with Ashley, because we only wanted to start with kids 10 and up,” Fernandez said. “But she really wanted to do it. I saw her interest and she’s so cute. She was the type who would have a tough time saying her name, but she was up there, singing and dancing with everyone else.”
Fernandez has definitely been enthused by the work of one particular youngster, 13-year-old Jonathan Caban of Union City, who started off as a troublemaker.
“He’s your typical tough kid and he was so disruptive at first that I threw him out,” Fernandez said. “But then he came back and sneaked his way into a dance number, on a day when I wasn’t there. And now, he’s become dedicated and he’s quite good.”
The first show was just the start. Other productions are already in the works.
“The program is definitely growing,” Fernandez said. “We really feel like we’re doing something for the kids, even if it is for nine hours a week. It’s something.”
“It really is a good feeling,” Smith said. “You teach the kids something and a week later, they come back and they’re ready to go, obviously practicing it on their own. They’re all very excited about it. I’m really amazed with how well the kids did in the first show. It was a big accomplishment and we got a great response. It was a major undertaking, but seeing the kids keep coming back keeps us going.”
For further information about the Grace Theater Workshop, contact Fernandez or Smith at 583-9599 during business hours.