Theatre is not just in Jennifer Hope Wills' blood.
It's in every fibre of her being.
When the touring production of The Phantom of The Opera opens its month-long run at the Jubilee Auditorium Thursday, Wills will be playing the young opera singer who captures the phantom's heart at six of the eight performances each week.
It's a piece of casting that has made her father both proud and happy.
"Phantom is my father's favourite musical. When I was growing up, he would take the whole family up to New York to see it periodically," says Wills, who was born and raised in Maryland.
"We'd stand in line to get the special $15 seats. When I was cast as Christine in the current Broadway version of Phantom earlier this year, it was almost as big a deal for him as it was for me."
Wills' parents ran a theatre company in Ocean City for more than 20 years.
"My brother, sister and I grew up acting in children's theatre shows and eventually alongside my parents.
"I actually thought about becoming a history teacher instead of an actor, but I changed those plans after two years at college."
Upon graduating from theatre school, Wills packed her bags and headed for New York.
Within a year, she was cast in the Disney production of Beauty and the Beast as the understudy for the lead character, Belle.
A few months later, she was cast as Brooke Shields' sister in the revival of the musical Wonderful Town.
"I was so nervous at the thought of meeting her. I used to play with her Barbie doll."
Wills' fears were instantly put to rest the moment she walked into the rehearsal hall.
"She was there in sweat pants, no makeup and her hair in a ponytail. From that first moment, she was just Brooke. She was a fantastic co-star for the four months our show ran."
As fond as her memories of two months in Phantom and four in Wonderful Town may be, her four months in Beauty and the Beast hold a special place in Wills' heart.
It was during her run on this musical she met her husband of three months.
"He's a special effects and makeup specialist. He was in charge of the Beast's makeup. The only downside of joining the North American tour of Phantom is that I have to leave my husband back in New York."
Wills says in her performances as Christine, she tries to bring out the singer's youthfulness.
"Christine has to be young and naive to explain why she gives herself over to the phantom. A more mature, experienced woman would never do that.
"It also makes her part of the story more tragic."
Wills says she is grateful the tour has cast an alternate Christine so she can rest between performances.
"The part is very demanding. If she's not on stage, she's changing costumes. As a singer, you need the break this kind of dual casting gives you."
Wills is the first to admit her career has had an incredible beginning and she's hoping it will be as enduring as those of her parents.
"My mom and dad are touring the country with a show they created called Presidents and Their First Ladies.
"Their love for theatre is as strong as their love for each other so they are my inspiration both for my career and my personal life."
FACTS ABOUT THE TOURING PRODUCTION OF PHANTOM:
Cost of mounting the tour: $10 million US
Weekly running cost: $610,000 US
Semi-trucks to transport show: 20
Number of performers: 36
Number of crew members: 97
Orchestra members: 17
Costumes worn: 230
Cost of costumes: $1.5 million US
Wigs and hair pieces: 185
Weight of the chandelier: 454 kilograms
