“I was able to play one of my dream roles,” said Elora Rosch, who goes by Elora Von Rosch when she’s on stage. “It was definitely a hell of a role to play.”
The role the Farmingdale native speaks of is Aldonza, the lead female in Hampton Theater Company’s recent production of Man of La Mancha—based on Miguel de Cervantes’ literary masterpiece Don Quixote. Rosch portrays the 16th-century prostitute, a woman who is used to being taken advantage of, beaten and serving others.
While the role was taxing both physically and emotionally based on Aldonza’s troubled life, Rosch settled into the part with ease as she worked alongside Matthew Conlon, who played the role of Miguel de Cervantes/Don Quixote.
“It makes your job easier when you have an amazing actor to work with,” said Rosch of Conlon’s company on stage. “Working with him was like a master class in acting.”
The production ran from March 21 to April 7, and Rosch credits it as being one of the hardest roles in musical theater to sing. With vocals ranging all across the board, copious amounts of tea, honey and apple cider vinegar were consumed to keep Rosch’s voice in tip-top shape, but it’s more likely that her years of classical vocal training are what saw her through each show with the professionalism that she expects from herself.
“I’ve always wanted a challenge,” she explained. “That’s always how I operate. What can I do to get there to be able to do that?”
Prior to her role in Man of La Mancha, the rising star finished up a year-long European tour as a lead performer on Viking Ocean Cruises in 2018. Other credits include Law and Order SVU, Law and Order Criminal Intent, Sex and the City, American Girl Revue and Fantine in Broadhollow Theatre Company’s production of Les Miserables.
Rosch earned her bachelor’s degree in theatre from Boston Conservatory, but her passion for singing and acting began long before stepping foot on the Massachusetts campus.
“I’ve been performing, acting, singing, dancing since I was 4 years old,” said Rosch, who took her first acting class at age 6 and her first voice lesson at age 9. “I felt like I was a natural at theater. This is something that came so natural to me.”
Belting out Celine Dion and Whitney Houston tunes when she was just a child led her parents to the conclusion that their daughter had something special, and thus supported Rosch in making her dreams come true. Auditions after school in New York City, training with teachers from Julliard and programs at the Manhattan School of Music are just a few of the many efforts that brought Rosch to where she is today.
“It’s not an easy road,” said Rosch, commenting that TV shows like Glee make the road to fame seem like a fun and glamorous one. But Rosch cited early mornings, rejection and countless hours rehearsing being part of the job. “It’s about keeping myself happy and making sure I do, because it’s not an easy life at all.”
