Renée Böök makes her debut in the lead role
When Renée Böök (b. 2000) received an invitation to an audition for & Julia , she began preparing by listening to a Broadway recording of the musical.
“I immediately fell in love with the whole soundtrack and felt like this was made for me,” Böök says.
She says that she has listened to many of the musical’s pop classics, especially Britney Spears, since she was a child.
The selection process included three auditions, which included the passage of several songs and various interactions and performances.
“I really wanted the role, but even though I was nervous, I felt liberated because I got to do things that are passionate to me. I knew that this would be a great journey if I could join,” Böök says.
Strong musical background
Since childhood, Böök has performed first at home and in schools, then on stages and on television.
At the age of six, her mother took Böök to an audition, which gave her her first experience of acting in a TV series. A few years later, he starred in the musical film If You Love.
Böök began his music studies at the age of seven at the Espoo Music Institute. She played classical piano until she was a teenager and took singing lessons in the pop-jazz program at Ebel.
While studying at Kallio Upper Secondary School, Böök decided to make music a profession. “It was there that I wanted to make my own works and got the courage to express myself in front of others in new ways.”
Böök began to write music for himself in English and later also in Finnish for others. “Since then, I’ve been polishing the material to what it is now and in future releases.”
Böök describes his music as an emotional, emotional Afrobeat fusion with R&B pop nuances. He is aiming for an international career as an artist.
The first main role as a professional
Making her own music has affected how Böök experiences being on stage in a musical. “Even though the character is not me, the artist’s work has given me the confidence to be on stage and sing strongly,” Böök says.
According to Böök, singing in a musical requires a different kind of empathy than performing his own songs. “The most important thing is not necessarily how it sounds, but that not only the feeling, but also the story comes through,” he explains.
& Julia is the first professional theatre production in which Böök is involved. However, the role of Juliet is not entirely new to her, as in high school she played it in the play Romeo and Juliet .
& Julia The ending of Shakespeare’s classic play is turned upside down and a familiar character is seen in a different light. Julia survives the tragedy and is given the opportunity to build her life on her own terms.
Böök also recognizes some connections to his own life in Julia’s character and in the new interpretation.
“I have experienced heartache both in family life and in relationships. Through big life changes, you learn that you are strong and independent and that there is love in the world.”
Böök thinks that the musical can offer viewers something to identify with and hope.
“No matter what gender you are, I believe that Julia’s story and especially these songs empower people and remind them that they are able to change their lives and believe in themselves, even if their faith has sometimes dropped.”
Text by Ida Henritius.