You might recall our cover story from February 2016 when we featured Zoe Manarel, the Katonah 10-year-old who was appearing as Lavender on Broadway in Matilda the Musical.
Well, here’s an update. The musical closed and Manarel moved on – to other exciting projects. We spoke to Manarel in May when she was playing Mary Lennox in the Denver Theater’s stage production of The Secret Garden.
Before heading off to Denver, the now 11-year-old Zoe debuted in her first film role playing the character Suzie “Z” Wang in the Amazon original special An American Girl Story: Summer Camp, Friends for Life. “Acting in film is very different than stage work,” explains Manarel. “The camera is close and small movements and vocal inflections appear and sound larger on the screen than they would on stage.”
Manarel says Summer Camp, Friends for Life is an uplifting story. “It’s about friendship, teamwork, S.T.E.A.M. knowledge (science, technology, engineering, art, math) and girl power,” says Manarel. “Tech isn’t just for boys – girls can be great at it too.” Manarel should know, her favorite subject is math!
You can find out how Manarel and her two co-stars solve the mystery they are embroiled in by using their wits and S.T.E.A.M knowledge on June 9 when the film launches on Amazon Prime Video.
An American Girl Story: Summer Camp, Friends for Life is available for Prime members to stream using the Amazon Prime Video app for TVs, connected devices including Amazon Fire TV, and mobile devices, or online at amazo
– Jean Sheff
