Valley’s big talent nurtured at MJC

Irish novelist Brendan Francis once said, "No man can discover his own talent." Modesto Junior College theater student Lindsay Pearce's talent was "discovered" three years ago by MJC drama professor Michael Lynch, although her parents always had an inkling. Nineteen year old Lindsay is also the winner of the first "Valley's Got Talent" competition.  Now MJC is lucky enough to have her starring as Lady Macbeth in the October production of Macbeth, directed by Lynch.

Standing five feet and four inches tall with long brown hair and big blue eyes, Pearce on stage exudes an intensity and professionalism beyond her years.

"She's small but there's an energy that comes out in everything she does," exclaimed Lynch. According to Lynch, her ability to perform and enthusiasm are contagious. Starring as Macbeth himself, her best friend Steven Linhares can attest to her talent. She's "phenomenal," says Linhares. "[She] makes the experience that much more better."

On any given day, Lindsay is an average, hard working student. She works full –time while maintaining a full load of classes and still finds time to play video games. Her humble personality may be because of her particular upbringing. Adopted at birth into a family of five, Lindsay did not show much interest in typical activities. Her three brothers were into sports, but Lindsay was interested in something else. According to Lynch, Lindsay's mother recounts how her daughter revealed a fondness for song at a very young age. At 5, Lindsay had already memorized a song from "The Lion King," a musical. Her parents realized this was her niche and put her into the Townsend Opera Players, a community performing group.

Since then her life has been a compilation of plays and musicals. At the age of 16, Lindsay met Michael Lynch when attending his beginning acting course. "She blew my socks off," exclaims Lynch. He soon cast her as the Sphinx in Oedipus Rex, which was performed on the West Campus in 2007. Since then, Lindsay has performed in five plays and a musical directed by Lynch.

"Every once in awhile, a student comes along that goes way beyond your expectations," he claims. 

Somehow Lindsay memorizes everyone's lines. She is an auditory learner and picks up quickly, she says. This is reminiscent of the first time her parents discovered her talent for singing and her memory. According to Lynch, she had the entire play of Midsummer Night's Dream memorized in a week. While rehearsing for Macbeth, Lindsay can be seen mouthing everyone's lines while waiting for her scene off stage.

Lynch is very excited about his next play and Lindsay's upcoming performance. After witnessing a scene during a recent rehearsal between Lindsay and Steven Linhares, Lynch leapt out of his chair cheering. He cursed in excitement. "This play will be the highlight of my career!" he said. Lindsay's performance in that scene was like that of the most skilled actor. She displayed emotions most 19 year old women would know nothing about, yet she did it with apparent ease.

Acting is not Lindsay's only talent has; she won the "Valley's Got Talent" competition held at the Gallo Center on Sept.5 with her rendition of "Gimme Gimme," from the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie. Her win secured her a spot opening for Jeremy Renner in his show at the Gallo Center on September 18. (Renner was nominated for Best Actor in the 2010 Academy Awards for his role in "The Hurt Locker.") Wearing a black dress that had once belonged to Rosemary Clooney, the aunt of actor George Clooney and a singer in her own right, Lindsay performed in front of a full audience. The dress was later given to her by the production coordinator of "Valley's Got Talent," Sarah Ortega.

Lindsay's long time voice coach, MJC professor Dr. Cherrie Llewellyn, says she has "major talent."  Llewellyn will be directing a musical theater production of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic "The Pirates of  Penzance," in the spring, and Pearce hopes to earn a major role in it.

Lynch has lately been asked to compare the star potential of Pearce and Jeremy Renner, who was also his former student before he went to Hollywood and "made it" in a relatively short time. Lynch says that while he thought Renner had talent and might do well, he would have never guessed that he would become such a big star. In the case of Lindsay Pearce, however, Lynch puts his name on the line.

"Sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, she'll be a star."