GCU TODAY • 2 1
Series of smaller, off-Ethington shows, where all aspects of production
are handled by students.
They are earning professional work, too. Senior Ryan Usher was in a
national cable commercial, and Vanderpoel acted in a national PetSmart
commercial. Senior William Wyss directed and performed at Phoenix
Theatre, while junior Kelsey Hillman was a stage manager at Valley
Youth Theatre.
Pensis credits Ethington’s rapid maturity to the leadership of the
program’s 65 seniors, COFAP’s second graduating class since 2010.
“Claire and Joy and other seniors are, to an extent, pioneers of our
success,” Pensis said. “Our upperclassmen have taken it upon themselves
to make the productions the best they can be, and the twins really have
spearheaded that.
“They have done what you want your students to do — perform at the
highest level. It is absolutely great for them, but it is also highly valuable
for the program.”
It’s a twin thing
The twins began singing and dancing at age 3 in Ridgefield, Wash. They
started acting in high school and made a mature decision as sophomores.
“Before we got an agent, we sat down together and decided that if we
are going to compete for roles, we have to be each other’s biggest fan and
cheerleader,” Joy said.
They often audition back-to-back to support each other and stand
out among the competition. They usually get grouped as “the twins,”
with one cast over the other, but if they’re going to be each other’s
competition, they’d also prefer to be the other’s support.
“We often are up for the same roles because we look the same,” said
Claire. “We’re happy for whichever gets a role, and I think our castings
have helped us figure out that one is more specialized in film and the
other in theatre.”
As juniors, their pact was tested during auditions for “Into the
Woods.” Both auditioned for the role of Cinderella, and Joy was chosen
while Claire was cast as the baker’s wife. Rita Flatz, the twins’ mother,
said Claire was heartbroken by the casting but supported her sister.
Rita and her husband, Ron, a pilot, fly to Phoenix to watch all of their
daughters’ productions.
“Claire is more of that girl next door and Joy was always a
cheerleader, and that’s what they’ve played,” Rita said. “Claude and
Michael have done a great job casting them in roles that utilize their
strengths and allowed them to grow individually. I don’t think they
would be where they are if they were cast differently.”
Exit stage left
In April, the twins will graduate and plan to part for the first time. Joy
hopes to find commercial and film work, while Claire plans to join a
national theatre company. Their legacies as top Ethington performers
will live on, but Claire and Joy are most thankful for the training they’ve
received as students.
Pensis said moving on from the twins will be tough, but they have left
an impact on future generations.
“They’re really fine actors, but more importantly they’re really fine people,”
he said. “They’ve made a lasting impression and will be greatly missed.”
Roll the Credits
Joy
Together
Claire
NBC’s “Grimm” (pilot)
“Much Ado About Nothing”
“Romeo and Juliet”
National PetSmart commercial, “Pepper”
“Leviathan” Web series
“Oklahoma!”
“AMidsummer Night’s Dream”
“The Boy Friend”
“Dracula”
“A Christmas Carol”
“The Cherry Orchard”
“H.M.S. Pinafore”
“Into theWoods”
“The Lion, theWitch and theWardrobe”
“Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure”
Broadway Rose Theatre Company’s
production of “My Fair Lady”
Christian Community and Youth Theater’s
production of “Footloose”
“Ah, Wilderness!”
Phoenix Theatre’s production of
“Mary Poppins”
Phoenix Theatre’s production of
“Anything Goes”
Watch a video on COFAP’s Improv, Second Series
and Canyon Night Live a
The Flatz twins performed in 23 combined Ethington Theatre productions during their time at GCU, often as leading ladies.
photos by darryl webb
