Courtney Leigh Chavera (née Cook; born March 20, 1985 in Houston, Texas) is a former American child actress who portrayed Cindy in the original cast of Barney's Big Surprise from 1996-1997 and in 1998 for when the show performed in Mexico. Currently, Chavera is a professional singer.
Career[]
Barney[]
Audition[]
Prior to Barney's Big Surprise, Chavera initially auditioned for Barney & Friends, however, she didn't get casted. Instead, she was directed to an acting studio for children in Dallas, Texas called the Young Actors Studio. It was at that studio that she would later be inquired to audition for the tour.
For her audition, Chavera did a dance routine. Chavera booked the role of "Cindy" for the tour at the age of eleven when she received a call from her mother during her one of acting classes.
Barney's Big Surprise[]
Chavera portrayed Cindy in the original run of the national tour of Barney's Big Surprise from September 1996 until May 1997. Before each performance, Chavera and the entire cast would always had a ritual where they huddle in a circle and say a prayer.
Following her time on the tour, Chavera was informed that was she would be departing from the cast due to her significant growth in height and was eventually replaced by Mallory Lineberger in the role of "Cindy" for the following year of the tour. However, when the tour performed in Mexico in 1998, Chavera returned to reprise her role of Cindy since Lineberger was unable to perform in the Mexican tour for unknown reason. While preparing for the Mexican run of the show, David Voss came to Chavera's house to rehearse roles with Chavera to help her rememorize the choreography and practice lip-synching to the Spanish track due to the performances in Mexico being dubbed in Spanish.
Post-Barney[]
In March 2019, Chavera and her mother Maureen Cook appeared on Purple Tales Podcast with Carey Stinson. In September 2023, Chavera appeared on Mixtape Lounge Podcast with Carey Stinson and Josh Martin.
Personal Life[]
Barney's Big Surprise[]
Post-Barney[]
Following her initial time of the tour, when Chavera began attending middle school, her classmates used to tease and make fun of her due to her acting in a show aimed at preschoolers until they became over it.[1] Chavera also wore her Barney merchandise to school.
Gallery[]
Barney's Big Surprise[]
Behind the scenes[]
Field trips[]
School[]
Trivia[]
- Chavera's favorites places to visit while on tour for Barney's Big Surprise were New York City, New York and Los Angeles, California.
- Chavera still keeps a Barney's Big Surprise t-shirt that she bought while on the Mexican tour.
Memories[]
- One of Chavera's biggest memories while on tour for Barney's Big Surprise was preparing for the show with David Voss doing warm ups with her and the other child actors.
People[]
- Chavera attended the Young Actors Studio with Trent Gentry and Antwaun Hobbs (the actors who portrayed Tony and Kevin in Barney's Big Surprise respectively), and a few cast members from Barney & Friends, such as Sara Hickman and Danielle Vega, who portrayed Kristen and Kim respectively.[2][3] Additionally, she was part of a musical group called TKO alongside Gentry and Hickman.
- David Joyner, who was one of Barney's costume performer, was Chavera's acting coach, who recommended Chavera to audition for the tour.
- During her audition for the tour, Penny Wilson was in front of Chavera.
- Sara Hickman, who portrayed Kristen on Barney & Friends, was neighbors with Chavera during their childhood.
- Carey Stinson, one of Barney's costume performers during her time on the tour, went to go see Chavera portray Dorothy in her high school production of The Wizard of Oz during her senior year and attended her wedding at the Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
References[]
- ↑ Mixtape Lounge | Zeven | Courtney Cook
- ↑ Barney's Big Surprise with Actress Courtney Cook - Purple Tales Podcast Episode 3
- ↑ Purple Roads | Trent Gentry | "Tony" | Barney's Big Surprise December 9, 2024 Retrieved February 14, 2024