Q: How long have you been involved in theater?

A: I’ve been involved in theater since I was in fourth grade, so it has been eight years.

Q: How many shows have you been a part of?

A: I’ve been in over 50, I know that much. I think I’m up to around 53 or 54.

Q: Outside of Penn-Trafford, at which community theaters have you been a part of?

A: I have been a part of Stage Right! since I was really young, and I’ve done one show with CLO.

Q: What are some of the shows you’ve been a part of?

A: I’ve done everything from “Willy Wonka,” to “Mama Mia,” to “Seussical.” Pretty much any show that you can think of, I’ve been a part of.

Q: Are you working on any shows currently?

A: No, not currently. The “Hunchback of Notre Dame” just finished up, so I’ll be relaxing until musical auditions start.

Q: What brought you to perform at these local theaters?

A: My neighbor actually started doing it, and I thought it was cool that she was going to a summer camp for it. I decided to go with her one year, and I’ve stuck with it ever since.

Q: How have your experiences at each of these theaters differed in terms of operation and overall feel?

A: It depends, because they all feel like different families. They are all families, but they are families in different ways. At Stage Right! it’s a very laid-back, calm environment where everyone is very chill and welcoming of one another. At Penn-Trafford, it’s much more tight-throat, but you still have that great connection between the actors, stage crew, and entire staff. It’s just  a different kind of atmosphere. It’s more demanding and takes more drive.

Q: How have your experiences been similar between each theater? Has there been a common theme amongst them?

A: Oh, absolutely. The common theme is theater. Theater is something magical to bring to life on any stage. It’s really beautiful, especially on the Penn-Trafford stage doing it alongside your peers.

Q: Would you say that community theater is different from the Drama Guild here?

A: Yeah, I would say it’s a little bit different. You’re working with adults and professionals sometimes in community theater, which can be very different from working alongside students within your grade, whether for better or worse.

Q: Do you prefer one over the other?

A: I like them both in different ways. I like the Drama Guild, because you get so much time to work on it and to develop your character, whereas with community theater, it’s all kind of rushed into a three week time span. I like them both, but I just think the Drama Guild offers you more time to delve into a show.

Q: What, to you, is the most rewarding part of community theater?

A: It’s just that feeling of when you’re on the stage and the lights are on and the audience is there. For that one moment when you’re standing there, the world around you just stops and all that matters is being on that stage.

Q: What has proven to be the most challenging part about it?

A: Probably the rehearsal process in general. Rehearsals can be hard when it comes to the dances and everything. It can take a long time, but we have to work so hard Monday through Friday. Then, once you get to the show, it all pays off.

Q: What’s it like managing both community theater, Drama Guild, school work, and any other responsibilities?

A: You really have to pick and choose, otherwise you will go crazy. Doing both community theater and Drama Guild at the same time, in my opinion, is crazy. It’s just too much with school and everything else. I think that when it comes to the Penn-Trafford Drama Guild, you have to be fully committed, and if you want to do community theater during it, it’s not the best idea.

Q: What is the purpose of community theater?

A: I think local theater and school theater have a common purpose. I think their purpose is just to bring happiness and music into people’s lives, because live theater is something that can’t be replicated with movies or anything else. To have it performed for any member of the community, whether it be a parent from Penn-Trafford or someone walking off the street, they’re going to get the same kind of feeling from it.