Abbey Kanellakis caught the theater bug as a young child, when her grandma took her to see "Oklahoma!" at The Star Theatre in Upper Sandusky. The actors seemed like celebrities, and she knew right away she wanted to be up there with them.
She performed in elementary school, high school, and college, and more recently has appeared at Bucyrus Little Theatre in shows including "Sweeney Todd" and "Seussical," where she played The Cat in the Hat. Now she's turning that love of the stage into Green Room Ohio, a new hub built to make community theater more accessible to everyone.
In Their Own Words ...
How did you first get involved in theater?
I saw a production of "Oklahoma!" with my grandma at The Star Theatre in Upper Sandusky. I thought it was so great, and the actors were phenomenal. I was so young that they seemed like celebrities to me. After that, I wanted to be on the stage.
What does community theater mean to you?
Community theater is a place where everybody is welcome and free to be themselves.
What's a moment from a show you'll never forget?
During "Elf: The Musical," I tripped while trying to throw "wrapping paper" across the stage. I tried to stay in character and literally crawled off the stage.
What would you tell someone who's thinking about getting involved?
Just do it!
What's next for you?
Launching Green Room Ohio and making theater more accessible to all.
Favorite musical or play of all time?
"Hedwig and the Angry Inch."
Worst (or funniest) costume malfunction you've survived?
My mustache kept falling off during "Sweeney Todd."
See Them On Stage
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