Leading lady Leah

Leah Keelan stars in ‘The 1940’s Radio Hour’

Sophomore theatre major and dance minor Leah Keelan discovered her passion for acting and dancing at the young age of five. But more recently, Keelan has been selected as the leading lady, Connie Miller, in “The 1940’s Radio Hour” planned to showcase in Russell Auditorium Feb. 23 through 27.

Director of the performance and assistant professor of theatre, Amy Pinney, describes Leah’s character, ‘Connie’, as a “17-year-old bobbysoxer.” Pinney also said Leah, “taps and swings” and sings two songs during the performance, “Daddy” and “Five O’clock Whistle.”

Since rehearsals started in January, Pinney has found it to be “a joy to work with Leah. The energy she brings to the show absolutely sparkles.”

Keelan describes the upcoming play as “a moment in time from a 1940’s radio show, like a behind the scenes view.”

“(The show is) something you would hear on the radio back during the 1940’s… lots of jazz and a jive feel. There’s even a real jazz band that accompanies the whole show and they are incredible,” Pinney said. “It’s because of the types of music performed that the show gives off a concert feel.”

Since her start at a young age, Keelan has been in more plays that she could even keep track of, but her highlights include being in the opening ceremonies to both Atlanta and Sydney Olympics, Broadway for “The Nutcracker,” extras in movies and commercials, being the lead in the play last year as a freshman called “Sueño”, and also being a dancer in last year’s performance of “RENT.”

Aside from her long hours of rehearsals for the upcoming play, she also manages to squeeze room in her busy schedule to be the student representative for the Department of Theatre, for sorority involvement with Alpha Delta Pi, preparations and rehearsals for the April Dance Minor Concert and an additional showing she is involved with, “First Friday”, to be held in Macon on March 4.

“I’ve become really good at time management, and figuring out where my priorities lie,” Keelan said. “The downfall to being in so many things is that you have to pick and choose a lot because things tend to overlap. Lots of late nights and eating on the run, but in the end it is so worth it.”

Keelan has found that her skills and passions for acting, singing and dancing are beneficial towards one another and help her in all aspects of her performances.

“Dancers without expression and acting can become so boring to watch and you don’t believe them if they are trying to tell a story,” Keelan said. “Then in acting, dancing helps you find certain movement to fill a space easier, and with a dance background I know safely what my body can and cannot do… also having a dance and acting background under your belt is so helpful in real life auditions because you can get hired for more things.”

Over the years, her experience with acting and dancing has also taught her a lot about herself and what she is capable of with dedication and practice.

“My favorite part about acting is that you get to experience and becoming something outside yourself. It’s a chance to stretch limits and be whoever you want to be and do whatever you want to do, within reason,” Keelan said. “Also in acting you learn a lot about yourself, like how your body works and you are aware of every part of your body and how it fits in space, as well as tuning in to all your emotions and how they affected different circumstances in your life.”

Since her start at a young age, Keelan has recognized her love of being in the spotlight and because of this, she has her priorities straight.

“I have always known that I wanted to sing dance and act; I practically was born to perform and be on the stage… this has always been my passion and (I) strive to see it through,” Keelan said.

Posted by Brina Potvin on Feb 17 2011. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.