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Sarah Heltzel

So I wasn't exactly a "Rebel," except by honorary membership.

However I do credit Keri Cahill with opening the theater to me, inviting me to join in to what had seemed an unattainable adventure.

I grew up reading Shakespeare and attending plays at my father's college, but never even considered that I could be on stage. At the age of 13, I auditioned for Manchester Jr/Sr High School's Drama Fest offering, and Keri invited me to be a part of Clamorous Voices: Women's Voices in Shakespeare.

Each of the girls involved in the show (I believe we all thought of ourselves as women) had two Shakespearean monologues. I was assigned Lady Ann ("Foul devil! For God's sake hence and trouble us not…") and Imogen ("I have tired myself and for three night's have made the ground my bed…"). Keri guided each of us on a journey of character discovery, the depth of which I'm positive none of us had ever previously plumbed. She tirelessly pushed us to connect with our characters, to find honesty in ourselves and on stage. For 13 year-olds (as well as 30 year-olds and 83 year-olds) that is revolutionary. 

I can honestly say that the kind of work we did then is of the same depth as I consistently employ now with every new character I play on stage. To be introduced at such an early stage in my experience to true character development and acting technique shaped me in crucial ways. I particularly remember watching Danielle (a perky redhead who always seemed meticulously put-together), her pixie face crumpling in tears as Keri pushed her to experience Hermione's true depth of despair in the face of false accusations... and I thought, this is real .

My mother still says that I became a new person following that play – before, I spoke and held myself like a little girl; after, I spoke with depth and assurance, and carried myself with confidence and authority. Now I am an opera singer, particularly noted for my acting and presence and theatrical commitment.

I think of Keri often, and am grateful for her every time I take the stage.

(photo credit, Dave Cross, NYC)