by:
Bre Rock
From participating in Key Club to throwing a no hitter, Kiersten Szczur is one girl you should keep your eye out for at Greater Johnstown High School. Kiersten is a fifteen year old sophomore who is talented musically, athletically, and academically.
Kiersten recently discovered her love for theatre. She started dancing at the age of four and always was a good actress, but it wasn't until her ninth grade year when she decided to try out for the school's musical, Footloose. Kiersten was nervous and unsure of how her audition would turn out, but she was cast as one of the lead roles--"Rusty."
Over the summer of 2010, Kiersten was a participant in the Richland Performing Arts Program, which put on the musical, Guys and Dolls. Kiersten said she had never been more nervous for the results of an audition in her life. After a long, endless day of waiting, she heard the good news. She was cast as "Sarah," the female lead. She also performed at the Arcadia Theatre as the "Witch" from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs of the Black Forest. Kiersten is currently working on a musical for Redwood Productions, called A Rented Christmas, which will be performed at the Arcadia Theatre in November.
Kiersten says that she loves to play both serious and fun roles. She loves the serious roles because they really bring the audience into the emotions that the character is feeling. Yet, she loves the fun roles because of the laughter and joy they bring the audience. She loves the fact that she is able to be someone else and to make that character her own.
As Kiersten takes on many roles, she also takes on many challenges. Some of these challenges include maintaining all A's in every class, playing soccer, pitching during softball season, participating in track, attending Key Club and Writer's club meetings, and squeezing in time for her friends and family. In the future, Kiersten wants to be Valedictorian of her class, along with being accepted to NYU to major in Theatre. Her life-long goal is to make it to Broadway.
When asked who her inspiration was she said, "Myself; I push myself in everything I do because my greatest fear in life is being a failure." Some of her role models are Sarah Brightman, who was the original "Christine Daae?" in The Phantom of the Opera and Lady Gaga.
With the love and support of her family and friends, Kiersten should be able to fulfill each and every thing she strives to achieve. Valedictorian, NYU, and Broadway can one day be in reach for this amazingly talented girl.
