As she arrives at Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland, Kelly Schikowski reminisces back to when she first started her acting career. She waits there, eager to further her own acting skills from current Broadway actors and actresses.  
 
Revere junior Schikowski attended a Broadway acting camp from June 27 to 30, and July 1 at Playhouse Square in Cleveland. Schikowksi started her acting career in the third grade when she joined a school play about pilgrims settling in America. She has loved acting ever since.

Schikowski explained why she decided to attend the Broadway camp.

“I knew that [the Broadway camp] would be a great experience with a lot of trained actors and actresses. This year’s play was Phantom of the Opera, which was one of my favorite shows, and I thought it would be a good experience to train with people whom I admire,” Schikowski said.

Schikowski described why she wanted to continue with her acting career.

“After my first show freshman year, It’s a Wonderful Life, ended it felt like there was this absence in my life like I should be performing every day. That is when I knew that [acting] is what I wanted to be doing the rest of my life,” Schikowski said.

Cathy Schikowski, Schikowski’s mother, defined Schikowski’s early inspiration for acting and creativity.

“[Schikowski’s] dad participated in his high school drama club and takes credit for all of [Schikowski’s] talents. However, she really has pursued this journey on her own merit and has worked hard to improve her acting and singing skills,” Cathy said.

Fellow actress and Broadway camp attendee Ana Hair described Schikowski’s acting style.

“[Schikowski] likes to put herself out there and go out of her comfort zone. She is able to do many different roles and puts her own spin on [each] character,” Hair said.

Schikowski mentioned the regular activities she participated in at the Broadway camp.

“Every day in the morning we had a master class where we learned chorus, scene, and Phantom of the Opera, masquerade. We learned choreography from the show, and every afternoon we rotated through different workshops with different local professionals,” Schikowski said.

Schikowski explained how she thinks the skills she learned at the Broadway camp will help her in future performances.

“At the [Broadway] camp, we learned a lot more acting skills, so I think moving forward it will be a lot easier for me to take on roles that are not in my comfort zone. The Mother Abbess role was pretty difficult for me since I am not a sixty-year-old woman, so in the future I think I can get casted in more dynamic parts,” Schikowski said.

Continuing with her acting career, Schikowski remains a member of Revere Players and feels excited for this year’s play. She received tips from professional actors and actresses, like Jacqueline Fontaine, who plays Carlotta in the Phantom of the Opera tour. Schikowski plans to expand her acting career after high school.