OFFSTAGE

Where Are ey Now?

SPRINGFIELD LITTLE THEATRE HAS NURTURED TALENT FOR NEARLY A CENTURY. NOW, WE’RE FOLLOWING UP WITH THAT TALENT AND TALKING TO PAST TROUPERS ABOUT HOW THEIR TIME AT SLT HAS SHAPED THEIR LIVES AND CAREERS.

BY PEYSON SHIELDS

THE BOLD TYPE From being a stage enthusiast to a Y.E.S. (Youth Entertainment Series) Trouper, Kylie Stack Jackson, account manager at The Great Game of Business, has leveraged skills learned at SLT throughout her career.

“SLT made me multi-faceted,” she says. “Because I was able to live in ‘someone else’s’ shoes on stage, I feel that has contributed to being able to connect to others on a di erent level. Strong human connection is important in any career.” Stack Jackson’s memories span from Y.E.S. Troupe trips to Seymour and Chicago, but her desires to explore and stay hungry are what have stayed with her each day. “SLT gave me a confidence I never would have found elsewhere,” she says. “It taught me to be bold and that being weird is a total compliment.”

A REAL LIFE PRINCESS For more than a decade, Kayla Buecker, founder and owner of Princesses of the 417, participated in camps and classes and was cast in SLT’s Youth Performance Troupe program. “SLT completely shaped me as a performer and public speaker,” Buecker says. “When I graduated from high school, I performed the song 'Let It Go' from Frozen as my senior moment for Y.E.S. Troupe. Unbeknownst to me at the time, this would be foreshadowing of my future as an Elsa impersonator for birthday parties.”

Now, Buecker puts the skills she learned during her time at SLT to work with her business where she leads a team of more than 40 performers who she contracts for parties and events. “I have become a successful leader because of my role models at SLT who taught me grace and acceptance and who encouraged me to be the best that I can be,” she says.

“I want to acknowledge some of the leaders at SLT who made a larger than life impact on me: Lorianne, Beth, Chryel, Chuck, Josh, Zoe, Andy.” And like a true fairytale ending, Buecker’s husband proposed to her on the Landers stage during a production of Peter Pan.

FROM TROUPE TO TRIBECA Throughout middle and high school, Casey Baltes spent her summers and free time at SLT as a Y.E.S. Trouper. Now, Baltes serves as Vice President of Tribeca Games where she serves as an event producer and leads the video game section of the Tribeca Film Festival.

“I think I can say, without exaggeration, that my time at SLT changed the course of my life,” she says. “Namely because of the mentorship of Beth Domann. Her guidance, friendship and support has shown me more opportunity than I ever thought could have existed.”

From backstage to the box o ce, Baltes’ variety of roles at SLT taught her to be a team player, which is something that’s stuck with her for more than 20 years. “Through doing so many jobs at SLT, I learned to think through problems from all perspectives, not just one point of view,” she says. “This has allowed me to be a more well-rounded leader and producer of live events.”