By: Jessica Nichols

Emma Kitelinger– Actress

NorthmenNews: How did you get involved with Theatre in the Park?

Emma Kitelinger: My family and I had been going to shows since I was tiny. I saw that auditions started when you were ten and I saw one of the shows was Annie so I decided to audition and I made it. It’s been a tradition ever since.”

NN: How many years have you been involved?

EK: Six years. I’ve been in Annie, Cinderella, Anything Goes, King and I, Footloose and South Pacific.

NN: What has been your favorite production so far that you have participated in?

EK: Anything Goes because it wasn’t as young as the other shows. It had more adult humor in it.

NN: What was your role in South Pacific?

EK: I was a nurse and semi-islander. I was in two scenes as an islander and the rest I was a nurse.

NN: What is your favorite part about Theatre in the Park?

EK: The people. We all enjoy doing this and become a big family by the end of the show. It’s where I’ve met most of my friends.

NN: What was the worst part about this year’s show?

EK: My secret pal wimped out and didn’t get me anything.

NN: What’s the worst part about the practices at Oak Grove Park?

EK: When it rains or when it’s too hot. Weather is the worst part.

NN: What’s your favorite memory from all of your shows?

EK: When I tripped a girl at the water fountain named [Staley senior] Kristen Melies and we’ve been best friends for forever.

NN: What was the worst costume memory from all of the shows?

EK: King and I. I had to wear a big hoop skirt and a ball gown. We had to fall and make the hoop show and I never could do that.

NN: Do you plan on participating in Theatre in the Park again?

EK: Yes, I do plan on doing this again because I couldn’t imagine my summer without it.

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Shelby Arndt– Crew

NorthmenNews: How did you get involved with Theatre in the Park?

Shelby Arndt: Some of my friends did tech for it last year and I got involved in theater during the school year.

NN: What made you want to be involved?

SA: I wanted to do something over the summer. I love theater.

NN: How many years have you been involved?

SA: One year.

NN: Did you have any prior crew experience?

SA: I worked house crew for several Oak Park theater productions.

NN: What was your role on crew?

SA: I worked backstage and helped work the fly system for the drops.

NN: What was the best part about helping with Theatre in the Park?

SA: Meeting new people that have the same passion as I do.

NN: What was the worst part?

SA: Seating because you get all gross and sticky.

NN: Were there any disappointments?

SA: Yes. I didn’t get to work the spotlights.

NN: What is your favorite memory of the production?

SA: The random conversations with my stage crew girls.

NN: Do you plan on doing this again?

SA: Yes, but I actually want to try performing in a show.