Grace E. Wellmon

“Pretty as she was in the water, she was even more beautiful out of it.” 🧜🏼‍♀️

Can’t find the words how amazing this experience was to me.

I performed this role eight years ago as a senior in high school. It was my first major role in a show and was on cloud nine (it was my first time also having a bio in the program, something only reserved for the “big” characters). I fell in love with this character and show, and it catapulted me to continue theater after high school.

There’s something incredibly special about reprising a role so many years later as an adult. With many life experiences (getting engaged, moving out of my small hometown, rekindling estranged relationships, healing from the past, etc.) I was able to pour that all into this track. Suddenly this character turned from this mystical fun creature into someone very human, somehow I was able to relate to her.

Thank you to the entire cast and crew at @littlelaketheatre for making this experience so unforgettable, and for welcoming me into the PGH theater scene! Thank you Nathan for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this story and being a great leader (even when at auditions I was frazzled from a long work day and my shirt was inside out 🤦🏼‍♀️), Caroline for being an amazing choreographer and so supportive and collaborative in the rehearsal process, Ben for pushing me out of my comfort zone and singing vocal parts that I never thought I could do, and Gabby for keeping the show running and making sure we are all taken care of! S/o to the ASMs and all of the cast members who helped me with my many quick changes! Also sending love to my dressing room squad, getting to get ready with you ladies was always the highlight of my day!

Thank you to all of my friends and family who came all the way out to see the show! I loved getting to share this special show with every single one of you!

Most importantly, thank you to my love Matthew for convincing me to go audition when I was second guessing myself and thought I wasn’t ready or good enough to try out. I couldn’t have done this without you. I love you so much.

Here’s to what’s next 🩵

Production photos 📸: @photographyhawk