Teen invited to prestigious acting camp
Kerrigan Trautsch, 13, was invited, after portraying Rumpelstiltskin last fall, to attend a Missoula Children’s Theatre performing arts camp. She is the daughter of Adam and Rita Trautsch, of Eastman, and the granddaughter of Ann Wallin, of Mt. Sterling, and Faye Trautsch, of Eastman. She’ll be a freshman at River Ridge this fall. (Photo by Correne Martin)
As a dorky guard in "Robin Hood"
As Spot the Dog in "Sleeping Beauty"
As Rumpelstiltskin
With her family: dad Adam, mom Rita and brother Landon, 11
By Correne Martin
Kerrigan Trautsch is turning 14 next month. Other than her youthful appearance and delightful giggle, you would never know she’s barely a teenager.
Well-spoken, poised and perceptive, Kerrigan is especially wise beyond her years when it comes to acting and writing plays.
The Eastman resident and soon-to-be River Ridge freshman, and daughter of Adam and Rita Trautsch, was invited by the esteemed Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) to attend its North Shore Performing Arts Camp July 30 through Aug. 12, 100 miles north of Missoula, Mont., on Finger Lake. Only 115 youth ages 13-15 are accepted into the camp. Each Missoula director group, which travels to all 50 states and several countries, is given only one or two nominations to present to aspiring and talented students participating in their shows, and Kerrigan is the only one in River Ridge history to receive the honor.
All this prestige began at a young age for Kerrigan.
“I remember, I was in third grade. It was around Christmas time and I wrote a mini play,” she recalled. “My teacher read what I had written and thought it was great. So the whole class put on my play at a characteristic event. From then on, there was always a play at the event.”
Kerrigan described herself as the girl on the elementary playground who most often avoided the dolls but played Jedis with the boys.
“I was usually Chewbacca. I like the crazy characters,” she stated. “I also went through my mom’s makeup a lot and would drag out the Halloween costumes,” she recounted. “One time, my friends and I dressed as zombies and performed to a song by 3 Doors Down.”
“Even when she was in first grade, she blew me away when she described the sunset,” mom Rita said of her expressive daughter. “She said it was like an ‘eagle’s eye blazing.’”
Kerrigan was officially introduced to drama and MCT in sixth grade when she tried out for a play at River Ridge, which contracts with the organization to bring a weeklong residency to the school each fall. Kerrigan was cast as a dorky guard in “Robin Hood,” and Spot, the dog, in “Sleeping Beauty.” As the dog, her second year in the program, she participated in nearly every scene, mainly portraying that character through action, and loved it.
“I had all the kids laughing,” she said.
Her third year, Kerrigan was chosen to play Rumpelstiltskin, in the popular fairy tale. It was her first time as the main character and in a solo singing role. She also couldn’t improvise, which she feels is her forte.
“I love to put part of me into the character and the best part is helping others out if they happen to forget their lines,” she stated.
As it turned out, her “Rumpelstiltskin” performance was memorable for everyone who saw it, including the Missoula directors, so much so that she was nominated by them to audition for a MCT camp.
“I was in line, getting Rumpelstiltskin’s makeup on and I had said I wanted to pursue performing arts. Then, I saw [one of the director’s glance over at the other], and within the next hour, they pulled me aside and gave me the nomination card.”
That card was indication that Kerrigan possesses the talent and ambitions it takes to further her acting experience. To audition, she was required to record a one- to two-minute monologue and a one-minute solo. She chose a monologue from “Flowers of Algernon” and “My Favorite Things” from “The Sound of Music.” Both Rob Ghormley, of North Crawford School, and Ellen Martin, her River Ridge choir teacher, were really supportive in helping her compose her audition video.
“Rob said he’s never seen anything like this out of a 13-year-old, which was a huge compliment,” Rita said.
Kerrigan was accepted into the camp and, since then, she’s been working to raise $2,500. Fundraising has included posting flyers, asking businesses and individuals for sponsorships, a Go Fund Me page, a garage sale, babysitting four kids and cleaning the bathrooms at the Eastman village park. She also applied and received a $150 scholarship from Missoula. As of last week, she had exceeded her goal, which will take care of her travel expenses there and attending the session.
During the camp, auditions for roles will occur the first few days, then participants will engage in group and one-on-one lessons on acting, singing and dancing. Toward the end, North Shore will join with the South Shore Performing Arts Camp youth, ages 16-18, and give six already sold-out performances of “The World of Broadway.”
Kerrigan’s parents and younger brother, Landon, plan to travel to her last performance Aug. 12, and then the family will vacation back home together.
“We’re very, very proud of her, but it scares us because she’s very good at this,” Rita said. “We really think she could do it. But it’s a tough life and we want her to live a full, productive life.”
“I really want to go to college at the American Academy of Dramatical Arts in L.A. or to New York University. Those are famous for turning out amazing actors,” Kerrigan commented. “As for what I want to do exactly, I’m torn between broadway, movies and shows or something else. I know it’s expensive, so I have to start working now.”
“She’s also looking into what else schools have to offer, like English or history degrees, so she has something to fall back on,” her mom added, “and we’re very proud of her for thinking about that.”
If Kerrigan excels at the Missoula camp, she could be invited to return in the future.
“It’s taken a lot of work to get there. It’s very exciting, especially since this is what I want to do for my career,” she said. “I like to say, ‘Don’t ever give up your dreams because you can follow it as long as you want.”
