12 year old Mequon resident and NSAA Stagekids Alumni, Mari Duckler, is rapidly becoming well known throughout SE Wisconsin as a highly skilled young actress. She recently landed a professional acting position at the Fireside Dinner Theater in Fort Atkinson, WI. Mari will be the lead supporting role, “Pepper” in the Fireside’s upcoming production of Annie. The Fireside Dinner Theater attracts national audiences as a professional theater each year.

Mari first came to NSAA as a 9 year old seeking private vocal instruction with vocal coach, Angela Mack. From there, she auditioned for the NSAA Stagekids Production of High School Musical and was surprisingly cast as the lead role of “Sharpay Evans”. She was also “Lily St. Regis” (Annie) and “Phineous Trout” (Willy Wonka) through NSAA Stagekids.

Since then, Mari has performed at Homestead High School Auditorium, Range Line Auditorium, Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts and has appeared in the film, “The Bully”.

Quite spectacular about Mari’s experience is that she was recently cast as the highly competitive and lead role “Junie B.” (Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business) at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

Mari will also soon be performing as “Ady” in Miss Nelson is Missing at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.  She is currently taking private tap/ballet at NSAA with Miss Kathleen Fictum so that she is a “triple threat” to the world of musical theater.  

Mari dreams of performing on Broadway someday.  At this rate, she just might!  Keep your eye on this petite and spunky soprano belter!

NSAA would like to congratulate “Mari” (pictured above right) and “Nick” (below center) for landing lead roles in the First Stage Production “Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business – THE MUSICAL!” opening this month and running through mid-November.   Both were leads in NSAA Stagekids Productions High School Musical and Willy Wonka.  Mari received private vocal training with an NSAA voice instructor.

Here are Nick & Mari’s “Brilliant Cast’s” performance dates & times:

Saturday, October 17th at 3:30 PM

Sunday, October 25th at 1:00 PM and 3:30 PM

Sunday, November 1st at 1:00 PM & 3:30 PM

Saturday, November 7th at 7:00 PM

Sunday, November 8th at 1:00 PM & 3:30 PM

Saturday, November 14th at 1:00 PM & 3:30 PM

(There are many, MANY more daytime/school group weekday matinee performances, as well.) Tickets are available at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts (PAC Box Office, downtown); OR – on the firststage.org website. (There are TWO young actor casts, so be sure to refer to the dates above.)

Then be sure to watch “Nick” as “Ryan” in the NSAA Stagekids production of High School Musical 2 in January 2010!

photography courtesy of Shades of Gray