Featured Artist: Christian Kennedy

Q: When did you start your singing career? Was it always a hobby or something you picked up fairly recently?

A: I’ve always liked to sing but in 5th grade I went to New York and saw my first musical. And after that, I never stopped. I just knew I wanted to keep singing.

Q: During all of this, when did you realize that acting was something you were interested in as well?

A: I started with a summer camp around 6-7th grade that was focused around a play/musical. So acting from the start interested me but I didn’t really get into until about 8th grade when I really started to love it.

Q: How many plays/musicals have you been in and which of these are your favorite? How did these help keep theater in your life?

A: Little Shop of Horrors was my 13th musical so far. I think my favorite play so far that I was a part of has be either “Le Mis”  of “Putnam County Spelling Bee”. I say these in particular because they were just extraordinary in so many ways. I loved being a part of them and meeting all the people that have through them. I think that when you love something you never get tired of it and I love it. Every show is different and every character is different so it really keeps me on my toes and interested in the theater. It’s a wake up call every single time I get a new part.

Q: When you are acting what do you focus most on? What do you try to do when trying out for a part?

A: When you try out for a play/musical the directors really look for something that you can bring to the table that they can’t teach you. They look for that certain something that makes the part perfect for you. So I definitely listen to the directors and what they want the character to sound like and the personality they want it to have. But mainly I base each character off myself. I relate each character to my life and try to make the character stand out.

Q: How has Shawnee Mission East benefitted your acting/singing career?

A: It has been awesome. Like the minute I came in here, my acting and my singing just shot up. I am a part of a lot of companies that put on plays and musicals and they are amazing as well. But East is such a professional setting to work in and that makes it much easier to do what you have to do but have fun doing it.

Q: What has been your favorite part of your acting and singing career?

A: Probably the friends and just being able to share all these experiences with people who I probably wouldn’t have the chance to work with otherwise. I have met a good majority of my friends through theater and choir and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without it. The connections I have made with people has definitely been the highlight for me.