AN INDIANAPOLIS NATIVE, I'M A 19-YEAR-OLD ACTOR WHOSE LOVE FOR THE STAGE HAS BEEN MAGNETIC SINCE THE EARLIEST MOMENTS OF LIFE. MY FIRST MEMORIES OF THE THEATRE ARE SHARED WITH MY GRANDMA, WHO SHARED HER PASSION FOR STORYS AS I WAS A CHILD. WHILE NEVER ATTENDING ANY FORMAL TRAINING DURING MY UPBRINGING, THERE WAS NOTHING LIKE "TAP-DANCING" AROUND HER KITCHEN TO SOME GOOD-OLD PIRATE SEA-CHANTIES. YOU SEE, IT ALL BEGAN WHEN SHE TOOK ME TO SEE A LOCAL PRODUCTION OF MARY POPPINS. AS THE STORY GOES, I WITNESSED A YOUNG ACTOR PLAYING MICHAEL BANKS, AND WITH WONDER I MET GRANDMA'S GAZE AND WHISPERED, "I COULD DO THAT." DESPITE BEING MET WITH A LIGHT-HEARTED CHUCKLE, HERE I AM YEARS LATER FULLFILLING THAT DREAM.