Overland Park Native in Cast of PIPPIN
When Starlight Theatre welcomes the high-flying, Tony Award®-winning production of PIPPIN to its stage beginning June 30, one cast member is likely to have plenty of hometown fan support in the audience. Lisa Karlin, one of the Players in touring musical, is an Overland Park native with deep family roots in the community.
In advance of her performance on the Starlight stage, Lisa shared her thoughts about returning to her hometown:
Q. Where did you grow up?
A. I was born and raised in Overland Park.
Q. Where did you attend school?
A. I attended high school at Saint Thomas Aquinas. I then went to Illinois Wesleyan for college and majored in musical theater.
Q. What performing arts activities were you involved in while in Kansas City?
A. I was involved in a lot of theater in the Kansas City community, including Starlight’s production of The Wizard of Oz. Also I was in Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park nearly every summer since middle school and Music Theatre for Young People. I took dance and voice lessons from Miller Marley School of Dance and Voice that has educated many Kansas City natives currently working in the Broadway community.
Q. Do you have family and friends who will be attending the show as your “fan club” while in Kansas City?
A. Both my parents and some friends and former teachers of mine are excited to see Pippin and all its magic.
Q. What have you told your fellow cast members about Kansas City and Starlight?
A. I’ve been raving about the gorgeous facility at Starlight and how much we are going to love it there. Everyone on Starlight’s staff is so dedicated to the craft of theatre and making everyone from out of town feel so welcome.
Q. What are you most looking forward to doing, seeing, eating, enjoying during your stay in Kansas City?
A. BARBECUE!!!!!! There will definitely be a field trip for all meat-eating Pippins to visit my favorite BBQ – Oklahoma Joe’s joes in the back of the gas station! Taco Via is also a guilty pleasure of mine. I may also have to splurge on a night at Pierpont’s. Of course I can’t wait to have some quality time with my family and friends. Hopefully a stroll through the Plaza and maybe an afternoon with our show doggies in Loose Park. I wish we were in town longer than one week!
Q. What do you want to tell Kansas Citians about PIPPIN?
A. PIPPIN is a show everyone can connect with. It’s message is so relatable. It’s also such a magical, gorgeous production that I’m so very proud to be a part of and to bring to my hometown. Your jaw will be on the floor! It’s absolutely a must see!!!