Starlight Seniors—Janie Carr

JANIE CARR
New Graduate, Shawnee Mission East High School
Blue Star Awards Student Council, 2018-20
Blue Star Awards Outstanding Actress in a Lead Role, 2019

Favorite high school experience:
Being in Chamber Choir at East.

What you missed most with school being closed:
My senior prom, final choir concerts and a real graduation!

Best experience/memory with Starlight:
Performing on the Starlight stage at the Blue Star Awards in 2019 and the whole week of the Jimmy Awards in New York City last June.

Janie Carr at The Jimmy Awards — Janie represented Starlight at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York in 2019. In this photo, she and Samuel Aubuchon, winner of the 2019 Blue Star Award for Outstanding Actor in a Lead Role, pose outside of the Minskoff Theatre, where the awards are held annually.

Advice you’d give to freshmen to help them navigate high school:
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and get to know new people.
I came from a small school to a big public school. It was a little scary at first but so much fun once I put myself out there!

How you made the most of your final virtual months of your senior year:
Making a vision board for “after quarantine” life, FaceTiming my friends often and exercising/walking my dog.

Janie Carr in The Little Mermaid — For her role as Ariel in Shawnee Mission East’s production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Janie was awarded the 2019 Blue Star Award for Outstanding Actress in a Lead Role. She went on to represent Starlight and Kansas City at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York. In this photo, she shares a scene with Prince Eric, played by Ben Blickhan.

Plans for your summer:
Performing in Les Misérables at Stage Right Performing Arts and helping to music-direct their elementary school show, Frozen Jr.

Plans for your immediate future:
Attend Texas Christian University (Fort Worth) to major in Business with a minor in Arts Administration.

Hopes/dreams for your future:
Make a difference in the theatre community by helping others as much as possible.

Favorite musical and why:
Miss Saigon

I saw it on tour in Washington D.C., and it changed my life. Such an amazing show!

Favorite song/artist and why:
Sammy Rae and her song “Kick it to Me.”

I’m obsessed with her after my friends shared with me this happy, feel-good song.

Words you live by:
“Though she be but little she is fierce!” – William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Janie Carr in Grease — Janie has been highly involved in performing with Stage Right Performing Arts, including starring as Sandy in this July 2019 production of Grease.

Why theatre?
There’s no feeling like stepping on stage and giving it your all. Whether it’s dancing, singing or acting, it’s so exhilarating!

I love trying new things on stage and sharing what I love most with others. Theatre has given me some of my greatest and strongest friendships and connection