Thursday, Dec. 13 2012 4:37PM
Sisters act
By Russ Pulley
rpulley@lsjournal.com
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ReprintHaley and Catie Wolff, of Lee’s Summit, are having a busy holiday season this year, between school and acting in the Kansas City Repertory’s production of “A Christmas Carol.”
Haley Wolff, 14, was in the production last year too. She said it’s exciting and challenging.
“It’s very cool environment and we’re not treated like little kids,” Haley said. “You have to do exactly what you’re there to do. I feel like it’s kind of fun to be treated like an adult and be in their shoes.”
She said it is a lot of work. She’s been in too many performances to count since Nov. 16. The production ends Dec. 26.
Catie also will be Kirstie at Coterie Theatre’s “Number the Stars” in January and in February Haley will be Marie in Lee’s Summit High School’s “On the Razzle.”
Haley said she’s wanted to be an actress since “I was a baby” and is in a theater class at school.
She said she and her sister don’t miss too much school because of their commitments to the repertory theater and their parents don’t mind “as long as we keep our grades up.”
Actors in the children’s ensemble don’t get paid, but audition, sign contracts, rehearse and have all the responsibilities of any other player, said Laura Muir, director of communications for the Kansas City Repertory.
She said the children’s ensemble have non-speaking roles in a variety of street or party scenes, are essential to the charm of the story.
“Having the children in A Christmas Carol is vital to its success,” Muir said.
There are 17 children in the ensemble, she said, all who earned their roles by audition. Some who do a good job come back year after year. Because of the many shows and rehearsals they are in two casts and perform every other day, Muir said.
“It’s hard work and these kids are troopers,” Muir said.
After seeing how much her sister enjoyed being the show Catie, 12, this auditioned this year. She’s a student at Pleasant Lea Middle School.
“I like to see all the smiling people and people singing along with us,” she said.
Catie also will be Kirstie at Coterie Theatre’s Number The Stars in January and in February Haley will be Marie in Lee’s Summit High School’s “On the Razzle.”
Catie thinks acting will be a life-long hobby, not a potential career. She said she’s not sure what she’d like to do professionally.
“Marine biologist, maybe,” she said.
For ticket information: www.kcrep.org or call the box office at 816-235-2700.
