Whiz Kid: A Lead Performer

This week’s Whiz Kid, Sarah Nadler, says that she has always felt at home on the stage. 

Sarah is this year’s female lead, Marian Paroo, in the currently running USCHS production of “.” This leading lady is familiar with what it means to be a star – she was last year’s female lead as well as the part of Fiona in “Brigadoon.” 

Sarah says that she realized her love of music as early as elementary school choir, and fell in love with the stage when she had a solo in her fourth grade musical, “It’s Saturday.” In seventh grade, Sarah had another solo part in the “Broadway Review.” 

But it was the eighth grade musical, interestingly the junior version of “The Music Man,” where Sarah knew that her love of performing was more than just a phase.  Sarah shared the part of Marian Paroo – the same part she plays this year – with good friend Madeline Kushner, and it was during this production that she recognized that she wanted to pursue theater not only as an interest, but also as a career.

As a freshman and sophomore in high school, Sarah was an active part of the musical as a member of the chorus. 

“That’s just how it goes when you’re an underclassman,” she explained.  “It’s so much fun just being with your friends and working together.” 

“Being a lead is different,” Sarah admitted, “It comes with more worries and more stress.” 

She learned this as a junior in Brigadoon and doesn’t feel any less pressure this second time around. 

“You don’t get to just hang out in the dressing rooms or backstage.  You have to pay attention to cues and when you go on.”

“But being a lead is very rewarding,” Sarah said, “And I just get to do what I love – singing and performing.”

Sarah is a member of other performing groups at the high school beyond the musical including Thespians, a number of choir groups, and the Wind Ensemble.  Serious about her music, she studies and practices outside of school as well, taking private voice and oboe lessons.

Look for Sarah Nadler far beyond the USCHS stage. Though she’s currently debating between colleges (she’s narrowed it down to Penn State, Duquesne, and Baldwin-Wallace) she plans to study voice performance and to continue entertaining audiences near and far with her talents.

Soft-spoken and modest, Sarah asks readers to focus on more than just the leading roles in this year’s musical. 

“The Boyce kids are adorable – great actors and really funny,” she says.  “Look all over the stage; little things are easily missed.” 

But at the end of that curtain call, Sarah, that applause is for you. Break a leg!