Local stage a springboard

As she prepares to bring yet another crowd-pleasing show to the Northwest suburbs, Schaumburg On Stage founder Carol Lynch is reflecting on the professional success many of the 11-year-old youth ensemble's past and present actors are enjoying.

Even the "Beauty and the Beast" production coming to Schaumburg's Prairie Center for the Arts this week features four young cast members who've found professional work elsewhere.

Cast member Trace Hamilton, a 15-year-old Bartlett High School sophomore from Carol Stream, recently finished work in Nashville on 27 episodes of "Live Big: The Station," a program that ties into Methodist Sunday schools' curriculums by showing how Bible verses tie into the lives of teens today.

He found the work quite different from the stage acting he's done for school and Schaumburg On Stage. Though he found the new experience educational, he missed the danger and need for improvisational skills that come with performing for an audience.

At the Prairie Center, he'll be seen playing LeFou, sidekick to the vain Gaston.

"It's an overall funny character," Hamilton said. "He's a fun part. He's getting kicked around and pushed around for the whole show."

Sisters Ava, Lila and Mia Snaidauf of Elk Grove Village are regular performers at the American Girl Theater in Chicago. Ava is a member of the ensemble cast in "Beauty and the Beast," while Lila and Mia will swap the role of Chip, Mrs. Potts' young son, in different performances.

Several past cast members of Schaumburg On Stage are already finding success in pursuing professional careers as actors.

B.J. Skahill, who played Daddy Warbucks in a Schaumburg On Stage production of "Annie," is now part of a national tour of "Evita."

Danielle Zyrkowski of Schaumburg once played Arielle to David Geinosky's Ren in Schaumburg On Stage's production of "Footloose." Today Zyrkowski has a six-month contract performing on Holland America Cruise Lines while Zyrkowski starred in the New York premiere of the musical "The Happy Time" last year.

Lynch's daughter, Colleen, who played Millie in last year's production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" is now a freshman at the University of Oklahoma and one of a select few chosen to join a workshop for a new musical.

If you go

What: Schaumburg On Stage's "Beauty and the Beast"

When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Feb. 1-2; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and Feb. 2-3

Where: Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg

Cost: $18, $16 for students and seniors age 62 and older

Call: (847) 345-0092 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.