Sunday, February 5, 2023
  • Advertise
  • Submit Story Idea
  • Submit Event
  • Calendar
Arlington Today Magazine
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • People
    • Community
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
    • Uncategorized
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • People
    • Community
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
    • Uncategorized
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Arlington Today Magazine

Not a bad rep

ArlingtonToday Magazine by ArlingtonToday Magazine
March 5, 2018
in Arlington News, Business and Education, Community, People
0 0
0
Not a bad rep
0
SHARES
676
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

When Kirstin Maldonado first walked through the doors at Theatre Arlington she was so spunky and lively and overly eager the girl had to be hosed down.

Related posts

February 3, 2023

February 3, 2023

I’m kidding.
Sort of.

The truth is that those who first noticed Maldonado saw something special right away: a bouncy outlier in floppy pigtails.
She had, as they say, “it.” Even at age eight. Maldonado was put on the I-gotta-do-this-or-I’ll-lose-my-mind track, which at Theatre Arlington means intensive classes, summer camp, voice lessons, acting lessons, productions, the works.

“It was clear from the start that this is something she had to do,” says Valerie Galloway, Theatre Arlington’s Executive Director.

After Martin High School, Maldonado enrolled in the University of Oklahoma Music Theatre Department but bolted early to sing with some guys on an a cappella music competition television show few had heard of. Called themselves Pentatonix. Won the competition, not to mention multiple Grammys and a huge, fanatical following.

There’s a photo in Theatre Arlington’s administrative office of about 30 kids (and then education director Todd Hart) that tells the story of this place far better than mere words. The cast pic for “School House Rock Live Jr.” shows not just a cheesing Maldonado sprawled on the floor but also a baby-faced Jennifer Stone, who would go on to star on “Wizards of Waverly Place,” Graham Galloway, now director of BarWine Comedy Troupe in New York, Dallas-based actors Parker Fitzgerald and Caitlin Galloway, Los Angeles actor Kolt Atchley, Chicago actor Alex Hardaway and Connor Lidell, a voice professor at NYU.

There are others who didn’t go into the profession but hang around because it’s in their blood, such as Kylie Reynolds, a statistician and Theatre Arlington Board Member.

It’s like an all-star team before they became all stars. It represents the true legacy of this nugget of performance art that has grown steadily and right under our noses. Not in the photo: alums like Major Attaway (currently the Genie in the Broadway hit “Aladdin”), Akron Watson (an American Idol performer who recently finished “Color Purple” on Broadway and is currently in “The Play That Goes Wrong”) and Allison Tolman (earned Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for the television series “Fargo.”

Maldonado’s Pentatonix mate Mitch Grassi was also under the tutelage of Hart (Cindy Honeycutt is the current education director).

Most don’t know that Theatre Arlington is the second oldest live theatre in Tarrant County and the fifth largest in the country. While the theatre didn’t start as youth-only, a testament to its success is a strong education program that can take wannabes as young as age four.

“That’s where we draw a lot, having been here 45 years,” Galloway says. “Talent that started as kids and have moved on in and outside the field.”

Theatre Arlington has a two-tier program – kids who don’t necessarily want to be actors or “stars” – and those who would cut off their right arm to be.

It’s a win-win, actually. Even those who don’t wake up picturing themselves on Broadway get an assortment of life skills. “It helps them whether they know what they want to do or don’t know exactly,” says Galloway.
Maldonado knew. She told Playbill’s Broadway.com recently how Broadway “has been my ultimate bucket-list goal since I was eight years old.”

Well, scratch it off now that she’s playing the role of Lauren in the long running play “Kinky Boots!” through April 8. “It’s really exciting to fulfill two dreams,” says Maldonado, who released her solo EP, “LOVE,” this past fall. “I think the most fulfilling thing you can do in an artistic career is to do all these different things. I’m so eager and excited to add all this to my rep.”

So is Theatre Arlington. And what a rep it is.

 

 

Columnist Kenneth Perkins has been a contributing writer for Arlington Today since it debuted. He is a freelance writer, editor and photographer.

Related Posts

  • Arlington Entrepreneurs

    A spotlight on Arlington business owners and what makes them unique.

  • From Arlington to the Amazon

    This UTA student is unconcerned with the naysayers. She's taking her anthropology degree and making…

  • Real Estate Professionals

     

Tags: Martin High SchoolPentatonixtheatre arlingtonWe Know Arlington
Lively & Associates

Follow Us

  • But first   coffee    The Arlington Dunkin    located at 5801 Office Park Dr  today announced it will help keep the community running with a happy hour celebration offer throughout the remainder of August  Every day beginning now through Monday  August 31  guests can power through the rest of the month and receive a FREE  Medium Hot or Iced Coffee with any purchase from 2-6 PM   On behalf of local Arlington Dunkin    franchisee  Hiren Patel  Dunkin    is proud to keep Arlington running throughout the month of August
  • Nothing soothes the soul like a trip to the Majestic Smoky Mountains  Read all about the Greene family   s    COVID-cation    and travel safety in the link in our bio
  • Read the latest message from UTA   s interim president  Teik C  Lim  by clicking the link in our bio
  • The City of Arlington announces Unity Council  Read all about this positive way for the city in the link in our bio
  • Here   s to the All Stars  Click the link in our bio to find the complete list of Arlington Today   s 2020 All Star businesses in over 160 categories
  • Put DFW Restaurant week on YOUR calendar  Support your favorite Arlington and local DFW restaurants this August 31-September 6 during restaurant week    For more info and participating restaurants  click the link in our bio
  • This Arlington radio station is making movie magic   Read all about Crystal Vasquez and her upcoming documentary about local radio station     The Ticket     by clicking the link in our bio
  • With the school year starting soon  it   s important to know what   s going on  Read all about AISD and MISD   s back to school plans in the link in our bio
  • August is for the All Stars        Click the link in our bio to read our latest edition of Arlington Today and check out your local All  Star businesses
  • 12 Mighty Orphans: There’s a fascinating ‘story behind the story’ regarding this fine film

    12 Mighty Orphans: There’s a fascinating ‘story behind the story’ regarding this fine film

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • March Scene

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Visionary Who Didn’t Give Up

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Boot-scootin’ Boogie

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • In case of emergency: Mansfield Fire Department introduces the ‘Vial of Life’ initiative to keep residents on the ready

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Arlington Today Magazine

Arlington Texas Area News and Events Magazine

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

  • (no title)
  • (no title)
  • (no title)

Category

  • Arlington News
  • Business and Education
  • Commentary
  • Community
  • Design and Interiors
  • Featured
  • People
  • Scene
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized
  • Wellness

Recent News

February 3, 2023

February 3, 2023
  • Advertise
  • Submit Story Idea
  • Submit Event
  • Calendar

© 2022 Arlington Today - Designed by Advent Trinity Marketing Agency Web Design

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • Community
    • People
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Arlington Today - Designed by Advent Trinity Marketing Agency Web Design

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add Arlington Today Magazine to your Homescreen!

Add