Education Student Spotlight:

Pauline Kelley

Pauline Kelley is an 11-year-old student in a Montessori school who brings creativity, curiosity and joy into everything she does. Outside of theatre, she enjoys spending time with friends and animals, talking, babysitting, reading and drawing. But her favorite this to do is act, sing and dance.

Pauline began her journey with the Citadel Education Program when she was just 8 years old. At the time, she describes herself as quite shy, someone who didn’t enjoy speaking loudly or singing in front of others. Stepping into theatre was a big leap outside her comfort zone, but over time, Citadel became a place where she learned to grow into her voice and confidence.

Through her training and experiences in the program, Pauline has transformed in meaningful ways. She now embraces new challenges, speaks up more freely and continues to build confidence both on and off the stage. Even areas she once felt unsure about, like dancing, have started to become exciting and enjoyable thanks to the support and encouragement of her teachers.

One of Pauline’s favorite Citadel memories comes from her third production, Annie Jr.. Determined to stretch her abilities, she chose to audition for a larger role than she typically would have. She hoped for a role like Grace Farrell, but when the cast list was posted, she discovered she had been cast as Annie. This was a part that she never in her wildest dreams expected to get. She was positively ecstatic. She is so thankful for all of the opportunities Citadel has allowed her to be a part of!

Pauline continues to express deep gratitude for the opportunities Citadel has given her and the growth she has experienced along the way. Today, she is continuing her journey on stage as Donkey in Shrek JR. (May 29–31), where audiences can see her energy, humor and growing stage presence in action.

We are proud to celebrate Pauline as the first feature in our Education Student Spotlight series, an inspiring example of how courage, support and creativity can help young performers discover their voice.