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Meet the Barrymore Voters: Kyleen Shaw

The Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre started in 1995, and celebrates the rich, diverse theatre community through a peer-adjudicated process. In the 2017-18 Season, we have 70 nominators and 12 judges that will see over 100 professional productions. Our expanded pool of voters this season represents the exciting and diverse theatre community that is thriving in Philadelphia. This entry is part of a profile series to introduce you to the voters who are an integral part of the Barrymore process.

Name: Kyleen Shaw

What is your current role in the Philadelphia theatre community?: Singer and Actress

What was the first theatre production you were involved in, and what did you learn from it?: As an adult, the first theater production I performed in was an original called "Oz In Concert" in Lancaster, PA. It's when I fell back in love with musical theater again. I quickly learned that it's the direction I wanted my musical career to go in.

What is your education and training experience?: I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Broadcasting, Telecommunication & Mass Media from Temple University. I took private vocal lessons and music business and production classes during my time there as well. After I graduated, I took musical theater classes at the Walnut Street Theatre as well as private acting lessons.

How did you first get involved in the Philadelphia theatre community?: Studying at the Walnut Street Theatre was the beginning of my presence in this city. I formed a great friendship with one of the Teaching Artists and went on to study with them privately. My coaches were the ones who introduced me to Theatre Philadelphia and encouraged me to become more involved in the community outside of productions.

What made you want to be a nominator/judge for the Barrymore Awards?: I thought it would be a great way to build a deeper connection to theater in Philly, and I'm in love with the idea of having an opportunity to experience more live art in the city. It's a privilege!

If you weren’t working in theatre, what other job do you think you would be doing?: I'm in love with theater, so this is definitely a difficult question to answer. But, music is my passion, so I would be teaching music and putting on my own solo shows.

What show would you love to work on that you haven’t gotten a chance to yet?: Dreamgirls or The Color Purple.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in the theatre industry?: Just keep going. Don't be afraid to ask questions. And remember that EVERYONE was where you are at some point. So, surround yourself with humble, motivating and hard-working people and propel one another forward. That's something I'm still working on.

If you could have dinner with any four people, living or dead, who would they be and why?: OMG...only four?? Lol. Shoshana Bean, Alicia Keys, Billy Porter and Loretta Devine.

Keep up with all the shows our Barrymore Nominators and Judges are seeing this season by checking out What's On Stage in Philly this week!

 

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