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5/20/2020

Taking Flight: Calista Zajac

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Calista Zajac in the 2019 French Creek Theatre production of Tuck Everlasting Photo: Andy Dudik
​It was during rehearsals in last summer’s production of the musical Tuck Everlasting at French Creek Theatre, which is based on a children's novel by Natalie Babbitt, that I first noticed that Calista Zajac prances rather than walks, as if always on the verge of breaking into dance. Or taking flight.  She played an 11-year-old living in the woods of New Hampshire, a lead role, who must make a decision with everlasting consequences.
 
And she sings show tunes 24/7.  These and other noticeable symptoms of someone born to perform musical theater have contributed to an impressive professional resume, talent agency representation and placement at the top of the short list of most sought-after local actors. 
 
“While most kids her age are listening to Ariana Grande,” notes her Mom, Jessica, who blames herself and her husband, Louie, for giving Calista the acting itch by exposing her to Broadway musicals when she was just 3½ years old, “Calista listens to Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz and Ben Platt.”  Louie, having performed “legendary” spotlight work while at North Royalton High School, credits his daughter’s immense talent to heredity. 
 
Perhaps, but Calista’s remarkable drive, unyielding dedication, laser focus, and years of vocal training at Helen Todd Voice Studio in Cleveland Hts. and dance lessons at Emjaez Dance Studio in Bay Village haven’t hurt.  She is particularly adept at losing herself in her characters while, at the same time, finding something of herself to inform their portrayals.  And she finds joy in absolutely everything.
 
For the full article, go to: http://canvascle.com/calista-zajac/

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    About the Author

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    Bob Abelman is a syndicated theater critic and entertainment feature writer in Cleveland, Ohio.  He is also a professional actor who, as a younger man, appeared on and off-Broadway.   A professor emeritus at Cleveland State University, Bob is the author of 12 scholarly books and hundreds of articles in academic journals and popular magazines.  Coming soon is ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE FRIGHT,  a fictional memoir of a clandestine theater critic who embeds himself in a professional production of the comedy As You Like It, to overcome a debilitating fear of Shakespeare and turn in a decent performance.  A quick laugh-out-loud novel,  ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE FRIGHT is written for those who love theater and need Shakespeare's gorgeous words now more than ever.

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