PITTSBURG, Kan. — As children grow into adults, their career choice changes drastically, based on many factors, and many people abandon their dreams. But Addilyn Streeter, a recent graduate from St. Mary’s Colgan, is pursuing what she loves with determination.
In the fall, Streeter will enroll in The Jeanine Larson Dobbins Conservatory of Theatre and Dance in Cape Girardeau, where she will double major in dance and musical theatre.
“My dream would be to be on Broadway,” she said. “Or just try to keep performing professionally and do what I love.”
Both Streeter and her mother, Brooklyn, said some people seemed skeptical about her choice. But Streeter’s family is supportive of her dream.
“It's been an interesting process, and what we've told her is even if it doesn't work out, you won't know unless you try,” Brooklyn said.
Streeter graduated as the valedictorian of her class, and she applied to many schools both in academics and performing arts. She was accepted at all eight schools that she auditioned for in the performing arts.
She chose the Dobbins Conservatory because it has one of the top 30 musical theater programs in the country. To get into Dobbins Conservatory, Streeter had to be accepted academically first, then was required to audition either in-person or submit a video. With this selective process, only a few people are offered a spot, and Streeter was one of them.
Dancing has been an important part of her life since she was three years old. For many years, she danced at the YMCA and started competing when she was 11. Two years ago, she transitioned to The Alignment Project, located at 816 N. Broadway.
During her four years of high school, Streeter danced in more than 50 competitions. In addition to performing in group routines, Streeter also had solo and duet performances. She has been first at national competitions three times, and her duet performances placed first numerous times. Last year, her group performance was one of the top eight chosen to compete in a final round, and her group won the first-place spot. Throughout her high school years, she has dedicated 30 hours per week solely to dancing.
But dancing is not Streeter’s only performing talent. Since she was 11, Streeter also has been heavily involved in singing and acting. Besides being in St. Mary’s Colgan school plays, Streeter has also joined some Pittsburg High School productions along with Pittsburg Community Theatre and Triple Threat Threeactrics.
She has attended the Kansas Thespian Festival for the past four years, earning a Superior rating for her solo songs during the first three years. Her musical theater duet with a fellow performer also earned a superior rating, and during one performance she opted to present a dance, which she choregraphed herself. Her dance earned a perfect score from judges.
In a few weeks, she will attend the International Thespian Festival in Indianapolis, and this will be here third year competing.
Her summer schedule will be full as she will continue with dance competitions and has also signed on to help choreograph routines for “Chicago: Teen Edition” for the Southeast Kansas Thespian Alliance.
Streeter’s instructors have been encouraging her to follow her passion as one of them introduced her to Will Jewett, a Southeast Kansas native who has performed on Broadway multiple times. People have also used McKenna Shaw as an example of someone locally who made a career in performing arts.
Streeter refers to The Alignment Project studio as her safe space, and she loves that she has made so many friends through dance.
“I like the fact that I can tell a story without having to say anything,” she said about what she likes about dance. “I like having somewhere to go that I like and I know it's safe.”
This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.
