Shelby Priddy may only be a sophomore, but she doesn’t let that hold her back. The young performer started singing in sixth grade and has been involved in numerous productions at her previous school. Now she is involved in a long list of extracurricular activities including varsity choir, chamber choir, all state choir, musical theater; and she takes all pre-AP and AP classes.

“It’s a lot of work juggling so many things; I have no free time. My schedule is completely booked from June to February,” said Priddy.

This year is an exciting year for Shelby because she landed the part of Belle in the spring production, Beauty and the Beast. It is a really big deal that she got the part because first of all, she is only a sophomore, and second, she is a new student to MHS. According to the actress herself and many others involved in the musical theater business, it is not the norm for students who are either of these things to be given lead roles.

“I was definitely surprised,” Priddy said. “I felt like I had a good audition, but didn’t expect the lead role. I worked with my voice coach and theater teacher and I put a lot of effort into my audition.”

Along with the excitement and happiness that came with acquiring the role of Belle, there was also some resentment from peers because some felt that a more experienced or older actress should have gotten it.

“There was some resentment in the beginning, but as we got closer to the performance people started to accept it,” said Priddy.

Priddy is not nervous about the play and believes that they have a chance at winning a Buckley award for best musical performance, which is like the Emmys or Grammys of high school musical theater.

“I think that we have a good chance at winning a Buckley award because of our effort and because of the great people involved,” Priddy said.

Another interesting fact about Shelby is that she is the daughter of Mrs. Priddy, one of our assistant principals. The student says that the negative side of it is that teachers are stricter on her because they know that she’s an AP’s daughter. The only benefit, Shelby says laughingly, is that she “gets to use the teacher’s restroom before school.”

Come see Shelby Priddy and the rest of the all-star cast at the Performing Arts Center on February 5^th – 7^th at 7pm .