Ryleigh Guelig
Pulaski High School

Parent: Rachel Dequaine
Area of Interest: Theater

When did you first get involved in theater?
I first got involved as a performer in middle school, and then transferred to tech my sophomore year of high school. Before that, I had always been someone who loved performing for my family, and I had been involved in small plays and choir for years before starting theater. I’ve now been involved in many productions, spanning from one-acts, musicals to straight-up plays.

What do you like most about theater?
I love that it’s live. There’s no going back and changing what happened at one show, you just have to keep going and improving for the next. The connection you have with the audience is one of the best feelings — you can feel the energy in the room in a way you can’t with movies or TV.

What has been your favorite experience related to theater so far?
Going to state for One Act. Being surrounded by so many people who share the same passions as you is incredible, and it’s an opportunity to see theater, meet people and create in an environment specifically catered toward theatrical interests and passions.

What’s something you hope to do/accomplish as a performer in the future?
While I don’t perform anymore, and now do tech for performances, I would love to do a production of Be More Chill. While the musical itself isn’t my favorite, the over-the-top colors and patterns, along with super simple sets mixed in with screens and the insane staging makes it seem like it would be a really fun production to be a part of.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into theater?
To just go for it. It can be scary, considering you have to learn a lot of it “on the job,” so to speak, but it will help you build a community like no other.

What six words would you use to describe yourself?
Empathetic, creative, intelligent, passionate, confident and organized.

Do you have any hidden talents?
I can roll my r’s really well.

What subject do you enjoy most in school?
Choir or English classes. I love to read and to sing, so I feel really at home in both of those classes.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?
People chewing with their mouth open.

Where do you hope to travel one day?
I would love to go anywhere. I want to travel to, and see, as many places as I possibly can.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
To make sure you are doing things for yourself, and not because someone else told you to.

Who is your role model?
My mom. I know it’s cheesy but she is one of the strongest women I know, and she always puts her best into supporting me and my siblings’ passions and interests.

What plans do you have for after you’ve finished school?
I am going to college for political science, but I am still going to be involved in local theater productions and the performance arts. It’s my outlet and I don’t think I could ever give it up.

If you could switch lives with anyone for a day, who would you choose?
Probably a popular singer or actress. It was my dream job as kid, so I feel like it would be full circle.

Do you have any pets?
I have a black lab mix named Arista; 3 cats named Bubbles, Gonzo and Poe; and we raise chickens.

What’s one skill you think everyone should have?
Basic life skills. How to make pasta, mend a hole and do laundry. I’ve been surprised at the amount of people I’ve met who don’t know how to do these things.

Are you a Green Bay Packers fan?
Yes! Cheeseheads for life. I don’t watch football often, but I’m loyal to the Packers.

FAVORITES
Song: “TEARS!” by 5 Seconds Of Summer
Book: Aphrodite Made Me Do It by Trista Mateer
Show: One Day At A Time
Movie: Labyrinth
Color: Lavender
Season: Spring
Time of day: Sunset
Local restaurant: Gustos Italian Eatery & Pub
Snack: Cheese popcorn
Candy: Sour Patch Kids

Each week, City Pages highlights a local student who is involved in arts and entertainment at their school and/or in their community.

Fill out this form for a chance to be featured in an upcoming issue. Email Janelle Fisher at [email protected] with any questions.