When singer Kim Snyder first saw THE SOUND OF MUSIC on stage at Kickapoo High School, she knew where she wanted to be. At just eight years old, Snyder began dreaming of taking her own turn on the stage.

“I told myself and everyone who would listen, ‘I’m going to be up there one day. I’m going to do that,’” she recalled. “High school came around and yes, I did that.”

After graduation, Snyder stepped back from performing and felt unsure about her future in musical theatre. Then came an opportunity she had been waiting for since childhood. Springfield Little Theatre announced auditions for THE SOUND OF MUSIC. It was a full circle moment she couldn’t resist.

“I thought, I will be lucky if I even make a callback,” Snyder admitted. “Lo and behold, my first show out I had a small role. I was Sister Sophia and after that, I was hooked. I couldn’t stop.”

A string of lead roles at the Landers followed. Snyder found she was drawn to Rodgers and Hammerstein titles including CAROUSEL and OKLAHOMA! Other favorites included MARY POPPINS and PETER PAN. Music was always a passion for Snyder, and she enjoyed diving into so many classics.

“My mom would always sing with my sister and I,” she recalled. “I was singing harmony on stage at church when I was two. It was just a gift. God gives us gifts. That was just one of them. My mom really helped me with that, and I started taking piano lessons and everything just grew from there.”

Snyder began her career as a music teacher in Springfield. She transitioned to 2^nd and 3^rd grade classroom in Rogersville and has now returned to music education.

After grabbing attention with show stopping vocal performances, Snyder’s music and education training stood out to SLT staff. As the education department grew and added more youth opportunities, Snyder was tapped to teach.

“I did that first show and [SLT Executive Director] Beth Domann said, ‘Hey, you’re a music teacher. We could use some help at Summer Stages doing some of these kid shows. Are you interested?’ I was like, ‘Well, absolutely!’” Snyder explained.

She began teaching voice through summer programs and six-week education series classes. Her vocal expertise and ease with children was apparent. A solid track record culminated in an offers to be music director. She began with THE LITTLEST ANGEL and BUGSY MALONE JR. Suddenly, the tally of shows she has music directed reach an incredible 35 over 20 years. She specializes in youth shows but has also music directed on the mainstage for titles including A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL, FOOTLOOSE, and ALL SHOOK UP.

“I was counting them up and I was like, are you kidding me? 35 shows at SLT. Pretty crazy,” Snyder marveled. “I have all the scripts in my back bedroom closet. They’re all lined up. I cherish those so much.”

One of Snyder’s greatest joys as a teacher is watching her students develop their skills and talents. Over two decades, she has watched several of her pupils grow into professional careers.

“I just wanted to fill you all with the love for performing and then give you the confidence that you could do anything you set your mind to,” Snyder explained. “I hope that I really was able to be a part of that.”

Snyder has been grateful to be involved in the SLT programs for so many years and has enjoyed watching the programs grow.

“We started out with just a few people in the classes and now there are so many opportunities. It’s just grown leaps and bounds. Ever since [Education Director] Lorianne [Dunn] was able to procure The Judy, it’s grown even more. I’m so proud of what she’s done there. I’m so happy to have had a small part in it since the beginning.”

Former SLT students include performer Amelia Jo Parish and even two members of the SEUSSICAL creative team – Josh Inmon and Brandon Russell. Russell performed nationally as an opera singer and is now MT/Pop/Rock Voice Specialist at Missouri State University. After years of guiding young artists, Snyder still learns things from the people she once taught.

“I used to music direct Brandon in shows. He is phenomenal,” Snyder praised. “By far the best music director I’ve ever worked with. He’s amazing. I’ve learned so much from him just in the last month.”

Returning to perform in a high energy musical has not been an easy road. Snyder stars as Mrs. Mayor in SEUSSICAL, her first role since PETER PAN nearly a decade ago.

“The dancing is much harder than I remember. Honestly, I’m not even doing that much dancing, but I have to write it down,” Snyder laughed. “It used to be a lot more natural for me, but luckily in this one, everything rhymes, so it’s a lot easier to remember. It’s a good way to get back in.”

Keeping up with director Lorianne Dunn’s big, bold choreography is a challenge for any performer, but particularly for Snyder who had major surgery only a year ago. She had a spinal operation and is still feeling physical and mental effects from the procedure. Snyder admits she missed being on stage, but she didn’t feel confident auditioning. Luckily, her fiancé was rooting her on.

“[SEUSSICAL] came up and just something inside of me said, ‘Just try out. Just do it. Just do it.’ I thought I was too old, I thought I would never make it, but here I am,” she smiled. “My fiancé encouraged me to try out. I was like, ‘No, I’m not gonna do it.’ And he was like, ‘You have to. You have to try out because you’ll never know if you don’t try out.’ I made it and he was like, ‘It’s perfect!’”

Despite clocking hours at late night rehearsals, Snyder is still teaching full time and instructing at SLT. She shows up for Honor Choir at 7:00 am many mornings then sings and dances late into the night. “I go go go, then I go to rehearsal after that. I thrive on that. If I don’t have something to do, then I’m totally bored.”

As a long-time educator, Snyder still loves learning, especially from former students. She has continued to explore and grow throughout SEUSSICAL rehearsals and encourages everyone in SLT programs to take advantage of the immense creativity and knowledge around them.

“I would just tell people to listen to your directors and just be still and allow what they say to sink in,” Snyder urged. “Lorianne is so brilliant and she has such amazing things to say. Same thing with Brandon. Same thing with Josh. Same thing with Jessica [Bower]. If everyone, including adults, would just be still and listen to them, who knows what that could do for not only your performance, but your life in general.”

SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL tickets are available now through May 10.