How SLT Alum Amelia Jo Parish Leapt to Professional Contracts and a National Tour

On stage, Chicago based performer Amelia Jo Parish is magnetic. Her warm, bubbly persona translates to lovable characters that audiences root for. She flexes powerful vocals and bold performances that feel completely natural, but Parish insists that polishing her talents required a lot of hard work. Springfield Little Theatre was a major part of the training ground that helped her grow into starring roles.

“I learned about SLT just from going and seeing such wonderful productions. It was definitely a place where I was seeing that I wanted to get up on stage,” Parish reflected. “I started doing School’s Out Workshops and Play in a Day at SLT. I auditioned for a few things, and then I got to be in CINDERELLA in 2007, and it was just a blast. That’s how I started – through the education program.”

Parish is now living the actor’s dream, and she sees threads from her SLT years running through every aspect of her career. Her resume boasts professional contracts around the country and the lead role in a national tour. Parish says that some of her earliest professional credits came onto her radar through SLT relationships. She landed her first contract in a Tent Theatre production of OKLAHOMA! while only a teenager when SLT Education Director Lorianne Dunn promoted the audition.

“I love when Lorianne talks about being a sponge and following those leads. I got to work with Lorianne, who choreographed that show, so I got to do an equity show in high school so I could really see what this world was that I was getting into,” Parish marveled. “So many of my friends that I have worked with and that I have met through SLT have gone on to be friends that I have done things with professionally, like Cody Collier and Imari Stout.”

Fellow SLT alums Collier and Stout have also developed careers in the theatre. Stout has acted on network TV, performed in a national tour, and is now Production Manager of High Tide Theatrical. Collier toured in the original cast of the North American leg of Nickelodeon and Hasbro’s PEPPA PIG LIVE. He eventually became Associate Director of that tour and urged Parish to audition. She rose to the occasion and utilized the SLT facilities to prepare her audition.

“Cody asked me to audition and then I booked a studio at The Judy and filmed it,” Parish explained. “I do think it’s such a lifelong community that you’re joining when you’re joining SLT. It’s not just that stage. You’re there for each other throughout it all, giving each other tips.”

Her preparation and dedication landed Parish the title role of Peppa in the US/Canadian tour of PEPPA PIG’S ADVENTURE. The show blends high energy performance and puppetry for young audiences. It’s a highly physical, demanding role, but Parish has nothing but smiles when she remembers the experience.

“PEPPA was so much fun. I loved going on tour,” she gushed. “Just the fact that I’ve gotten to work contracts – as soon as one ends, there’s no promise that another one is ever gonna come, so you really soak that in. I’m just grateful that I’ve gotten so many opportunities to stretch my wings and be part of a show. That’s my favorite thing to do.”

The roles haven’t stopped for Parish. She has appeared in GREASE at The Muny, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE at Goodspeed Opera House, ONE MAN, TWO GUV’NORS at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, HAIRSPRAY at Timber Lake Playhouse and more. Although expectations are high and there’s a rigor to working at a professional level, Parish felt that her SLT experience had prepared for the rehearsal process.

“It’s definitely a different schedule, but other than that, [SLT is] doing such great work on a limited schedule, which I think is really impressive and a testament to the passion that everybody is bringing to the plate,” Parish admired. “We’re not rehearsing all day long. We only have three hours at the end of the day. If anything, I feel like we’re working doubly hard in those three hours. I think that that’s cool that there are people that are willing to do that and put that extra work in. I learned at SLT how to behave at a professional theater.”

Parish emphasized that preparedness is key when cast and crew are volunteering their time. Rehearsals are brief and there’s not much time to refresh memories. After a full day of work and family obligations, to come in and dedicate time to crafting a fully mounted production as a volunteer is remarkable, she observed.

“When we block a scene, we’re going to come back and have it memorized. When we learn a dance, we’re going to come back and it’s going to be ready. Because you have so little time, it makes the time you have so much more potent in rehearsal, I think” she said.

Between contracts, Parish has returned to SLT to teach, direct, and perform. In 2022, she held the lead role of Woman 1 in SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD at The Judy. Parish recalls that show running on an abbreviated rehearsal schedule.

“I think SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD went up in like a month and a half,” she recalled. “It’s always amazing when we’ve really just been meeting up in the evening and now, we’ve got a whole show and we’re going to invite the community to it. It’s different because of the time, but the effort and the talent is the same.”

Parish credits SLT with encouraging her to try her hand at multiple positions in the theatre beyond performance. That support, she says, helped her to fall in love with the whole process, take ownership, and try new things. Her journey has included being a member of Y.E.S. Troupe, assisting with Play in a Day Workshops, volunteering on crew, and working in the office.

“If you’re ready to learn and you want to learn and you’re willing to help out, they will always find a place for you to go,” Parish praised. “I don’t know that I would have believed in my own abilities to do anything other than just be on stage, but [Executive Director] Beth [Domann] and Lorianne were always like, ‘You can do this.’ I think that kind of support and belief in you before you can believe in yourself is really helpful. When you decide to do art professionally, it does look different every time. You’re not always on stage. Sometimes you are teaching, sometimes you are helping backstage. It’s better to have that spirit of, I just love being here, I love theater, and I love this process, so I want to help it happen however I can. That community minded approach to just jumping in I think is helpful and that is just very specific to SLT.”

One of Parish’s proudest accomplishments was directing an Education Series production of CHARLOTTE’S WEB at The Landers. Among all her unique experiences, she still feels that directing that cast ranks among her favorite memories.

“It was such an honor, and I am so grateful for that trust in me to be able to take on a whole production. It was one of my favorite experiences to date, for sure,” Parish smiled. “Those kids were so fun and ready to work. It was just really cool to direct something and go up on that stage. Very unique to SLT to give those opportunities and take a chance on folks.”

Parish returns to SLT as her schedule allows. She enjoys being involved with guiding the next generation of performers on their path. As for advice, she hopes that the current SLT students can appreciate the moment they’re in before they spread their wings.

“Try not to be in a rush,” Parish advises. “Soak up every moment of this because this is a place that you won’t find very often. If you audition for a show and didn’t get in, can you get on crew, can you ask if you can assistant direct? It’s such a pick-your-own-adventure at SLT. Don’t pigeonhole yourself into anything. Try and really soak every single part of it up.”

Explore opportunities for young performers to get involved this season.