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July 11, 2022

Features, News • July 11, 2022

Young Lakewood local stars as Dorothy in the Marriott’s production of The Wizard of Oz

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Lakewood local Campbell Krausen, 16, stars as Dorothy and Reggie the dog will play Toto in the Marriott Theatre's production of The Wizard of Oz

Lakewood local Campbell Krausen, 16, stars as Dorothy and Reggie the dog will play Toto in the Marriott Theatre’s production of The Wizard of Oz.

LAKEWOOD — When Campbell Krausen, 16, isn’t busy completing her homeschool curriculum, she puts all of her focus on her next big audition in the hopes of furthering her acting career.

Krausen told My Huntley News that she has always wanted to be an actress and remembers telling her parents about her aspirations at the age of seven.

“So, the reason I chose acting is because I love telling stories and I love really telling the story of the little guy and spreading empathy and understanding. Making people happy,” Krausen said.

The Marriott Theatre (10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire), has presented more than 180 productions to an estimated 11 million people and is where Krausen made her professional acting debut by starring as the eldest von Trapp sibling, Liesl, in the theatre’s production of The Sound of Music.

“Booking the Marriott, that really was insane. I never thought I’d be able to do that this early in my career and I’m just so happy that people have faith in me. It’s like the biggest thing because I didn’t see that coming at all,” Krausen explained. “It was mostly like ‘Okay, I’ll do classes. I’ll go to college and then maybe if I’m really lucky, I’ll get in Equity (Library) Theatre in Chicago to see me for a callback.’ So, I actually cannot believe that I’ve come this far this quickly, but I’m not taking it for granted either.”

Currently, Krausen is starring as Dorothy in the Marriott’s production of The Wizard of Oz, with the first show beginning on July 8 and going through Aug. 7.

As for who her biggest acting role models are, Krausen states that she is most inspired by Rachel Zegler and Sadie Sink.

“I’ve been watching Rachel since I was about 11. She started singing on YouTube and then she starred in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story and I’d love to do anything like that. I’m also a very big Sadie Sink fan. I’ve been watching the new season of Stranger Things and she’s just unbelievable,” she said.

Krausen stated that for her, the most challenging part of being an actress is trying to express a range of emotions in short periods, citing her role as Liesl in The Sound of Music as an example.

“It was very like the happiest I’ve ever been to utterly betrayed and heartbroken the next minute. So, it took a lot of work to know myself well enough to know what will get me into that deep, dark space and also know myself well enough on how to get me out of it,” she said.

Being so young, it can more often than not be difficult to manage a blossoming acting career with schoolwork and other outside activities, however, Krausen maintains a positive attitude each step of the way.

“Most of the time when I’m not in a production, I’m in class. So, I take a lot of classes at Actors Training Center in Wilmette. They do really great programs and at Raue Center in Crystal Lake. They also do some really, really great stuff,” said Krausen. “So, I’m always working in some way, and then with school, it’s just my mom is great about just like ‘When you get around to doing school.’ Just like ‘You got to graduate.’ It’s really the goal.”

Krausen added that since most of her friends are in theatre, they are completely supportive and understanding of her busy schedule.

For those looking into getting started in an acting career, Krausen says to “just keep working.”

“Get in those classes. Get people’s opinions. Respect that some people know better than you do. That’s always a really big one and listen to their advice. Just ask good questions. Stay in class. You’re going to get there,” added Krausen.

While recently Krausen has been cast as more lively, innocent characters, she explained that in the future, she would be interested in playing darker roles.

“I’d love to play a character that’s like really angsty. You know, your Lydia in Beetlejuice. Just like a lot of feelings and you got to belt about it. That I think I’m really interested in, but I’m also very happy being the ingénue,” she said.

Seeing how the entertainment industry is ever changing, Krausen shared her goals for where she sees herself in the next five years.

“I’d like to work in television and in theatre and if I’m not being cast, I’d want to make stuff for myself. I’m very interested in writing and producing short films like with my friends and I’m hoping to go to college [and] get into a good theatre program, hopefully,” Krausen said. “Just keep going. I don’t want to stop working.”

Krausen says that audience members who go see the Marriott Theatre’s production of the Wizard of Oz will be pleased with the more child-friendly presentation as it is only a one-hour show.

“It’s just really quick, but also how much story you can tell in that small period of time I think people will really enjoy and also some casting decisions that we’ve made. Like our Scarecrow is being played by a woman (Allison Sill) and she is wonderful. So, just little differences here and there,” she said.