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Cyber Student Is Singing a New Tune
PA Cyber 11th grader Molly Hennessey is an aspiring dance, music and theater performer. She is pictured here with her father Bill and mother Peg; the Hennessey family recently performed in the Barrow-Civic Theater’s production of ‘Kiss Me Kate.'
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa.— Like many talented and creative high school students, when class is out for the day Molly Hennessey can be found warming up for voice lessons, rehearsing in the dance studio, or reading lines for the upcoming thespian production. But for this 11th grade Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School student, Molly’s not surrounded by classmates but rather members of her local community in Slippery Rock, PA.
Since Molly was a young girl, she’s been singing and dancing her way through life. She began dancing at the age of six, excelling in hip-hop and jazz. In addition to that, she’s worked with a professional voice coach for the last six years, and has since lent her voice to a number of classical, modern and jazz recitals in her area.
Most recently, Molly began performing in local musical theater, at the prompting of her voice coach. “My voice coach told me about musicals and said that I should tryout,” said Molly. “ I needed to be motivated so she suggested I do that.”
The suggestion paid off.
Working with the Barrow-Civic Theater in Franklin, Pa., Molly has been involved in three shows over the last year including the recently wrapped production of ‘Kiss Me Kate’. “I was in the ensemble where I sang and danced,” said Molly, whose parents also performed in the show. “And I was in a lot of the numbers in the play.
“[Prior to ‘Kiss Me Kate’] I was in ‘The Sound of Music’; I played the nun and I helped with the set. And I was also in the Emerald City chorus in ‘The Wizard of Oz’.”
About a year ago, Molly enrolled as a student at PA Cyber, giving her the flexibility she needed to engage all of her interests, both inside and outside of the classroom. “PA Cyber gives me a lot more time to focus on singing and dancing,” she explained, “so that played a big factor in my decision to go here.”
Molly’s Instructional Supervisor, Chad Rea said that in the year he’s worked with Molly, she’s left quite an impression on him. “Molly is an upbeat young lady who is very easy to work with…It is nice to work with a student who has such a high level of dedication to academics and the arts.”
With still has a year of school left to go, this growing performer says there’s more to come on the stage, due to the shear enjoyment of it all. “The thing I like best about performing is just having a good time and being with my friends.”
-Toni Cicone