Karen Nazor HillMy four children and two stepchildren grew up playing sports — swimming, soccer, baseball (additionally, the girls also took ballet lessons). On any given night, with the exception of Sunday, the kids were at a meet, in a game or dancing.
My grandkids are growing up pretty much the same way. Tilleigh, 8, swims, and Evie, 5, plays soccer. William, 2, is too young to play sports, but his day is coming. Tilleigh, though, is doing something none of the Nazor or Hill children did — she performs in live plays. Tilleigh is an actress and, like most sports, acting requires dedication and, for the most part, teamwork.
Most recently, she acted in “The Big Bad Musical” at the Mountain Arts Community Center on Signal Mountain. It was her sixth play there in the last two years, all under the direction of Colleen Laliberte. And Tilleigh loves it.
I’ve never been a fan of live theater until now. I guess that’s why I never considered getting my children involved in it. Besides, I knew how hard it would be to pursue a career as an actress. Sports, on the other hand, helps you stay in good physical shape, and swimming is an especially good sport because it is something you can do for the rest of your life.
But now that Tilleigh is in theater, I definitely see the benefits. It has given her a new level of confidence. She has no qualms about performing before an audience. She’s not hesitant to deliver her lines. As outgoing as I am, I am still a bit nervous when I have to speak before an audience. Not Tilleigh.