SPOTLIGHT ON: CHICAGO's Kevin Steele - From Teacher to Professional Actor

When a young Kevin Steele, who plays Aaron in the upcoming touring production of Chicago presented by Theater of the Stars at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, sat down with his father as a high school senior to discuss his future, his dreams of performing were high on his list of potential careers. While his friends in Morton Grove, IL were looking at schools where they could pursue the arts, Kevin's father had other plans for his son and told him he should go to school and become a CPA. "My dreams were shattered as quickly as they began" says Kevin recalling that fateful conversation. So Kevin decided that if he could get through school he could eventually find his way back. But he had to "swallow his dreams" and move on.

After moving south to attend the University of North Texas, and following a number of changes in his major over the years, Kevin graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and began teaching in a school district outside of Dallas. After teaching for three years, however, the theatre bug that lay dormant for so long began to bite again. "It was about that time that I realized that I had not, literally, danced, sung or anything in those four years. I had just really put it on the back burner." So Kevin discovered ways to find out about auditions for local community theatre in the Dallas area. And, with a resume filled mostly with high school credits, Kevin began actively pursuing new opportunities to use his hidden talents. After an early stint as Tom Sawyer in a local production of Big River, Kevin says the press began to notice him, especially because he was a teacher by day and an actor by night.

"Little by little I kept getting involved in more and more and my days were full teaching and nights performing. I have many fond memories of grading papers off stage in between scenes until my next scene".  Soon a friend recommended Kevin check out a summer stock theatre in Oklahoma and his decision to take a leap and audition changed his life. "First I had to look in the encyclopedia to find even out what summer stock was, and then I pieced together the most mutt resume, went to Olan Mills and got a business 8 x 10, said goodbye to my students and headed to Oklahoma City". The director was so impressed with Kevin's audition that he was offered a job on the spot and the rest is, as they say, history.

Following that eventful summer, Kevin decided he had nothing to lose and with the encouragement of his choreographer, left his teaching job to head to New York to pursue a new career in the theatre. "So I moved to New York and within 3 days I had multiple call backs, and had been cast in a tour and it has literally been nonstop since then". And Kevin says he is thankful for the path that brought him there. " I don't think if I had moved to NY at the age of 21 I would have been ready for NY, I was a little too green".

So after his humble beginnings and 13 years of performing all over the world, Kevin found himself in Atlanta, which he has called home for the last 2 years. But when Kevin comes into town next week with Chicago, he will not only be coming home but will have the rare opportunity to perform in a touring production that is stopping in his own backyard. "It is so great to be able to perform and work at home. Such a small percentage of people get to live at home and do a show like this at night and I am really looking forward to that. It is going to be an exciting week because I finally get to share what I do with my friends and family".

Kevin has much love for Chicago and for this tour in particular which he has been a part of on two other occasions prior to this leg of the tour. "It's a show that I believe in, it's a show that I love. What people want is a guarantee; they want to know their money is going into something they are going to enjoy". And Chicago, Kevin says, is just that show. Another interesting facet that Kevin enjoys about Chicago is the fact that the show continues to bring in stars and constantly rotates through the leads (including the Atlanta stop which features Jerry Springer as Billy Flynn). "That keeps it fresh for me" Kevin says. "They always bring something fresh to their role and when they bring something fresh, it forces me to bring something fresh and true. I have to be present, I have to be committed and focused on stage". And the cast is kept on its toes as well as it moves from city to city, where a new stage, new challenges and a new review awaits them each place they stop. "[Those unique factors] are what keep it fresh for all of us. That is how I am able to do 8 shows a week and give it my all because there is never the same show twice, ever".

CHICAGO will play the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta from September 8 - 13, 2009. Performances are Tuesday-Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2 pm and 8 pm and Sunday at 1:30 pm and 7 pm. Tickets are on sale NOW at all Ticketmaster outlets, at 800-982-2787 and online at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices range from $20 - $67.50. Special group rates are available through the Fox Group Sales Dept. at 404-881-2000.

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