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Todd Tschida and Kelly Gallego rehearse the play's soda shop scene. (Observer photos/PHIL BULLOCK).

By Jeff Petersen

Observer Staff Writer

Like many of us, Kelly Gallego (pronounced Guy-eh-go) grew up loving to play pretend.

Then Alaska was her bigger-than-life stage.

Today the stage is the Lyle Schwarz Theatre on the Eastern Oregon University campus. The 22-year-old fifth-year senior from Anchorage with a major in liberal studies and minors in history and theater is playing her first lead in "Our Town," which opens April 15. Gallego plays Emile Webb opposite veteran actor Todd Tschida's George Gibbs.

For Gallego, pretend games soon became acting for real. Her first stage roles were as a student at Anchorage's Heritage Christian High School. She "really, really got hooked" the first year of college at the University of Alaska-Anchorage, which she attended for two years before transferring to EOU.

Now she is among the many actors and actresses preparing for opening night. Gallego says she is gaining invaluable knowledge working with "an experienced (cast and crew) that has been in the trenches a long time and has a lot of knowledge to share."

She is glad for a chance to work alongside Tschida.

"Todd has done so many shows, and working with someone of that experience is very helpful," Gallego said.

Among the many tasks that must be accomplished before opening night is memorizing lines. Every actor has his own technique. For Gallego, repetition is the key. She tries to master not only her own lines but also cue lines, which are other actors' lines spoken just before hers.

"The first time through the script I read all my lines three times," she said. "Then I try to read them over again every day."

Gallego credits director Ken Bush for honing her skills and getting her more into character.

"As of lately, he's been encouraging me to be in the moment, to hear the words as the character and not myself and then respond."

Her mother, Patty, too, has played a big role in her success, not just as an actress but in every facet of life.

"She's always encouraged me no matter what I do to give it my all," Kelly said. "Good or bad, she's always been there."

So what's the future hold for Gallego? The role in "Our Town" will give way to a year in the Masters of Teaching Education program at EOU. Gallego hopes to become a history teacher while acting and serving as a drama coach on the side.

Her theater training should benefit her in the classroom, she said.

"It helps you think more on the go," she said. "It gives you more ideas on how to run a classroom in a fun and educational way."