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Kara Rohlf makes CLO debut in well-known musical ‘Carousel’

By Erin Prah For The 4 min read

Lights, camera, action! There’s plenty of that to go around at the Civic Light Opera in Pittsburgh, where 8-year-old Kara Rohlf will make her CLO debut in the production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel.” Kara is no stranger to the stage. In fact, she carries quite an array of roles on her young resume. While participating in Flatwoods Productions, Kara played the role of Molly, in “Orphan Annie” and “Annie Warbucks,” Gretl in “The Sound of Music” and Shauna O’Hanlon in “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.”

But Kara’s not the only actor in the family. Her 13-year-old brother, Jonathan, and older sister, Lexi, who is 10, are also involved with musical theater.

Jonathan has played the role of Tom Sawyer and Lexi was Annie in the “Annie” productions when Kara played the role of Molly.

“It’s a family thing,” said Kara’s mom, Tricia Rohlf. She remarked that all of her children have been involved in theater since they were babies. But she also knows a thing or two about theater.

While she is a guidance counselor for Brownsville Area High School, she is also the drama director for the school’s annual musical and other productions. Kara’s father, Michael Rohlf, also has a history of theater.

“His family was big in singing and performing,” said Tricia Rohlf of her husband. He also performed in “Forever Plaid” in Pittsburgh.

This family truly lives and breathes theater. With long daily trips down to the Benedum Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Pittsburgh for Kara’s practices, it’s obvious this family is dedicated.

“These kids are truly working actors,” said Tricia Rohlf. “It’s all very intense.”

After auditions in January, Kara received a call back, and then eventually was selected for the part of Snow Child. She received her script and music in March. On July 18, the solitary week of rehearsals began.

The audition process itself can be quite daunting. At the auditions there are “an immense number of kids – all talented. I tell my kids, they’re up against the big boys now,” Tricia Rohlf said.

There were three or four shows that the kids auditioning could have been selected to perform in, so naturally Kara and her family were thrilled when she was picked for a part in “Carousel.”

When Kara is asked about her upcoming performance, she does admit she is “a little nervous,” but she’s been acting for a long time so she seems confident.

“I like the dancing best,” Kara said. Sometimes amidst the lights and glitter things can slow down.

“It gets boring,” added Kara, who shares her spare time with the friends she has made during the practices.

At home in Brownsville, she takes care of her two dogs, Sandy and Jake, and will enter third grade at the Cox-Donahey Elementary School this fall.

Kara made her CLO debut on the opening night of Carousel on Tuesday at 8 p.m. The show continues through this weekend. The overall plot of the musical is that of a love story. Amidst the backdrop of the carnival, Billy Bigelow, a carousel worker, falls in love with Julie Jordan, a mill worker.

Their love affair causes them to be fired from their jobs, and eventually they marry. Soon a baby is on the way, and in an attempt to attain money and station for his child, he decides to commit a robbery. Billy’s robbery doesn’t go as planned, and he is caught by the police.

But instead of having his child live with the disgrace of having a father in jail, he kills himself. Now, in heaven, the Starkeeper gives him a chance to visit Earth for one day to do a good deed. Once he is on Earth, it is 15 years later, and he finds his daughter a young lady who has a temperament similar to her father’s. He tries to give her a gift from heaven and when she refuses, he slaps her. Billy must now learn to make amends and give his daughter the courage and hope she needs for her own future.

If interested in attending one of Kara’s performances in “Carousel,” visit www.pittsburghclo.org to order tickets online, call 412-456-6666 or visit the Box Office at Theater Square.

“Once you’re bitten by the theatre bug, you don’t get better,” said Tricia Rohlf with a laugh, so don’t expect this talented family to be making a final curtain call anytime soon.

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