Local graduate regales drama students with performance career stories

Alivia Insixiengmay – Mustangs Ahead

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) - A former Lakewood Ranch High School (LRHS) Mustang is enjoying a career in theater soon after graduating.

Channing Weir, 2013 LRHS graduate, has gone on world tours to do what she loves, performing. She’s a swing. A swing is somebody who acts as an understudy for multiple roles.

Weir spoke to LRHS drama students last Monday afternoon.

Weir has been in several musicals. One of which is “Six the Musical,” a popular show based on King Henry VIII’s six wives. She’s currently on national tour for the musical “Pretty Woman.”

Weir learned most from former LRHS teacher Roxanne Caravan. They both had a bond while Weir was in high school. She said that Caravan taught her a lot about hard work.

After high school, Weir went to college. “I first got my associate degree at the University of Northern Colorado outside of Denver and then I transferred and graduated from Brigham Young University in Utah,” Weir said. She also briefly mentions transferring to New York University (NYU) for some time.

She double majored in early childhood education and musical theater.

Weir said the best part about being a performer is being able to do an incredibly fun job. “I’m traveling out of the country on a tour singing and dancing for a living. I’ve also done several cruise contracts.”

Weir claimed she has been to 65 countries. All of this is because of touring.

Stay updated on more LRHS news by following us on Facebook, Instagram @mustangs_ahead or follow the Mustangs Ahead Podcast on Spotify

The most difficult part of the job for her is sometimes feeling like she isn’t being treated as human. Weir describes a time when she was up until 3 a.m. waiting for hours to audition in the freezing cold. She said this was not even considered for the part.

The performer has even been featured in some shows like “Lost.” She jokes about how she knows nothing about the show, “I’ve never watched'Lost,' don’t ask me.”

Weir explained how she adores traveling around the world, but she also hates the process of continuously packing.

“I grew up in a military family so moving around is kind of a thing for me. As far as the traveling part goes, I prefer a cruise ship contract,” Weir said. She went on to explain how it’s easier staying in one place, one room, compared to being in a different hotel room every few days.
Photo - Joyce Gad