Milchovich in chorus of CLO’s ‘Mary Poppins’
Alexandra Milchovich
Haley Swindal, Ellen Peterson, James Walsh and Kerry Conte in “Mary Poppins”
Scarlett Keene Connole and Kerry Conte in “Mary Poppins”
At just 11 years old, a McMurray Elementary sixth-grader will take part in her first performance with the Pittsburgh CLO.
Alexandra Milchovich has a role in the children’s chorus and ensemble in the CLO production of “Mary Poppins” at The Benedum Center.
Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic 1964 Disney film, “Mary Poppins” tells the tale of a nanny with magical powers who takes a job with a cold banker and his unhappy, dysfunctional family.
Alexandra, who is the daughter of Nick and Christine Milchovich, was bit by the theater bug after participating in an after school acting camp for “The Wizard of Oz.”
“I tried it and I loved it,” Milchovich said. So much so, in fact, that she decided to enroll in classes at the Pittsburgh CLO Academy, a professional-caliber performing arts school that prepares its students for real-world performance opportunities and professional careers.
“I’ve been taking acting classes there for the past year,” she said. “A few years back, I took dance and musical theater classes there as well.” While she said she likes everything about the Academy, it is her teachers she enjoys the most.
Like most kids today, Milchovich keeps herself busy with extracurricular activities both in and outside of school. In addition to her classes at McMurray Elementary and at the Academy, she takes dance lessons at Kickline Dance Center, is a member of Girl Scout Troop #50176 in McMurray, plays the French horn in the school band and is a member of her school’s lacrosse team. In addition, she takes private voice, piano and French horn lessons from her instructor, Melody Sharp. As if that’s not enough, Alexandra is also a member of the choir at her church, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Donora, where her grandfather is the choir director.
How does she find the time to fit it all in? “The Academy classes are on the weekend, so it’s easy to fit those in,” Milchovich said. “I always try to do my schoolwork as soon as I get home from school, so it’s done before I have activities in the evening.” However, if an activity falls right after school, homework must wait until she gets home.
This summer, Milchovich, who, when not helping care for her 3-year-old brother, Nicholas, likes to read, draw, write and sing, will participate in the Pittsburgh Choir Camp, Pittsburgh Youth Choir Camp, Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra Camp and art camp at the Carnegie Museum. Come fall, she will join the Pittsburgh Youth Chorus.
Milchovich said she loves acting, but is also interested in being an engineer or an animator when she grows up. For now, though, she is focused on getting better with each performance of “Mary Poppins.” And, oh yeah … “a vacation to the beach this summer!”
“Mary Poppins” runs June 9-21 at The Benedum Center. Also taking part in the production are: Connor McRory, a native of Bridgeville and 2011 graduate of Chartiers Valley High School, who is returning to the Pittsburgh CLO for his fourth summer season; Ashlyn King, a fifth-grader at Lincoln Elementary School in Mt. Lebanon and a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church; and Mario Williams, a fourth-grader at St. Louise de Marillac in Upper St. Clair, who plays the role of Michael Banks in the production and is in his third year of studies at the CLO Academy.
For more information or tickets, visit pittsburghclo.org.