Making her acting debut in front of a modest crowd in the third grade, Trisha Rae Stahl's journey has taken her from the halls of Loyalsock Township High School to the fictional halls of McKinley High on Fox's "Glee."
Playing Mrs. Rose, a lunch lady ridiculed by the students of the show for her weight and later found out to be the new glee member's mother, Stahl, a 1991 graduate of Loyalsock Township, made her debut on the hit show's season four premiere in September.
But many may remember Stahl from her many performances in the Loyalsock Township School District, which included playing the matchmaker in "Fiddler on the Roof."
She was a member of the choir, the speech and drama clubs and played the trumpet during high school.
But until two of her teachers, Wayne Moffat and Thomas Shellenberger, spoke to her about a future in theater, Stahl said it was more of a hobby than anything else.
"They pulled me aside and asked me if I had any plans after school," she remembered.
The result of the conversation was Stahl studying theater at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, with which she said she fell in love.
Upon graduation she had a stint with Summer Stock Theater and then she and 10 of her friends made the move to Los Angeles.
After not making it very far in the acting world, she decided to begin teaching special education. She explained that she used her love of theater to teach her students.
It wasn't until a fellow teacher introduced Stahl to her agent that acting professionally became a realistic goal. She remembered that she only went on four auditions before she got the call from her agent.
"I was just doing small things to supplement my income and then I got a call that I had an audition for 'Glee,' which I couldn't believe," Stahl said.
When first auditioning, the role only was guaranteed for one episode but after getting a second audition, the role of Mrs. Rose became a recurring one.
Stahl said although she wasn't a "die-hard fan" of the show - because she admits to not following any television show too closely - she understood the magnitude of landing a role on the popular show.
"I definitely always respected the show for the topics it covered," she explained.
Stahl said the entire cast was very welcoming of her as soon as she arrived on set.
"It's very professional (on set) but it's very fun. Everyone really has a great sense of humor ... we have fun, but it is a job," Stahl said. "It's a very warm and comfortable set to be on.
"They're all about getting the job done. There's really no time to be nervous."
And for her fictional daughter, Marley, played by Melissa Benoist, it was an instant connection.
"Melissa and I hit it off right away. We had good chemistry right off the bat," Stahl said. "We have similar sense of humors."
But being on a hit television show hasn't made Stahl forget her roots.
"I'm a huge Williamsport local at heart. I have been (in Los Angeles) for 15 years but (Williamsport is) still home," she said.
Before landing the gig on "Glee," Stahl said she had plans of moving back to the area, but with a laugh she said "those plans have changed."
And for those from the area who aspire to act, Stahl said they shouldn't listen to family members and friends who say they won't make any money doing it.
"Just come and do it," she said.
Stahl can be seen on episodes of "Glee" at 9 p.m. Thursdays.
Although she's only received scripts up to episode seven this fall, she has been told more are on the way.
And asked if the audience should expect a song or two from her, Stahl simply responded: "I'm not at liberty to answer that."
