As students prepare to perform the Round Hills Theatre Club's last-ever show - Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka Jr. - they were given some professional tips recently as a Montoursville native shared her background from doing professional stage shows.
Amanda Miller, who has performed as Bet in "Oliver," gave the Round Hills Elementary students a taste of what it's like to be a professional actor.
"I had my first audition at 8 (years old). I auditioned for the Shirley Temple film on Lifetime so I had my hair in little curls," she told the audience.
Although Miller, who lives in Manhattan, started her acting career early, her first love was dance. She said it wasn't until her dance teachers began talking about acting that she started getting interested in the art.
She soon began taking voice lessons, as well. Miller told the students that it's important to be well-rounded.
"Musical theater has all of these. It's good to be well-rounded," she said.
Miller went on to explain that even if an individual goes to a singing audition, when receiving a call back, they must dance. She said she has seen plenty of individuals be a great singer but not be able to dance when called back.
When Miller was 11 years old, she got her first acting job on "Oliver."
"We did a 2 1/2-hour show for two years," she said. "So I did about 500 shows on my first job."
But because she was still in school, Miller and the rest of the school-aged actors had to bring all of their school work on the road with them. Miller said they were usually back stage doing their work when not performing.
Since then Miller has acted in commercials, been a member of History's "Wild Country" and part of the cast of ABC's "Six Degrees."
Miller showed the students how to do vocal exercises and dance warmup.
But the main lesson she wanted them to learn is to keep practicing.
"It's so important to practice over and over again.
"The hard work will pay off," she said.
Although she was only in the area for one day because she needed to travel back to New York for an audition for "Rock of Ages," Miller said it's "weird" to be back in the area.
She said the reason for that is because it's so relaxing, not so busy like the city.
"It's nice to come back here because it's so quiet," she said.
