Today we’d like to introduce you to Meaghan Gallagher Paetkau.
Meaghan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m originally from Cobb County, GA, where I found my love for the arts. I had my first show on the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre stage at age seven. I come from a family of four girls who all performed in the arts in one way or another and two parents with good voices, so my love for theater started young. I knew by middle school that being an actor was the one and only career path for me! I attended the Cobb County magnet school for performing arts, Pebblebrook High school, where I majored in voice and double minored in dance and drama. The training I received there was second to none, and I was encouraged on my path.
I then attended The Boston Conservatory and majored in Musical Theatre, but it was a bad fit to put it simply, I was starting to feel my passion for theater dwindle. So, I made the tough decision to leave after my freshman year, leave the theater for a while to see if I wanted to perform in other genres. That decision led me to Royal Caribbean Cruises, where I stayed as a lead vocalist for 11 years! I got to travel the world while singing, met the love of my life- my husband Matt, and got paid to do it. We finished our careers there in 2016 and came back home to Atlanta, where I’ve found my love for musical theatre again.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
That would be a BIG no. I can’t think of a single step in my 25-year career that hasn’t had some setback, painful growth moment, or challenge. But I think that is theater as a whole. She is a tough mistress and you have to want it more than anything and stay dedicated and determined to work. I would say the biggest struggle for me has been settling back into Atlanta theater. I felt so confident and excited coming home, knowing that I had grown so much as a performer after 11 years on cruise ships, working with some of the most amazing directors and fellow artists. I never expected to have to essentially start from scratch, building an entirely new resume, contacts, repertoire, career. I was like a kid coming right out of college instead of a grown woman who had been working without a break for a decade. And then once I started auditioning again, it took a while to get work. I really had to dig deep and take a harsh look at what I was presenting to the table and try to grow as much as possible between calls. I still have a lot to learn and much room to grow! And I’m so glad I never gave up because I’ve been part of some incredible, rewarding work here.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of Atlanta’s top theaters and directors. My first Atlanta show was “Elf the Musical,” directed by Steve Bebout, playing Deb with City Springs Theatre company. I also had the great privilege of working with the amazing Baayork Lee, who directed the South Pacific there. With Atlanta Lyric Theatre, I had a blast working with Jessica De Maria in “The Wedding Singer” and learned so much from Heidi Cline McKerley in “Jekyll and Hyde.” I got a daily masterclass in all things acting from Freddie Ashley at Actors Express in “Head Over Heels.” I’ve also got the opportunity to be part of some theater “firsts,” like playing Cindy Lou in Marietta Theatre Companys “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” directed by Elizabeth Weaver. And I loved being part of the Jennie T Anderson Theatres first concert series with “Guys and Dolls” directed by Maxim Gukhman back in January. And I’m very excited to work with Georgia Ensemble Theatre and Justin Anderson in “Bright Star” playing Lucy for the start of next season. I think its the perfect story of love and hope for the world today.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I think our futures all look a little different considering current events, and we are taking them day by day. My biggest plan is simply to work. I live for building a show, getting into rehearsal, learning the music and coreo, putting the book on its feet, creating magic with your friends and colleagues and sharing a story with an audience. I hope to do it for a long, long time.
Contact Info:
- Email: meaghangpaetkau@icloud.com
Image Credit:
Cayce Callaway
Ben Rose
Casey Gardner
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