The Art Box - Episode 495 — From Shy Student to Center Stage: Wende Killinger

What happens when one teacher sees something in a shy young student that she hasn't yet discovered in herself?

Our guest is Wende Killinger, drama teacher at Virgin Valley High School and one of the founders of Cactus Youth Theatre. Wende takes us back to junior high, where she was painfully shy until a teacher, Mrs. Lloyd, became the catalyst who encouraged her to step beyond small roles and discover the confidence of the stage.

We follow Wende's journey through a teaching career in Wyoming and eventually to Virgin Valley High School, where her greatest reward is watching her students grow—not just as performers, but as people. We also celebrate an extraordinary year for her students: winning Nevada's one-act title and traveling to Indianapolis for the national competition.

It's a conversation about theatre, great teachers, young people finding their voices, and how one person who believes in you can change the direction of a life.