The Girl's Got Talent

You may recognize Elenna Sindler as the lead singer of local teen band , but did you know she has a few other talents up her sleeve? The multitalented seventh grader will be appearing on stage in a different capacity when she performs in two upcoming plays.

Sindler is one of 13 young actresses in an adaptation of The Iliad by Craig Wright, which begins this Friday and runs through Dec. 19 at A Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago. With an all-female cast, the production is directed by Steve Wilson, one of the founders of A Red Orchid's youth ensemble, and is made up of an all girl cast. The 13 young actresses play the male roles while women in the play are depicted by dolls. 

Elenna, who has been a part of the youth ensemble at A Red Orchid Theatre since its conception a little over two years ago, is excited about the innovative play.

"The writing is amazing and the direction is wonderful," Sindler said. "I'm a little nervous because there's already been a lot of press about it before we've even opened. I guess it's out of our hands now.  We'll perform and then the press and audience will take over—either they'll love it, or not!"

Sindler is back on stage Sunday for another theater production, Raining Season, which is presented by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum's Teen Committee on Conscience. Speaking the actual words of genocide survivors, five characters from different countries—the Netherlands, France, Cambodia, Darfur and Rwanda—tell their stories. The play was put on last March at Field Middle School with a different cast. 

"I play Sam from Cambodia," said Sindler. "I actually got to listen to a tape of her telling her story. It was very moving."

Sindler has known she wanted to be on stage as long as she can remember. "I always loved to sing and perform," she said.  "I knew I wanted to do musicals when I was really little."

"When she was a baby she was so funny and fearless," said her mother, Giulia Sindler. "She used to just randomly pop in to sing and dance for our guests at dinner parties." 

Elenna began performing with through the Northbrook Park District at age five, and has been attending classes and workshops ever since. Her passion makes for a very busy life, however.

"Sometimes by the time I get home from rehearsals and do my homework it's midnight before I go to bed," Sindler said. "And then I may get up at 6 a.m. to finish my homework because I fell asleep before I finished it."

"It's a lot of work," says her mother. "Rehearsals, classes, sacrificing time with friends—it's hard for a kid, but she loves it.  And it does require equally supportive parents to shuttle them around!"

When asked if she prefers theater work or singing with the band Northbrook Garage, Sindler's face lights up and there is no question.

"I love the band!" she said. "We've been getting to do amazing things.  We went to St. Louis to see Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings and even got to perform on stage with them (that was a total surprise!) Recently we auditioned for America's Got Talent, but we won't know anything until March.  And a Disney casting agent from New York got in touch with us about the possibility of being a part of the upcoming show Band With a Chance."  

But as mother and daughter snuggle together and laugh in the corner booth at Georgie V's , it's easy to see that Elenna Sindler, as talented as she may be, is still much like any other 12 year old girl.  "Can we go to Ulta, now Mom? My friend got this really cool eggplant eyeliner…"

For show times and more information contact A Red Orchid Theater at 312 943-8722 or the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Skokie, 847 967-4800.