Saxony grad earns praise for 'West Side Story' performance

Locally grown talent Paige Kiefner pulled down strong reviews as Maria in a recent theater production in Rochester, New York.

Kiefner, a 2011 graduate of Saxony Lutheran High School and a senior at Eastman School of Music, was cast as Maria, one of the musical's lead roles, in "West Side Story," presented by the Roberts Wesleyan College Community Theatre in Rochester.

Leah Stacy, editor of 585 Magazine and a member of the American Theatre Critics Association, had this to say about Kiefner's performance:

"Paige Kiefner (Maria) is stunning, a triple threat of acting, singing and dancing talent. Her natural beauty and grace on stage is an added bonus ... and it's not hard to see why Tony falls in love at first sight."

Writing for the Rochester City News, David Raymond said Kiefner's performance was spunky and called out her "lovely soprano voice."

Paige Kiefner

While in high school, Keifner, daughter of Matt and Karla Kiefner of Jackson, studied voice four years with Judith Farris, professional singer and artist-in-residence in the theater and music departments at Southeast Missouri State University since 2005. Kiefner has trained in ballet from the age of 4.

At Eastman, she is under the vocal instruction of professor Kathryn Cowdrick, a veteran of numerous opera productions, including the New York City Opera.

Kiefner, who will graduate from Eastman in May, hasn't quite settled on her next move.

"It's not entirely planned yet. I think I'll stay in Rochester and continue studying and auditioning. We'll see where the winds take me," Kiefner said in an interview with the Southeast Missourian. She added, "I'm really looking into crossover things. Generally speaking, people don't hire young opera singers, so until then, I might as well do musical theater. I'd like to do both."

Keifner in early February will perform her senior recital, which she explained is her "degree recital."

"It's basically the milestone I make before graduating, the culmination of my three years here at Eastman," said Kiefner, who began her studies at the Boston Conservatory.

Kiefner has appeared in Eastman's production of "Dialogues of the Carmelites," "She Loves Me" and "Street Scene." She participated in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Eastman Chorale's Carnegie Hall performance of "Merry Mount" and portrayed Belinda -- the only human character among a cast of animal toys -- in the Rochester Lyric Opera's recent production of the family musical "The Tales of Custard the Dragon."

nhadler@semissourian.com

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