WHS Class of 2013 senior portrait: Kelsey McFeely

It’s obvious Kelsey McFeely is most comfortable under a spotlight and in front of a big audience. Whether it’s belting out lyrics with her unnamed band or in a rock musical, McFeely always takes the stage like she owns it.

Behind the curtain, it’s a different story.

“It’s really bizarre,” the Whitefish High School senior says. “Backstage, I’m a nervous wreck. You’d think I’m having a mental breakdown and there’s no way I could perform on stage. I become a complete mess.”

But when the lights go up, McFeely knows it’s her time to shine.

“Something clicks in,” she said. “Whether it’s adrenaline or my passion — once I get on stage, with lights shining, you start blocking out the audience and forget they are there. That’s when you feel comfortable.”

It’s a kind of euphoria, she said.

“It’s an incredible feeling. It’s like a runner going on a long run, or a hiker getting to the top of the mountain.”

McFeely will graduate from Whitefish High School next month with the Class of 2013. She says it’s been challenging to balance school and her love for drama and music, but she’s found a way to finish with a 4.0 grade point average.

“It was hard work,” she said, quite bluntly, about putting in the study time.

McFeely first took the stage as a dancer in second grade. Dancing was her passion until seventh grade when she broke her arm doing flips at a halftime show.

That’s when she tried out for Alpine Theatre Project’s junior production of “High School Musical” and got the part of Gabriella, the leading lady.

“That kind of kicked off my acting and singing career,” she said.

She’s been in nearly a dozen productions since.

McFeely also sings for fun in a band with fellow high school students Alzan Holliday and Addison Clark. She is most influenced by alternative rock music and the band Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

“There’s something about belting, that’s what I like to do most — just really rocking out,” she said.

McFeely dreams of one day performing professionally on stage or working in the TV industry.

“If I had my druthers, I would definately be a Broadway or TV actress, or sing in a band,” she said.

First, though, she’ll take her voice to Missoula where she plans to attend the University of Montana next fall. She hopes to eventually pursue school at New York University, UCLA or the University of Southern California.

McFeely appreciates her experience at Whitefish schools and growing up among Whitefish’s thriving theatrical community.

“What small town has two retired Broadway actors who started a community outreach program for kids?” she says about ATP’s Luke and Betsy Walrath.

Her favorite productions are rock musicals like “Hair,” “Hedwig,” “Rent,” and “Tommy.”

“I just like to have fun,” she said.

Look for McFeeley and her band this summer at local open mic nights.