Camas High School (CHS) senior Adisynn (Adi) Ackley takes the stage once again as the lead in the CHS play. Following her memorable performance in the spring 2025 musical, Hadestown, Ackley intends to shine just as bright in her role as Juliet in CHS’s fall production, Romeo and Juliet.
Prior to discovering theater, Ackley struggled to find a hobby that she truly enjoyed. Her journey in theater began with a community acting class, which caught her love and attention instantly. She progressed quickly and joined her local drama institution, Metropolitan Performing Arts (MPA), despite being a year younger than the rest of the kids.
Ackley’s passion only grew as she got older and she eventually landed her big-break as Eurydice, the female lead in Hadestown.
“I had never played a character like that before – it was such an emotional show for everybody,” Ackley said. “I got a new outlook on how to relate to a character and discovered that I really understood that show at its core.”
Romeo and Juliet will be Ackley’s third CHS production and her second consecutive lead role. She has been practicing theater for the majority of her life and training as a vocalist for the last nine years. She has managed to turn a childhood hobby into powerful intent, dedication, and happiness, pursuing both acting and singing through the CHS theater department.
“Adi is one of the most hardworking, focused, and dedicated students in our program,” Sean Kelly said, CHS drama department head. “I never need to worry about her struggling to connect emotionally with what her character is going through. She is truly wonderful to work with.”
Having known Ackley since her early days at MPA, Kelly has witnessed her theater journey in its entirety.
“I met Adi at a Harry Potter camp when she was real little. I have followed her work ever since,” Kelly said. “She came here during her sophomore year, I believe, and we reconnected. It was great to see her all grown up.”
Ackley’s memorable acting, vocal skills, and extroverted personality impact anyone she comes across. However, no one experiences her passion and talent more purely than her co-stars and fellow members of the theater department.
“When Adi knows what her goal is, she strives to get it by any means necessary.” Orrin Brown, a CHS senior, said.
Brown has been Ackley’s co-star since the Hadestown production and now stars opposite her as the male lead in Romeo and Juliet.
In the process of chasing these goals, Ackley has built a strong community within the CHS theater department — one that gives her their all-around support, love, and admiration.
“She’s kind, she’s really dedicated, and I think she puts her all into every role she’s given.” Brown said.
While she has certainly made an impact on the CHS community and theater department, Ackley remains inspired by her craft and continues to nurture her talent. She enjoys seeing the impact theater has made among the student body and plans to take everything she has learned into a future career in musical theater.
“Doing what I love and knowing that I’m doing what I love and putting out my best work gives me a certain kind of confidence that I wouldn’t have gained without theater.” Ackley said.
