Marietta Actress Living Out Her Dream

A Marietta native and 2006 graduate of Pebblebrook High School, Findley Hansard is back and performing on her hometown stage.

Hansard, 24, is currently playing the role of Liesl in The Sound of Music, which is playing at the .

"It's really nice to live in your hometown and perform in your hometown," Hansard said. "It's just awesome to be here."

Hansard is making her Atlanta Lyric Theatre debut in this production. However, she has performed at the Strand before. Hansard participated in a Salute to Motown and the re-opening of the Strand in 2009.

"I think every state that I've went to the audience was different, they had a different vibe," Hansard said. "The audience here in Marietta is amazing. They've been fantastic and very supportive.

"The cool thing is that when you're in your hometown you get to perform for people in your hometown." Hansard's grandparents hadn't seen her perform since she was in high school, she explained.

Hansard graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BFA/MT in 2010 and recently completed the 2010-2011 National Tour of Grease (ensemble, Jan, Frenchy).

"I love being in front of people, making people happy and getting a positive response from them," Hansard said.

Her other roles include Annie in Chicago, Belle in Beauty and the Beast and Violet in Side Show. Hansard said she plans on sticking with stage; however, she may want to move to Los Angeles and pursue a film career someday. Then again Atlanta is doing a lot of movies right now, Hansard noted.

"I've always performed," Hansard said. "I started in elementary school, did talent shows in middle school and then I went to Pebblebrook. I knew this was what I wanted."

Ironically, Julie Andrews, who plays Maria in The Sound of Music film, has been an inspiration for Hansard for a long time. "I was always in love with the movie and Julie Andrews," Hansard said. "I've always said that if I ever got to meet her I would be a five-year-old little girl.

"She was a big inspiration to me when I was little. Watching her, it's amazing," Hansard explained.

Hansard saw The Sound of Music at The Fox Theatre when she was little. "I loved it, and I wanted to be Liesl."

Hansard admits that she had to think and "go back to how I worked when I was 16" to get into the character.

"It's a lot of fun playing someone I'm not," Hansard said. "I couldn't do public speaking. With public speaking you have to be yourself, but with performing you're being someone else, and that's really fun."

Hansard began her national tour of Grease immediately following school. "To come right out of college and have a national tour, it was amazing," Hansard said. "In all honesty, it's just been a true blessing. I'd done a lot of small stuff, stuff in college, and I loved it, but the national tour…"

Hansard traveled around the United States and Canada for nine months and in May decided to come back to Marietta. While she loves performing in her hometown, she admits that another national tour would be fun.

"There's just so much to see, and I saw so many things on the national tour I did that I wouldn't have gotten to see otherwise. It's an amazing opportunity."

Hansard currently lives with her parents in Marietta. "I love it here, and I don't plan on moving."