Incorporating an ankle injury into the play "As It Is In Heaven" by using a cane to convey her character's old age, Ashley Levells hobbles across the stage of the Helfaer Theatre with peculiar grace and dignity.

Levells truly proves in theater, the show must go on.

"Ashley has a lot of courage to act with her foot injury," said the Rev. Grant Garinger, the director of the play. "It's amazing she wanted to continue on with the show."

A sophomore in the College of Communication, Levells is majoring in theater arts and only started to act when she came to Marquette.

"In high school I was on the pom squad and had no time to do theater," she said. "I started here with journalism but fell in love with theater after I took my first acting class."

Despite minimal experience in the theater compared to other theater majors, Levells is no stranger to the stage. She has been dancing since she was 4 years old. She is trained in ballet, tap, jazz and the hip-hop style used while on the dance team.

"Dancing and stage acting are very similar," she said. "When you're dancing you have to create a character and make the audience feel the music."

Dancing is how Levells first injured her ankle in January 2003.

"Ashley injured her ankle during the state competition," said Julie Fullerton, Levells' former dance coach at Menomonee Falls High School. "She was always optimistic about it and truly thought she would bounce back. She just rolls with the punches."

The Helfaer's latest production is a play about a community of Shakers whose natural order is disrupted after girls in the community start claiming to see angels.

"It's basically about how people do not like to change and how it is hard to adapt after order is messed up," Levells said.

In "As It Is In Heaven" Levells plays Sister Peggy, an older member who cooks for her Shaker community.

"If need be she wouldn't mind straying from order, and she wants everybody to like her," Levells said of Peggy.

Levells feels she can relate to Peggy on a certain level.

"I want to include everyone, and I don't like to outcast anyone. I also just go with the flow all of which Peggy does," Levells said. "It is helpful to find parts of the character you can relate to because it is easier to play that to the audience."

"As It Is in Heaven" is Levells' fourth main stage play at Marquette. This past winter she appeared in the children's play "The Ugly Duckling," which furthered her desire to perhaps do children's theater after she graduates.

"It is amazing how touched the children are," she said. "They treat you like rock stars and ask for autographs, hugs and pictures."

The biggest challenge Levells had to overcome while acting was not the stage fright that plagues many young actors, but playing the mother of the swans in the "Ugly Duckling."

"The director wanted me to move like a swan and act like a swan and that was pretty difficult," Levells said. "I really admire the people in "The Lion King" because they really become the animals they are playing."

Always interested in seeing live theater, Levells' favorite actress is Adinah Alexander, a Broadway star who has appeared in the musicals "Wicked" and "Rent."

"She seems so dedicated to everything she does and makes each character her own," Levells said.

It is no wonder Levells has begun to embody some of the characteristics of her favorite actress.

"She brings out her character very well through her posture, voice and expressions," Garinger said. "She brings her character to life."

Levells' fellow cast members admire her pleasant demeanor.

"Ashley is very humble — she's not a diva," said Anne Yatco, a junior in the College of Engineering who is playing Sister Phoebe. "She's very open to trying new things, she's easy to work with and she's really good at character exploration."

Her biggest advice to budding actors is to be truly dedicated to their work and create a sense of solidarity among the cast members.

"It's not just worrying about your lines, but everyone's stuff — you have to connect with your fellow cast members," Levells said.

"As It Is In Heaven" debuts tonight at 7:30 p.m. and will run until April 24. Call 8-7504 for ticket prices and information.

This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on April 14 2005.