Marion High School Graduate Dances Her Way to SIC Theatre
Abby Koerber of Marion joins the Southeastern Illinois College thespians as she commits to perform on the Allan G. Kimball Stage at SIC this fall. She is one of five recipients of the college’s new dance scholarships for students pursuing an Associate of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. This degree is a new offering for the college, with courses beginning in Fall 2023.
“I think she will be a good addition to the SIC theater program,” says SIC Theater Instructor, Gareth York. “Abby will be a good fit with our returning and new students this upcoming academic year. I think she’ll be a good addition to any of the other programs and clubs she wants to get involved in.”
Koerber recently graduated from Marion High School in the top 20% of her class and is a member of the MHS chapter of the National Honor Society. She has been involved in the Marion school district music program for eight years. She was a four-year trombone musician of the MHS Marching Wildcat Band and Wind Ensemble in which she served as a section leader for low brass in both bands her senior year. In addition, she was a four-year member of the MHS choir program with two of those years being a Soprano 1 in the Chamber Choir. She served as a section leader during her senior year. She was also an active member of the newspaper club and art club.
She took to the stage throughout high school with roles in Frozen Jr., Guys and Dolls, and most recently as “Jan” in Grease. Additional performances at Marion High School include being a court jester and for two years as a lady of the court in the high school’s annual Madrigals. She has also performed with SIC’s Jr. Falcon Productions as “Mona Lipschitz” in Chicago: Teen Edition and as one of the Electric Skates in the upcoming summer production of The SpongeBob Musical.
“I chose SIC because their music and theater programs are absolutely amazing,” says Koerber. “Music and performing are my passion and I don’t think I could have found a better program to join. My parents went to college here and they’ve always said it was a great starting point in their education.”
You might say being a SIC student is a family tradition for Abby. Her parents met while attending SIC and are 2007 graduates of the college’s Information Systems program. While at SIC, Abby will be pursuing an Associate of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre and an Associate of Arts in Music. After graduation, she plans to attend Southeast Missouri State University for her Bachelor of Fine Arts. She aspires to one day be cast for a role on Broadway or a national tour.
The SIC Theatre in the George T. Dennis Visual & Performing Arts Center seats 450 people and produces four student shows throughout the year, plus two Junior Falcon Productions shows for children and high school students in the summer. Those interested in talent scholarships to attend SIC or for more information can contact gareth.york@sic.edu or call 618-252-5400, ext. 2485.