Whether onstage or offstage, at Mass, during class or in the halls there is nowhere junior Peyton Wade isn’t singing show tunes, according to close friends junior Cara Hiatt and junior Elyse Makar. Ask her about any musical or play and she’s probably been involved with it. Wade’s passion for all things performing moved her to participate not only in schoolwide productions but ones in her own through community organizations outside of school.

“Off the stage she’s just Peyton, joking around while dancing and singing whatever song pops in her head,” Hiatt, a  fellow participant in many productions, said. “But when she’s on stage she’s dedicated to whatever character she is playing. Her complete focus is on the stage and the scene.”

Wade began her career in musical theater in sixth grade in Prairie Star Middle School’s class production of “Seussical Junior.” Wade only did one or two productions a year during her years in middle school. She really fell in love with theater the summer going into high school in her production of “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” where she played Cogsworth, her first big part in a production. After that, she did as many shows as possible and said she fell in love with the feeling of being on stage.

“The summer going into high school was a major turning point in my life in terms of musical theater,” Wade said. “The shows I did that summer made me fall in love with theater and want to be an active part in Sion’s theatre program. It really just kick-started my love for it.”

Wade landed the baker’s wife, one of the lead roles in this year’s musical, “Into the Woods,” which is playing Friday, Jan. 25, Saturday, Jan. 26, and Sunday, Jan. 27. This will be the 18th production Wade has participated in. Though it is not the first lead role she has played, “Into the Woods” is a lot different and more difficult compared to other productions both at Sion and otherwise, according to Wade.

“‘Into the Woods’ is definitely the hardest production I’ve ever done because everything is so music based,” Wade said. “You really have to think very hard and very quickly so you don’t miss cues because the music doesn’t help you pick it up at all. But it’s such an interesting show with so much depth and it has really helped me grow as an actress.”

Wade spends weeks every summer participating in numerous usually week-long shows. This summer, she performed in Immeasurable Production’s “Legally Blonde” at Rockhurst. She also performed in “Les Misérables” and played a part in the ensemble as a prostitute, a worker and a peasant. “Les Mis” was different than any other production she had been in. Rehearsals were every day from 9am-6pm as opposed to “Legally Blonde,” which was 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Despite only having four short days to rehearse, they did the entire show without cutting any scenes or songs.

“‘Les Misérables’ was a lot more intense than other shows I’ve been in,” Wade said. “Sion has time to put them together. ‘Legally Blonde’ at Rockhurst was relaxed and a shorter show. But with ‘Les Mis,’ they do the whole show and they do it in a week. It was very, very professional and organized.”

In addition to these week-long camps in the summer, Wade is an active member of Sion theatre, participating in all productions since freshman year including “Sister Act,” “Cinderella,” “Into the Woods,” “Rosie the Riveter” and “The Odd Couple.” She also plans to participate in every production at both Sion and Rockhurst. She also plans to do as many theater camps as she can put into her schedule every summer.

“It makes her so happy,” junior Kennedy Wade, her twin sister, said. “Every time she comes home, she’s always smiling. Even if she’s complaining or had a bad day, in the end, when the show’s over, she always wishes it could’ve gone on longer and is sad that it ends.”

As Wade sets her sights on musical theatre as a possible career, she said that she will continue to command the stage with her intense passion for everything that is musical theater.

“I want to do as many shows as I can,” Wade said. “I would love to be in both the Sion musical and the play and also the Rockhurst musical. I just want to stay on stage.”