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Class Act can be found on 1114 South Neil St. Photo by James Kyung

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Having been raised in an environment where education was stressed, Natalie Ellis certainly does not disappoint in continuing that mentality. This homegrown product grew up in Champaign where she attended Centennial High School and went on to study Musical Theater at Ball State University in Indiana. Things didn’t slow down after graduation, and she soon found herself putting her skills in use, working as an actor in New York and Chicago. Recently, however, Ellis has moved back to Champaign to start Class Act, interactive education and events.

buzz: How was Class Act born from all your different experiences?

Ellis: It was a combination of things. I certainly love performing, but I love teaching as well. You know there’s nothing better than getting to see the kids experience performing. I’m also really interested in creative drama, which is a little bit different than the traditional theater most people think of. It’s using drama in a practical way: to make curriculum come alive in schools, make kids excited about reading, literacy connections and also improvisation. I have a lot of varied experience and have worked for many different companies, [so] I was like, you know what, I’m going to combine everything that I love about theater and teaching and educational theater and put it together.

buzz: How would you sum up the goals for Class Act?

Ellis: Really, just to create an outlet. I want it to be a place for youths to adults. A place where people who’ve have never had theater as a part of their life can make it a place where they can come, learn and have an experience with drama. I also want it to be a place where the most advanced theater students can grow and learn on an advanced level, if they have a performance focus. I just want it to be a place for people to express themselves creatively. Everything’s so fast-paced and work-focused these days; even grown-ups need a chance to express their creative side.

buzz: What do you hope Class act will bring to the area?

One of the main focuses of the company as well is we have an improv group that is a kind of in-house ensemble consisting of Robby Boyer, Matt Fear, Cara Maurizi, Aubrey Wachtel, Tanino Minneci, Alysia Rae and Samantha Gold, that I’d love to develop more. We’re doing shows every other Saturday right now, and eventually we’ll do shows in schools and other things, but I’d love to create a space downtown where people can go almost every night of the week and see all the entertainment.

buzz: Does it feel good to be back in the CU?

Ellis: Yes, definitely! It’s great to be back here. I’ve lived in London, Dublin, New York, Chicago ... all over, but in the back of my mind, I always knew I wanted to somehow apply the things that I have been learning and working on in Champaign.