Teen of the Week: Andrew Hanna of Parkersburg South eager to pursue a life in acting | News, Sports, Jobs

Andrew Hanna, who will begin his senior year at Parkersburg South High School this fall, enjoys performing on stage and playing in South's Symphonic Band and Marching Band. At 4 feet 3 inches tall, he suffers from a form of dwarfism, called Achondroplasia. (Photo provided)

PARKERSBURG — For Andrew Hanna, adapting to changing situations on stage teaches him how to adapt to life's many challenges.

The 18-year-old Parkersburg resident, who will begin his senior year at Parkersburg South High School this fall, has become interested in performing as both an actor and musician, with productions at the school and with the Parkersburg Actors Guild as well as the Parkersburg South Symphonic Band and Marching Band.

At 4 feet 3 inches tall, he suffers from a form of dwarfism called Achondroplasia. Although he has this illness, it does not define who he is because he has tried to show everyone the person he really is.

“It’s difficult to get roles in some performances” he said. “There are challenges in everyday life, like reaching things on the top shelf.

“I need stepladders and ladders for everyday needs that others may not think about. »

Andrew Hanna on stage after the recent production of “Little Shop of Horrors” at Parkersburg South High School, where he played the giant man-eating plant Audrey II in the production. (Photo provided)

At the library, he has to ask for help from friends or librarians to obtain certain materials.

Even though there are challenges, it’s part of who he is.

“I’m in my final year, I’ve heard a lot about it” he said reassuringly. “I’m friends with the people who got to know me.”

At school and at the Actors Guild, he participated in productions of “Free from all ties,” “The beauty and the Beast,” “Our city” And “Pinocchio.”

Hanna is a fan of Peter Dinklage, who played Tyrion Lannister in the HBO television series. “Game Of Thrones,” and is familiar with the work of actors like Warwick Davis and others with dwarfism.

Andrew Hanna, right, in costume before a performance of “Newsies” at the Actors Guild of Parkersburg last year with Éowyn McCutchan and George Litman. (Photo provided)

Dinklage also has a form of achondroplasia. Hanna would like to have a career like Dinklage's if he continues to pursue his theater career.

“I always wanted to put myself in their shoes and maybe take their place,” he said. “I always wanted to play characters that they played in their past.”

A dream role for Hanna would be to play Tyrion Lannister in a Game of Thrones prequel series when the character was younger.

Hanna also plays a variety of percussion instruments including snare drum, bass drum, xylophone and others. With the Marching Band, he plays in the “the pit,” a set of stationary percussion instruments.

He remembers seeing his older brother Chris play sousaphone in Symphonic Band and Marching Band.

Andrew Hanna as part of “The Pit,” a stationary percussion ensemble with the Parkersburg South High School Marching Band. He plays various percussion instruments including snare drum, bass drum, xylophone and others. (Photo provided)

“I loved going to his shows and hearing everything the band had to offer,” Hanna said. “I knew I had to be a part of this.

“I like rhythm and I like the sound that each instrument makes. I love the harmony between each note and each chord. It's about making music and having fun.

One of the songs he likes to play is “16 tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford.

“It’s fun to play.” Hanna said.

He recently played Audrey II, the giant man-eating plant, in the school's production. “Little Shop of Horrors.”

Andrew Hanna, center, with his brother Chris and father Stephen holding a shark during a trip off South Carolina's Harbor Island. (Photo provided)

“It was really fun” he said. “I took on the challenge of acting solely through my voice. I was not on stage during this production (except at the end).

“It was difficult to just act with my voice. Usually I'm on stage and moving around. It was a real challenge for me and I wanted to accept it.

Throughout the production, he is on the microphone off stage. He had to work with a puppeteer, Zane Van Fossen, to reduce the timing so that Hanna's voice matched Audrey II's movements and made the plant creature a full-fledged character in the series.

“It took a while for the choreography to be done” Hanna said. “It was a challenge because we both had to know every line I said, every syllable and every time the puppet was supposed to smack its lips to hear an 'm' sound.”

A few of her lines came quickly as they worked to match that.

Andrew Hanna, center, with Jayme Short, left, and Caleb Rowan, right, during a one-act competition at West Virginia University. Hanna and Rowan won Best Supporting Actor in the competition where they performed “Brownstone 213”. Short won a top rating award for Experimental Puppet. (Photo provided)

While with the Actors Guild, he starred in the recent production of “News” where he played “Oscar,” a character he described as a “naughty villain.”

“It was probably my favorite show I’ve ever done.” he said. “It was very fun.”

Hanna loves being involved in theater

“I like to receive people” he said. “I like to give people a reason to laugh. I love educating people about the many ways to be entertained, beyond just being on a cell phone or in front of a television.

He loves being on stage and being able to perform with the people he performs with.

“I love interacting with my fellow actors” Hanna said. “I love seeing them in what I call 'before and after the curtain' and how they become a completely different person once they get on stage and transform. I love seeing this transition.

Recently his acting class went to West Virginia University where he and his friend Caleb Rowan won Best Supporting Actor in a one-act play competition where they performed. “Brown stone 213.”

When not on stage or in a band, he enjoys spending time with his family (parents Stephen and Leslie Hanna and his brother), kayaking on the Ohio River and elsewhere, hanging out with his friends , read the scriptures, and spend time with family members. two golden retrievers, Shadow and Apollo.

This summer he is traveling abroad with his family, to England, Scotland and Ireland. They plan to attend stage shows in London.

“I’m really excited about it” he said. “This will be my first time out of the country.”

Right now, he's considering colleges with strong theater departments that he could get involved with. He’s not sure yet if this will be his major, but it’s something he wants to pursue. While abroad, he plans to visit an art school.

He thinks his experiences in Parkersburg with the variety of roles he's played can help him land roles in other productions in the future, whether it's something he does professionally or something he he is able to do for himself because he enjoys it.

“It’s a passion that I want to pursue” he said. “Some people see it as a hobby.

“If I can, I want to see it as a lifestyle. »

Performing on stage and interacting with others helps Hanna see and interact with a large group of different people.

“It will help me see the whole diverse group of individuals who live in this world and understand them better,” he said. “It helps my creativity in my own life in making daily decisions.”

“I think I'm a cool guy” » Hanna said, laughing. “If people took the time to get to know me, I think I’d be a cool friend.”

Being able to adapt to changing situations on stage helped him learn to adapt to changing conditions in his own life.

“A lot of times you have to make it seem like it’s supposed to be that way.” he said.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at [email protected]

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You can suggest a Mid-Ohio Valley youth who is going above and beyond to be featured as Teen of the Week by submitting their name and contact information for a parent, guardian or guardian. school official at [email protected].

Andrew Hanna, who is entering his senior year at Parkersburg South High School, and his brother Chris Hanna are dressed for success. Andrew, who suffers from a form of dwarfism called Achondroplasia, is involved in a South band as well as school theater productions and some Actors Guild of Parkersburg productions. (Photo provided)

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